Get rid of weapons of war
Our founding fathers, well versed in history, understood that a tyrannical government could establish a dictatorship over the people. Fear that a standing army could be used to accomplish that resulted in the Second Amendment. It states, “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.”
An armed citizen militia could resist government destruction of our freedoms. The stated purpose of the first 10 amendments (The Bill of Rights) was to place specific limits on government power. For example, it denied the government the right to establish or deny a religion, to deny citizens freedom of speech, assembly or the press and to perform unreasonable searches and seizures or compel a person to be a witness against himself.
The founding fathers did not envision semi-automatic weapons being used to attack fellow citizens. These are weapons of war to be used solely to kill the enemy. They are neither weapons meant for hunting deer nor weapons to be fired by a person intent on mass murder.
Allowing the public to own such weapons is a distortion of the original intention of the Second amendment.
Mel Flitter
Somerton
We need stricter gun laws
Our legislators still sat on their hands, when it comes to passing stricter gun laws. They kept indicating it is against the Constitution, which gives the right to have arms.
Who are they trying to kid? The Constitution was signed back in 1776. It is without a doubt, our forefathers lack total insight of a person’s ability to buy assault weapons. Nor did they realize that a person could possess an arsenal of weapons.
The question is: are our legislators trying to insult our intelligence, or is there something in it for them?
Marie Patton
Fox Chase
Where does the money go?
I am sick of hearing that the city still needs $90 million more for the pre-K program.
The city grabbed $41 million from the soda tax, and no one is asking what happened to the surplus from last year’s school budget.
If I were a teacher and was told I had to buy supplies for the start of the school year, I would demand my union find out where last year’s surplus went.
John Mikula
Academy Gardens
Taubenberger addressing scams against elderly
Northeast Philadelphia is home to many of Philadelphia’s proud senior citizens.
Unfortunately, that distinction makes the Northeast and its elderly residents prime targets for countless scam artists.
These unscrupulous con artists frequently prey on seniors because they are more likely to live alone, are generally more trusting or gullible, and often suffer from age-related cognitive decline.
As chair of Philadelphia City Council’s Committee on Aging, I am committed to working closely with my Council colleagues, the city’s elderly population and law enforcement officials to better detect these scams, find and bring the perpetrators to justice, and develop stronger safeguards to more effectively shield our senior citizens from these predators.
Financial fraud against seniors is rampant, here and nationwide.
Making matters worse, seniors are often unwilling to report these crimes; only a very small percentage of fraud cases against seniors ever come to the attention of law enforcement.
Nationally, more than 2.5 million seniors annually are financially victimized at a combined loss of $2.9 billion.
The physical abuse and neglect of seniors is also a huge problem.
The perpetrators of both types of crimes against seniors include unscrupulous financial advisers, domestic and foreign internet and phone scam artists, home healthcare professionals, nursing home employees, and even family members. The City Council Committee on Aging will soon be conducting a series of public hearings regarding the abuse of the elderly with the explicit goal of developing and implementing new safeguards and reporting mechanisms to better protect one of our city’s greatest assets — our senior citizens.
In the interim, if you suspect that you or an elderly loved one have been victimized, please contact my City Council office at 215–686–3440 or 215–686–3441.
We are standing by to help.
Al Taubenberger
City Councilman (At Large)
