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Back in 1791 in the first months of George Washingtons presidency some disgruntled people in western Pennsylvania organized something that came to be called the Whiskey Rebellion. It was a protest against taxes. The new president, without a standing army, called on militias in four states to confront the protesters. These 12,000 militiamen were too much for the rebels, who soon faded away and Washington survived his first crisis.

That was the definition of the word militia 240 years ago: private citizens, mostly owning their own guns, and organized by the government (regulated).

For about two centuries we lived with that meaning of militia in our US Constitution. Here is how our Second Amendment reads: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

It all changed in a heartbeat in 2008 when the US Supreme Court decided to reinterpret that amendment. In the case of District of Columbia v. Heller five of the nine justices decided to drop the first 13 words and emphasize the last 14 words: the right to bear arms, NOT for a regulated militia but for individuals.

Lets go deeper into history. When Col. George Rogers Clark of Clarksville was charged with taking an army up into the territories of Indiana and Ohio, he had to raise a militia from the local men who lived here. It was like the sheriff in the Western movies who had to raise a posse from the townsmen to pursue the bad guys. They were virtually untrained and even more undisciplined and no one was surprised that many deserted before they saw their first Shawnee or Delaware. Finally, when confronted by the Native Americans, many of the militiamen broke and ran.

Those days of militiamen with their hunting rifles are long gone. The closest thing we have today to a militia are the state National Guards, who are more akin to being a reserve US Army than they are to a militia.

The other kind of so-called militias are the groups of white-supremacist terrorists who are no more militia than the West New Albany Sewing Club. The leaders of the Proud Boys and the Oathkeepers have just been rightly convicted of attacking our national capitol. Other than the rulings at recent criminal trials, these groups see little regulation from government.

For decades we have had this void in the Second Amendment. What happened is that the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the weapons manufacturers have convinced lawmakers that they alone have the power to read the Constitution the way they want to. For a long time and maybe still today they have had the lobby money and the votes to maintain the status quo.

The result is:

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Some 390 million guns are loose in the United States, more than one for each infant, adult and 90-something in a nursing home.

The major cause of death for American children is now a gun.

More than one mass murder occurs each week.

Many lawmakers are calling for more guns, in the hands of teachers and others.

Where is Congress? Republicans have stopped any attempt to rein in guns no matter how wimpy the attempt is from the Democrats.

Where is the Supreme Court? Three of the five justices who changed the Second Amendment 15 years ago are still there: Chief Justice John Roberts, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. All were appointed by Republicans and they are joined by three more new people from a Republican base. They all have referenced their leanings toward the concept of originalism espoused by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, one of the five who altered the Second Amendment meaning.

The Scalia-influenced judges all decried making laws from the bench. They all said they lean heavily on the original intent of the founding fathers. Ironically, they in effect wrote new law by drastically changing the Second Amendment and parted ways from the original version that referred to both regulation and security. Now we have neither, just more blood under the bridge.

(David Ross Stevens is a sculptor and contributing columnist for The Jeffersonville (Indiana) News and Tribune.)

David Ross Stevens was the Courier-Journals first investigative environmental writer, from 1968 to 1978. From 1993 to 2003 he taught a course Environment and People at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany. His email is dbqwriter@gmail.com.

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Column by David Ross Stevens | Not regulation or security, just blood - New Castle News

During a special meeting on Thursday, the Hawaii County Council approved the first reading of the Countys proposed fiscal year 2023-24 operating and capital budgets that total nearly $1.19 billion.

The proposed operating budget is $831,663,759, a 5.8% increase from the previous fiscal year and an additional $37.3 million from Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roths original budget request in March.

According to the mayors office, the second draft of the operating budget reflects higher than expected real property tax collections by about $19 million and includes increased revenue projections of approximately $6.29 million for the general fund balance and $10.6 million for the general excise tax fund balance.

The proposed capital budget seeks a total appropriation of $358,528,000 for fiscal year 2023-24, an increase of $13 million from the mayors suggested capital spending plan put forth in March, also due to the increased revenue estimates. The Countys 6-year capital improvements program also proposes 47 projects now instead of the 44 outlined two months ago.

The proposed operating budget calls for 56 new positions for several departments, including dispatchersfor the Hawaii Fire Department and water safety officers at Kohanaiki Beach Park in Kona.

The first amendment, brought forward by Councilmember Ashley Kierkiewicz, increases the proposed general fund balance by $35,000 and adds a new line item in the same amount to the Fire Auxiliary Services account for a new dispatch quality assurance program. The funds would be used to evaluate calls and develop training materials based on that evaluation for current and new employees of fire dispatch in an effort to improve standard operating procedures and customer service.

The amendment was approved 7-0, with Council members Rebecca Villegas and Matt Kanealii-Kleinfelder absent at the time of the vote.

The second amendment, introduced by Council Chair Heather Kimball, adds $870,756 to the proposed general fund balance in anticipation of a new Hawaii County Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity and Resilience. The amendment makes sure there are funds available next fiscal year for the proposed new office and its five-person staff if its creation is approved.

