Commentary on my classmate's commentary

My classmate’s blog, “Improve Texas by Regulating the Road”, has identified two solutions to improve safety. For reckless drivers, prosecution and the suspension of licenses is one way to instill safety on the roads. Another is to increase patrol to regulate and maintain security.

I am scared to obtain my driver's license not because of my driving but because I have to be three times more aware of driver who may be reckless. I do not understand how the Texas Department of Transportation became lenient on people who obtain their licenses. Moreover, how can drivers take advantage of the road with their reckless driving? As you mentioned, driving is a privilege, not a right. Having more patrol on the road would possibly increase the chances of drivers becoming more aware of the road and make them remember the safety precautions each one should consider. Although, I would feel that drivers would feel more tense if they knew more patrol is on duty. In other words, the driver will not concentrate as well either. Anyone would feel nervous around authorities, even if he or she did not do anything wrong. I would think that having more scanners and cameras would be just as useful. If the driver did something wrong, a letter should be sent and that driver will go to the court for prosecution and suspension of his or her license.

Protect self discovery

No one should ever be bullied. Every person has the right to freedom of expression and should not always conform to what is the norm. There are homosexuals, bisexuals, heterosexuals, and transgender. What do they all have in common? They are humans who want acceptance and respect. I watched a segment on 20/20 that followed the case of a 14 year old boy named Brandon, who shot his fellow classmate Larry. Larry was a 14 year old boy who experiments his sexual orientation and preferred to dress in girls clothes and have people refer to him as Leticia. His adopted parents abused his and experienced bullying in school. Brandon was the typical jock and honor roll student. However, he also faced abuse and is homophobic. Brandon did not feel at all comfortable around Larry. In addition, Brandon’s classmates picked on him because Larry asked him to be his Valentine. With the accumulation of stress and teasing, Brandon could not handle the stress anymore and decided to take action: shoot Larry. From both sides, neither child should experience torment from anyone. Where was the guidance? In contrast, Larry’s life was lost. No child should be a victim of bullying.

I commend the government for creating policies in which educational facilities should immediately take action once a student is harassing another student on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or religion. According to stopbullying.gov, the laws enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and U.S Department of Education’s Office for Civil obligate schools to address conduct that is 1) severe, pervasive, or persistent, 2)creates a hostile environment, or 3) based on a student’s race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or religion.  But, one policy that strikes me is the fact students are not necessarily protected by their sexual orientation.  According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “a nationally representative study of adolescents in grades 7-12 found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide as their heterosexual peers.” Another study found that 25% of the 55 transgender youth reported suicide attempts.

What can the government do to help? There will be students who are homophobic and do not support the LGBT community. It is difficult to mesh the students who do not have the same views as one another. Texas should incorporate a policy in which no student should be bullied based off their sexual preference. Every student should be entitled to search and discover who he or she truly is without having the hassle of someone tormenting him or her. Another idea I found interesting is creating a charter school for the LGBT youth. On the same segment as mentioned before, there is a school in Milwaukee in which the youth attends and feel safe.  It provides a stable environment in which the students are able to focus more in school and have the freedom of expression.

Commentary on "A Deadly Combination"

http://nextgenfeminist.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-deadly-combination.html?showComment=1438456828107#c7629824240894154678

A Deadly Combination

On June 13th, 2015, Governor Greg Abbott signed an open-carry bill passed by the state legislature at, none other than, a shooting range, and signed the campus-carry bill later that day. According to Abbott, open-carry on campuses will not pose any additional problems. Abbott finds open-carry to be a Constitutional right as an American. Even with the ceremony taking place the same day as a Dallas shooting, he stated, "it is no indication whatsoever of empowering people with their Second Amendment right," and that the protests against expanded gun rights were "unwarranted." Open-carry in Texas is risky. Open-carry on public campuses is terrifying. (The Texas Tribune)

As a student at the University of Texas, I can’t count how many UTPD campus alert texts I’ve received about gun threats on campus, and many in highly populated areas. Abbott believes that guns on campus will empower our citizens, and ensure safety, when really, we have enough guns making their way onto Texas campuses as it is. Let’s not forget the mass shooting from the UT tower in 1966, which reporter Pamela Colloff for the Texas Monthly believes to have “introduced the nation to the idea of mass murder in a public space,” with a total of 43 deaths. Since then, our country has experienced more than 250 school shootings. To me, that sounds like guns and schools are a deadly combination. 

In fact, college students are probably the last people who should have open access to guns, for reasons being stress over grades, pressure to achieve “success," high depression rates, high uses of drugs and alcohol, all of which lower a students ability to think coherently and increase the likelihood of making rash decisions. For instance, I received a text from UTPD in late April (during finals), warning students of a girl carrying a gun on the upper level of one of our main student buildings. We received an all clear text informing us that it was an attempt at suicide. Yes, under the new law, campuses are allowed to designate “gun-free” zones. However, what happens when a student is seen openly carrying a gun in a zone that is not within those boundaries, whom has violent intent? Will we not receive a warning UTPD text? How do the authorities, and ourselves, know that every student with a gun isn’t intending to use it, on themselves or their peers? And what are the chances that someone else carrying a gun is going to be around to protect themselves and others? 

We can’t know. And yes, in the Second Amendment the Constitution protects the Right to bare Arms. However, the times have changed. And school shootings have become much too prevalent. And our guns have grown more deadly. So I think, Governor Abbott, that students attend college to carry books, not guns. For a gun only teaches one thing, and that is to shoot. 

