We’ve been taking two ineffective approaches to gun violence. The first is to debate whether we need more or fewer guns. Fearing criticism for not supporting the Second Amendment, legislators are easily persuaded we need more guns. The second approach occurs after a mass shooting. A new gun law is proposed. We argue its merits, […]
U.S. should study gun violence as a public health hazard Read Post »
Are we safer by making it easier for citizens to carry guns? The Ohio General Assembly thinks so. At least six bills seek to expand the rights of gun owners. There’s ample data to suggest that more guns don’t promote safety and that with more guns the number of unintended deaths increases. Legislators don’t
More guns alone not the answer Read Post »
If you’re struggling with the LGBTQ issue, here’s something to ponder, and it’s especially helpful if you’re trying to reconcile the LGBTQ issue with your religious beliefs—the words of Jen Hatmaker, a Texas pastor and mother of five. Here’s what she had to say in the Aug. 28, 2017, edition of Time magazine when asked
Life lessons from a Hatmaker Read Post »
Do campaign contributions affect how judges decide cases? Studies indicate the answer is yes. A recent effort by Cleveland attorney Subodh Chandra to disqualify a Summit County judge illustrates how money might drive the public’s thinking on a judge’s impartiality. First, some background about money and state supreme court elections. In 2009, the U.S. Supreme
Judges probably influenced by campaign contributions Read Post »
[This piece was published in the Columbus Dispatch on July 16, 2017, and is an update of a blog post published in August 2016] If you believe the court system always renders justice, you’re mistaken. Just ask Dale Johnston. After spending nearly seven years on Death Row for two murders he didn’t commit, Johnston has
Why has the state fought compensating Dale Johnston? Read Post »
Meet my friend, Fr. Vinny McKiernan, associate pastor at the Newman Center at Ohio State University. That’s him in the photo, with my wife, Deb. I don’t know how he does it, but he seems to be incapable of fatigue. At age 86, Fr. Vinny recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of is ordination. Being a
Meet my friend, Fr. Vinny Read Post »
What a can the United States learn from Rwanda? It would seem, little. The U.S. is a large, industrialized nation, with nearly 325,000,000 people, a gross domestic product of $18 trillion, and an average life expectancy of 78 years. Rwanda is a tiny, developing country of only 11 million people, with a poor infrastructure and
Rwanda could teach U.S. about collaboration Read Post »
Interested in making a difference in gun policy? Here’s your opportunity. Join the Ohio Coalition for Common Sense, a state initiative started by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, a Navy Captain and former astronaut. The Coalition brings together a broad cross-section of state leaders—business, law enforcement, veterans, faith, medical and civic
Join Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly and advocate for common sense Read Post »
Florida pediatricians had a good day in court last month when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit struck down on First Amendment grounds a statute that prohibited them from addressing gun safety with parents. The battle over a pediatrician’s right to freely practice medicine and protect the safety of children was one
First Amendment protects pediatricians’ right to ask about gun safety Read Post »
Are there two justice systems in Ohio? Regrettably, yes. Because of tort reform, there’s one for businesses and doctors and another for those occasionally injured at the hands of either. Before going any further, let me explain something important. The purpose of this post is not to be critical of businesses or doctors. The purpose
Tort reform results in two justice systems Read Post »
I couldn’t get away from it. The same message came to me three times last weekend. Each message was simple—the importance and value of every human life. But strange, how difficult it is to recognize the value of each human life when we have to deal with people who differ from what we believe the
We forget we’re all the same Read Post »
With the divisive discord that permeates the news and our conversations, I think about the dearth of liberals in our world. There are plenty of liberals, you might say. No, there are plenty of progressives. There’s a difference. The term “liberal” has been perverted to refer to political progressives, when it actually means being broad-minded
We need more liberals Read Post »