Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed a bill Monday, sponsored by state Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, that makes it legal to own machine guns, silencers and sawed-off shotguns.
It sounds a bit crazy. Granted, we’re not likely to see machine-gun drive-bys a la the Roaring Twenties-era Chicago anytime soon: Fully automatics are expensive, limiting the market mainly to collectors, and anyone wanting to own an Uzi or Tommy gun must submit to two federal background checks and get the approval of the local sheriff.
Still, how is this an important legislative priority? And what’s next on the National Rifle Association’s legislative agenda — permits for bazookas?
Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson will be one of the panelists at a public forum at 6 p.m. today at Wichita State University designed to “engage the community in an honest discussion of Kansas energy policy, green energy options and potential green energy solutions in Kansas.”
The panel also includes Bill Wentz, WSU distinguished engineering professor emeritus; state Sen. Donald Betts, D-Wichita; and Kay Johnson, director of Wichita’s Department of Environmental Health.
The event will be held in Hubbard Hall, Room 209.
Our editorial today notes that while the focus on Earth Day tends to be on what individuals can do, it’s much easier for average citizens to get involved in ecofriendly practices if their community encourages green living and makes it affordable and convenient. Unfortunately, Wichita doesn’t have a good record on that, particularly on recycling.
Former generals serving as “military analysts” on television may not be the independent observers that most viewers assumed. Many of them have been recruited by the Pentagon and have financial ties to military contractors, the New York Times reported.
“Records and interviews show how the Bush administration has used its control over access and information in an effort to transform the analysts into a kind of media Trojan horse — an instrument intended to shape terrorism coverage from inside the major TV and radio networks,” the Times determined after suing to obtain Pentagon e-mails and other documents. “Analysts have been wooed in hundreds of private briefings with senior military leaders, including officials with significant influence over contracting and budget matters, records show.æ. . . In turn, members of this group have echoed administration talking points, sometimes even when they suspected the information was false or inflated. Some analysts acknowledge they suppressed doubts because they feared jeopardizing their access.”
No doubt many military analysts are independent and aren’t improperly influenced by the Pentagon or business ties. But internal documents show that the Pentagon was involved in recruiting and cultivating “message force multipliers” and “surrogates” it could count on to deliver administration “themes and messages.”
Thank goodness that the Pennsylvania Democratic primary is finally here. Hillary Clinton should easily win it. But to make any difference in the overall race, Clinton needs to win by a huge margin. And even then it is doubtful that will gain her enough delegates and popular votes to persuade uncommitted superdelegates to support her instead of Barack Obama.
Danica Patrick has received lots of attention as a woman race-car driver in a male-dominated sport — but she’s been dogged by questions of whether she can win a big race. She put those questions to rest Sunday, crossing the finish line in the Japan 300 to become the first woman to win an Indy car race.
“This reaches outside racing,” Patrick said. “This is about finding something you love to do, and following through with it.”
That’s a message every young girl needs to hear.
Congratulations to the Wichita State University men’s and women’s bowling teams for their fantastic seasons. The men’s team won its eighth national championship, advancing through the losers’ bracket to defeat Nevada-Las Vegas in the finals Saturday. The women’s team finished second, which is great but also a disappointment for a team hoping to defend last year’s title and earn its ninth championship. If the women had won, it would have been the first time since 1994 that men’s and women’s teams from the same school won the national titles. And who won them in 1994? WSU, of course.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed a bill Monday, sponsored by state Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, that makes it legal to own machine guns, silencers and sawed-off shotguns.
