Column Analysis #3

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-banks-20111220,0,6348664.column?page=2
Sandy Banks writes about the Givens family, consisting of a mom, dad, and 12 year old son; both parents who have been out of work for the past year. In this weeks column, Banks talks about the family's experience and choices since losing both jobs. The Givens' rent a room in a cheap motel each night and spend the days in Hollywood asking for money on the streets, in doing this, they were shocked to learn that "the rich people" do care, having celebrities such as Morgan Freeman and Chris Brown pull over next to their corner and give whatever they had in their pockets.

Column Analysis #2

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-banks-20111217,0,6676350.column?page=1
In this column, Banks talks about a retired judge in California who recently donated $100,000 to create a neighborhood literacy program. It is clear that Banks admires judge Reese for what he has done to help give inner city children opportunities they otherwise wouldn't have had. She describes "his efforts to lift the next generation" as what drew her to this story, and discusses his belief in loyalty and community, telling the reader that it is what gets everybody through the hard times.

Column Analysis #1

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-me-banks-teen-suicide-20111115,0,3179218,full.column
Sandy Banks, columnist for the Los Angeles Times, talks about the worries parents have in today's day and  age, especially after the deaths of 3 students at a high school in California. 2 of these students committed suicide and 1 died of alcohol poisoning, leaving many families, friends, and one large student body behind to grieve. Banks talks mainly about a meeting the parents had with counselors of Aguora High School (the school of the 3 students who recently died) that answered questions about how to stop or discipline behaviors such as drinking or doing drugs or to recognize when your child truly needs help. She "push[es] parents toward vigilance" trying to get them to pay attention to what is really going on in their children's lives instead of just brushing it aside. She also includes questions parents asked at the counselor meeting that parents around the world are probably asking such as "How do you clamp down on your kids without making them hate you for it?" She answered questions like this to help parents help their teenagers through this difficult time in their lives.

My Opinion

These last few posts have been about whether gun control should be enforced or not. I believe that gun control should not be enforced. Although I agree with the waiting period laws, the background checks, and the license of use, I also think that parents hiding guns in their clothing drawers or cabinets is a bad decision; but no civilians having any guns can be very dangerous and very scary. I have a very close family friend who has a gun in her house, she is a single mother and most likely wouldn't be able to defend herself or her children (without some sort of weapon) if somebody did break in and tried to harm one of them. Nobody knows where it is, and it is in a very out of reach hiding spot we are assured (for how else could we have played hide and seek for all these years without coming across it.

What is "Gun Control"?

http://www.a-human-right.com/guncontrol.html
This article is also against gun control. It argues that criminals will have a way to get guns whether there are laws to control them or not, because the majority of the time a registered, legal gun shop who runs the background checks and enforces the waiting period will find something questionable about this person. Having a gun can only help the people legally obtaining guns in self defense, incase somebody tries to harm them, but these people not having guns is exactly what "the rapists and muggers prefer. Unarmed victims".

Gun Control Can Be Dangerous

http://standeyo.com/NEWS/11_USA/11_USA_pics/110109.gun-control.works.450.jpg

This image is of 2 men with guns, a criminal with a real gun and a good man being robbed or threatened, using his forefinger and thumb as a "gun". This demonstrates the dislike of the gun control laws because criminals get guns illegally and always will, no matter how strictly laws are enforced, but the people who only want guns as a method of self defense can't get them because they are not willing to stoop to that level. This cartoon is saying that gun control laws should allow licensed people who know how to use guns to carry them with.

Cops Can Carry Guns Nationwide

http://www.leaa.org/leosasturgis.html

This article is excited to say that a law has finally been made to allow all "qualified off-duty and retired law enforcement" are allowed to carry firearms. This law was put into effect after 2 cops were arrested under criminal charge for carrying guns while off-duty. This law that was put into effect is called the "Law Enforcement Officer's Safety Act of 2004". After this law went into effect, the 2 officers arrested were released and all charges dropped.