The new office would coordinate and manage County policies and programs to address sustainability, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change and other natural and human-caused hazards.

Council members approved the amendment 6-2, with Villegas absent and Kanealii-Kleinfelder and Councilwoman Cindy Evans voting no after expressing hesitation about funding an office that hasnt been created yet.

The first reading of the proposed operating budget, with those amendments, was approved 8-0, with Villegas absent.

Of the proposed $358 million for the capital budget, $295.6 million would be funded by bonds, $26.9 million by federal grants, $33.8 million by the state revolving loan fund, $900,000 by the state capital improvements program and $1.5 million through community benefit assessments and general excise tax.

The Council considered one amendment to the proposed capital budget, introduced by Council Vice Chairman Holeka Inaba, that would add one project, the construction of a lifeguard tower at Kohanaiki Beach Park, and $120,000 to fund it. Council members approved the amendment 8-0, with Villegas absent.

The proposed capital budget for fiscal year 2023-24 and the revised six-year capital improvements program, with that amendment, were approved 8-0, with Villegas absent.

This budget represents a seismic shift in how the County is doing business, Kierkiwiscz said.

She said the Council and County have been pining for a long time for many of the investments the spending plan would make, but now can do so because the cashflow is finally available.

If we dont make these investments, I worry about the problems and the cost to environment, to our workforce, financially to future generations if were not taking steps now to solve for these challenges before they get bigger, Kierkiewicz said.

The Countys fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.

The Council will take up second readings for the proposed operating and capital spending plans on June 1. It is likely a few more amendments will be introduced at that meeting before the budget is finalized.

To read the latest operating budget proposal, clickhere. You can find the updated capital budgethere.

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Hawai'i County Council approves first reading of $1.19 billion ... - Big Island Now

Staff Report| Gonzales Weekly Citizen

Gonzales area representative Kathy Edmonston, of Louisiana House District 88, has announced her candidacy for re-election.

It has been my honor to have served the citizens of Louisiana House District 88 in the Legislature for the last four years.During that time I have fought many battles to protect the freedom of my constituents, but the war is far from being won, Edmonston said in a news release.

It is therefore, with anticipation, that I announce my candidacy for reelection as State Representative for District 88.

Edmonston said her voting record reflects her commitment to conservative values and Louisiana-first principles.In addition, she expressed pride in announcing that she is a founding member of the newly formed Louisiana Freedom Caucus.

I am pro-life and pro-Second Amendment. I support law enforcement and the oil and gas industry. I have authored many bills that protect individual rights against medical discrimination and tyrannical mandates, she said.

Prior to her service in the legislature, Edmonstonserved on the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).Her motivation in running for BESE was to oppose the Common Core Standards / Curriculum.

According to the release, she has received awards from multiple organizations, including: Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Louisiana Family Forum, Louisiana Citizen Advocacy Group (LACAG), Citizens for a New Louisiana, and The American Conservative Union Foundation.

If re-elected, she said she will work to preserve Louisiana sovereignty against any unconstitutional overreach by the federal government.

I pledge to continue my defense of Faith, Family and Freedom by sponsoring and supporting legislation that defends and protects all three, she said.

As our Constitution and Founding Fathers intended it to be, together with the people of Louisiana I will work to protect their God-given rights and put the people, back in power. I look forward to the opportunity and honor to continue to fight for my constituents, their families, and our beloved Louisiana.

Gonzales Weekly Citizen and Donaldsonville Chief, part of the USA Today Network of Louisiana, cover Ascension Parish and the greater Baton Rouge area. Follow atfacebook.com/WeeklyCitizenandfacebook.com/DonaldsonvilleChief.

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Rep. Kathy Edmonston announces re-election bid for District 88 seat - Weekly Citizen

by Peter Weinberger

At last weeks Claremont City Council meeting, a long, robust discussion ended with it passing an ordinance, by a 3-1 vote, to protect tenants from certain no-fault evictions.

About halfway through the meeting, after being silent throughout, Council member Corey Calaycay told his colleagues and the audience he was opting out of discussing the matter because, I dont like to be asked to choose between people, and due to a perceived mischaracterization of his position [Council passes rent stabilization program, punts on protections, April 28] by our reporter in the story three weeks prior.

Let me start by saying I do not know Calaycay personally. But I have followed his political career, including the impact of his numerous decisions. I have voted for him twice since he was first elected in March 2005.

Calaycays accomplishments include a long list of community outreach, and hes served numerous organizations in addition to his work on the City Council. His resume is impressive and serves as an example of what public service looks like. Whether you agree with his politics or not, theres no denying hes committed to public service.

Yet like all of us, hes a human being and is by design, imperfect.

Like anyone, I dont relish receiving criticism I know to be unjustified. In my business like so many others facts can be misunderstood, misconstrued, or just absent from the conversation. And as we know, we Americans are having a more difficult time getting along; increasingly, we are taking our disagreements personally. Remember the adage, agree to disagree? Does that even happen any longer?