COMMENT

It is of great concern that school shootings have increased over the years. Students expect to be safe from harm while being on campus and expect UTPD to do their job to ensure security. I do agree that students encounter stress throughout the school year with grades, becoming the best, having depression, and using drugs and alcohol. However, it is not to say all students who experience stress will automatically make a rash decisions. The majority of students go through stress but will manage it. I think those who already worked for their concealed handgun license should be allowed to carry their concealed weapon on campus. They do not let just anyone obtain it. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, in order for a person to obtain a license, he or she will go through a criminal background check and will receive training from certified instructors (https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/chl/). Also, the best approach is to not prevent people from having guns, it is to issue it to those who are mentally stable, have training to properly use a gun, and go through an extensive background check.

Let us make school more affordable

Texas should reduce the cost of their colleges and universities. While I applaud Texas for allowing equal opportunity for all individuals to continue their education, some students still struggle trying to afford school. Therefore, some are not able to finish. Some of the ideas Texas should consider is offer tuition-free colleges and reduce tuition for all universities. In Oregon, they passed a bill which they offer tuition-free schools. This method will allow individuals who truly want to further can do so without stressing over financial burdens. However, there should still be restrictions as to how the system can work. There are individuals who will attend school and may come to find it is not something he or she may want to pursue. A certain school tax should be given to them. That way, we can do our best to encourage individuals to better themselves and have a bright future.

For universities, there should be a tuition reduction. There are students who do not have sufficient funds to pay for supplies, classes, and other necessities. Loans are given so they can have money in the meantime. The downside is the accrued interests and having to pay it all back. With tuitions reducing at a fairer price, students will not have to borrow as much and may have more grants and scholarships offered. With both of these methods combined, there will be a higher number of individuals that receive jobs right after graduating. Those who receive a bachelors and beyond will have a good to great salary which leads to more taxes being taken from their checks and go into the school system. 

How to be safe without being reckless

     The second amendment allows citizens the right to bear arms. They are allowed to own a gun as long as they have a license to own one. Based on Juanita Jean's blog, the writer wrote about a gentleman named Reed who decided to have his gun and mentioned that it was his "duty to guard the military recruiting station. A bystander approached him and asked him if he may take a look at his "A-15 rifle"(Juanita Jean). As Reed attempted to clear the ammunition, he accidentally fired into the pavement(Juanita Jean). Fortunately, no one was hurt. A little bit of background about him: he is 28 years old, lives in Lancaster, Ohio, a gun enthusiast, and has side jobs (Juanita Jean).
      When I first read the post, I thought he did not think clearly about the situation. It is good to demonstrate pride in something you believe in, but to actually have a gun out in public is plain hazardous. Even if Reed did not have negative intentions, another bystander could pass by and find him suspicious of criminal activity. As citizens of the United States, people should have the right to conceal a weapon in case of a true emergency were to happen but not to take the amendment lightly. Having a weapon requires a lot of responsibility. Moreover, what I believe the writer wanted to point out is the fact that he did not care that the gun went off. It is a good commentary for those who believe that there should be certain regulations for the second amendment in order to instill more precautions and prevent any more mishaps.

Federal Prison Reform Long Overdue commentary

President Obama is doing his best to change the criminal justice system. He has recently commuted 89 sentences to those who were in the federal prison in Reno. The brief editorial discusses the new regulations on the federal prisons in Texas allowing the nonviolent drug offenders to have more lenient punishments. Also, new laws passed that include favoring probation, counseling, and treatment over incarceration. This article is meant for readers who believe in second chances and envision improvements and change. Typically, those who are more liberal would approve this reform. It is a short article, but it is apparent as to who the writer is aiming to write to and what argument he is making. Part of the argument is that it is a good idea to reform the system. I agree that offenders do receive a second chance because people are capable of change. However, there has to be a system in which officials decide whether the felon should have his or her sentence reduced. In the editorial, the writer stated that several state prisons were shut down due to the reduction of the population in the prison. He claimed that it save hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and does not compromise public safety. It would help if the writer included statistics to show the how the reduction of state prisons saved the public its tax dollars and the comparison in safety with and without state prisons. It is not only easier to see the comparisons and facts presented, but also the information the writer presented makes it more credible.


http://www.statesman.com/news/news/opinion/federal-prison-reform-long-overdue/nm2pw/

Same-sex marriage: happy homosexuals, displeased republicans

On Friday, June 26, 2015 was a glorious day; the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. Everyone that I saw on Facebook was ecstatic about this momentous occasion. I could not be happier myself since I truly believe everyone should have the right to unify with whoever partner he or she chooses. However, not everyone may agree. Some individuals stay faithful to their faith and follow the Bible, as they believe they should. An article by Richard Whittaker titled Republicans Versus “Government Marriage”: Ambitious GOPer calls for marriage-ending special session. The article discussed Republican David Simpson believes “we should just get rid of the institution all together.” Governor Greg Abbot has been railing against activist judges, and Attorney General Ken Paxton believes that state employees should not be forced to comply with the new law. To summarize, Governor Simpson wants to change the process of issuing how marriage licenses will be issued. I find it interesting because individuals have the right to be opinionated and have freedom of religion.  It is difficult to pass laws that will please everyone. There are still nuts and screws to tighten in order for everything to be stable.

http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2015-06-29/republicans-versus-government-marriage/