Human Shields and Crossfire

Hi Humans,
I feel bad for all the dogs and humans and other creatures caught in the cross fire of conflicts all over the world. As a Jewish dog, I am particularly concerned about the rockets, tunnels, and war in Israel and Gaza. It is a tragedy no matter who or what is at fault. As a dog, I can not understand how the Hamas humans can use their fellow humans as shields to protect their military arsenals. Only humans can use tragedy to further their stupid goals. My advice is stop shooting rockets and attacking through tunnels into Israel, take the Egyptian cease fire offer (as Israel has already offered to do). Then sort things out. As long as you make unrealistic demands, the suffering will continue. We dogs are known as territorial, but nothing like you guys, and not nearly as cynical.
Chloe

Hooray for Governor Brown of California

Hi Humans,
Hooray for Governor Brown of California for signing into law a bill to make single shot pistols subject to handgun safety requirements. Until now single shot pistols were exempt from California safety requirements for semi-automatic handguns. But gun dealers were getting around the law for semi-automatic handgun safety by temporarily configuring semi-automatic guns into single shot pistols at the time of sale and then configuring them back into the semi-automatic mode. So my complements to the Governor for standing up to the gun lobby. They said it eliminates more guns used "for lawful purposes." And what are these "lawful purposes?" For protection? Against whom? If there were no guns on the street, one would not need a gun for protection. That is what the police are for. Actually semi-automatic firearms of any kind should be outlawed for private individuals. If we must have private guns (I don't know why), then they should all be single shot and tightly regulated.
Chloe

A New Amendment to Clarify the Second Amendment

Hi Humans,
There is a question as to the interpretation of the Second Amendment. The gun lobby and the NRA interpret it as guns for everyone of any kind and in any number. Those who favor gun regulation focus on the fact that the amendment establishes the right of a state to have a militia. The Supreme Court, having a slight majority of right wing judges, has with its big brains ruled in favor of the gun people. Therefore now it is time to make a new amendment clarifying the Second Amendment, which will say that Second Amendment only establishes state militias (the National Guard). the new amendment should also make strict Federal Control of the possession by private individuals of all kinds of forearms so that the American people will be safe from gun violence (like the other civilized nations) and so that the police won't be outgunned by the criminals and gun nuts.
It won't happen overnight, but you the American people have to start by telling your representatives in Congress that this is what you want, and by voting out of office the senators and congressmen who pander to the gun lobby.
Chloe

Gun Danger from Friends and Relatives

Hi Humans,
I know I have been talking about this on previous blog entries, but I thought I would summarize what it all means. Gun homicides in the course of robberies occurs more often in poor countries. It has been shown that in the USA and in other developed countries (Western Europe, British Isles, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan) the per cent of homicides that occur in the course of robberies are relatively small. There is also a direct correlation between gun ownership and homicides per population. The USA has the most gun owners in the developed countries and the most homicides. The UK has extremely low gun ownership and extremely low homicides. So if the vast majority of homicides do not occur in the course of robberies, when and by whom do they occur? Most homicides are done by friends, neighbors, and relatives who fly off the handle in disputes and have access to guns. Drinking alcohol can lower the threshold. Gangs members sometimes shoot and kill members of rival gangs for whatever reason. Most mass murders in the USA (like Sandy Hook) were done by people who obtained guns legally (according to the laws in America as they are today). So the argument by the NRA and the gun lobby that more private gun owners means more protection from gun violence is simply self serving nonsense. The facts show that as far as safety of life and limb goes, there is greater danger of being killed or maimed in the USA by a "legal" gun owner who goes beserk than by a robber. But what do I know? I'm just a dog.
Chloe