All of this is to say I understand Calaycays point of view. Ive felt misunderstood. We all have. But calling out a Courier reporter in the middle of a council meeting solves nothing. And what concerns me the most is he used this perceived slight as an excuse for avoiding participation in a very important dialog that affected a large contingent of his constituents.

Think about these actions for a moment: Calaycay elected not to do his job because of (perceived) bad press, this at the precise time the citizens of Claremont, his colleagues on the council, and the thousands of people who voted him into office needed him to step up and be present.

Tough decisions are part of any management job. Believe me, Ive been there. But as a leader of a company, or a city, its not an option to throw your hands up and decline to participate because you feel somebody slighted you in some way.

The Courier has an open policy on reader submissions for letters to the editor and opinion pieces. We welcome public input from all sides of every issue, as evidenced by the ongoing jousting among local interpreters of the Second Amendment on our pages.

When we make a mistake, we own up to it. Our reporting on April 28 was accurate. If Calaycay disagrees, he just like everyone else is welcome to pen a letter or an opinion piece and take us to task. Spouting off publicly, from the dais, is the opposite of constructive criticism: its the legislative equivalent of Im taking my ball and going home.

Speaking as a voter and Claremont resident, cmon Calaycay, stay in the game.

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Opting out is a cop out - Claremont Courier

Allan Goldstein| Special to The Desert Sun

This column will be timely whenever you read it. Some horrible mass shooting will be in the headlines; one always is. Followed inevitably by pathetic wails of pain. Do something!

But there is nothing we can do today to end or even reduce the carnage inflicted on America by gun violence. Neither the no-longer-shocking massacres in our schools, bars and businesses nor the torrent of 53 regular gun murders daily is going away any time soon.

Thoughts and prayers wont stop it, reasonable gun regulation wont, even if we could get such laws passed, which we cant. We are trapped in a death spiral of spent ammunition and wasted lives. The problem only gets worse, year after year after decade.

But we are not helpless. There is a way forward, if we stop thinking about magic fixes and realize that tackling the problem of gun violence is not the work of today or tomorrow. It is the work of generations. It is, at minimum, a 50 year job, but that clock wont start until we get serious.

Getting serious means repealing, or drastically amending, the Second Amendment. The Supreme Court has decided that a well-regulated militia includes gang bangers and wild-eyed loners with a grudge. They say the Constitution makes it impossible to pass the gun laws that an overwhelming majority of the American people want. But the Constitution is not a suicide note. The Second Amendment can be amended, even repealed.

Most Americans arent for repeal yet, and the gun lovers will be outraged by the mere suggestion that their gun rights arent sacrosanct. So be it. As I said, this is a work for generations, and big ideas always take that long to percolate from the fringes to reality.

There were Abolitionists 50 years before the Civil War ended slavery. They were the most reviled, detested voices in the country, before they changed the country forever and for the better. The LGBTQ+ community protested and agitated for generations, until marriage became legal. For 100 years, citizens went to prison for smoking marijuana and only now is that, still unfinished, revolution upon us.

We should take a lesson from the conservatives. They were outraged when Roe v. Wade legalized abortion. Fifty years ago they began their battle to overturn that Supreme Court decision. It became their organizing principle. They used that single issue to rally their troops. State by state they fought every election, and for years they mostly lost. But they never quit; they kept on fighting. And then they began to win. When they won the presidency they made absolutely sure their candidate was committed to putting anti-choice justices on the Supreme Court. Until, finally, the unthinkable happened. Roe was overturned.

Some Americans were shocked. The Supreme Court never took a right away from the people, having granted it once. And by the time the court stripped away the right to an abortion, in 2021, an overwhelming majority of the American people were pro-choice. A referendum outlawing abortion in deep red Kansas failed catastrophically, nearly 60 % of voters said no.

Yet Roe v. Wade was overturned, because a dedicated, focused, tireless minority of activists fought to overturn it, for 50 years.

That is how we will overturn the Second Amendment. It is the only way. We should have started this movement right after Columbine, back in 1999. If we had, wed be halfway home by now. Instead, every couple of weeks the flags are at half-staff.

If we begin now, heres what will happen. At first, a few reliably liberal states, like California and New York, will lead the way. A few toss-up states will follow, and then the campaign will stall, temporarily.

Because, tragically, eventually, every state will have its Sandy Hook or Parkland, when the populace cries out in anguish, Do something! And now there will be something to do. The pressure on local politicians will be immense, damn your thoughts and prayers, pass the amendment!

Some will and some wont. And in some places, the voters will punish the recalcitrant legislators, replacing them with those who will vote yes. Slowly, repeal will gather pace, and finally succeed. But only when we begin.

This is the future American activists should be working for. It is a daunting task. Twenty thousand dead Americans a year makes a heck of a mountain. But it is a political hill worth dying on.

Allan Goldstein a newspaper writer, essayist, and novelist who splits time between San Francisco and Palm Springs. He is the writer of "The Confessions of a Catnip Junkie," the book your cat would write if your cat could write a book. He can be reached at bigalgoldstein@gmail.com.

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Let's get serious and repeal the Second Amendment - Desert Sun