Guest Editorial: "Local approach to gun control" - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Guest Editorial: "Local approach to gun control"

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By Mark Wilder - email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    •   
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

There has been much talk lately about how to protect innocent people from firearm violence.

Suggestions have been made ranging from  some form of gun control to better mental health screening to arming teachers, most of which may not be enacted due to budget constraints, concerns for civil liberties or just plain rational thinking.

And even though nothing we can do will stop violence with guns, we must try, and a combination of approaches will certainly be most effective.

That's why I was pleased when the Montgomery Police Department told us on Monday about a new initiative designed to remove illegal weapons from the streets of Montgomery.

MPD will be making adjustments in procedures that will strategically target those who possess illegal guns.  And they ask for citizen involvement, telling us to call the police if we know of someone possessing an illegal weapon.  There is even a reward offered by CrimeStoppers.

When it comes down to it, firearm violence, like most crime, is a local problem, and if we want to stop it, we must act locally. 

Regardless of how you feel about the second amendment,  or police in our schools or spending more money on mental health care, this is something we all can and should do.

If you know someone with an illegal weapon, turn them in.

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