Gun Control

On August 29, the Obama Administration announced two new actions on gun control. One has to do with expanding criminal background checks; the other having to do with making gun trafficking a federal crime. Currently, there's a loophole dealing with background checks which allows criminals to register their guns with trusts or corporations. This allows them to escape the background check. Recently, Obama Administration wants to close this loophole by requiring trusts and corporations to submit to a background check. The other executive action announced a new policy of denying requests to bring military grade firearms back to the United States and given to private entities. There are some people including the NRA that are upset by these executive actions.

Although both background check and firearm control limit the possibility of guns potentially getting into the wrong hands, I don't believe they will completely stop the gun issue at hand. Criminals will still find ways to buy, steal, or find firearms. I am all for background checks and firearm control, however, because even though we can't fully stop the issue we can at least limit it from turning into something bigger. I think we shouldn't stop just with these two executive decisions, but we can at least start with them.

America: Land of the Free. or is it?

 

The Gay-rights movement has been a long going issue since 1924. Over the course of the last century there has been many changes in the views and rights of homosexuals. Recently, in the past few years the issues of same-sex marriage has come to light. 1984, in the city of Berkeley, California marked the first city  to offer its employees domestic-partnership benefits. In 2000, Vermont became the first state in the country to legally recognize civil unions between gay or lesbian couples. On May 17, 2004 same-sex marriages become legal in Massachusetts. In recent years other states have begun following in Massachusetts footsteps. On July 17, 2013  Queen Elizabeth II approved same-sex marriage bill for England and Wales. Her approval comes a day after it passes in Parliament. While the queen's approval is simply a formality, her quick response clears the way for the first gay marriages to happen as soon as 2014 in England and Wales. The bill allows same-sex couples to marry in both religious and civil ceremonies. It also allows couples currently in a civil partnership to convert it into a marriage. Scotland is currently considering its own new legislation on same-sex marriage. The issue, however, still remains controversial.

 

Religion plays a big factor in many peoples' views on this extremely controversial issue. I believe that they should have a right to marry who they please, even if I don't agree with it. My beliefs shouldn't stand in the way of someone's rights. We say we are a country that believes in equality, but wouldn't limiting the rights of our people go against that? I wouldn't want someone telling me who I can and can't marry. You can't help who you love. I don't think religion should even play a part in politics because of the fact that so many people have different beliefs. I think if we are a country that believes in equality, then we should have equality for ALL of our people, no matter who they are.