Posted on May 28 at 11:55 a.m.

I wonder if the idiot who started this fire will get away with just claiming "I can't pay for it." Something serious should happen for this level of stupidity and negligence. Whoever started it should have a lifetime ban from the forests. And I can think of a few more punishments that would be deserving....

On White Fire Threatens Santa Ynez Recreation Area

Posted on January 10 at 10:49 a.m.

Thank you, Mr. Fina!

It is great to hear a well-informed point of view of one who has carried firearms much of his life and likely still does.

I don't read that he is saying remove all guns. He is saying that assault rifles - read, high capacity, weapons designed for war and high volume fire - and other high capacity magazine fed weapons are not needed to sustain the Second Ammendment.

And if having a firearm - the Wayne LaPierre, good guy with a gun to take out a bad guy with a gun - might on some theoretical rare level be helpful, a wheel-gun or revolver would work just fine.

When you are not trying to kill or harm many, many others, one doesn't need 30-round magazines.

In the gun shop near my house, the only items being sold are the latest in military style .223 caliber assault rifles, with the AK-variants thrown in. We don't need these on our streets.

I find it humorous almost to hear those who propose that some day they might need to take on the government. And that's what they need an AK or M4 carbine knock off for (perhaps lacking select fire capability).

These folks that dream about taking up arms against their government, are thinking they could take on the US military, or local SWAT teams? What are they thinking?

Let's accept the fact that six or nine rounds is sufficient. Let's eliminate high capacity magazines - let folks turn them in and receive, free, smaller cap mags. And let's eliminate all arms that can accept high cap mags. Simple modifications could work.

Then these disturbed or sociopathic folks will at least have some limits on the carnage they can inflict. It just might make a difference.

You have to chuckle at John Stewart's take on Sheriff Arapio's stand that his "posse" of armed volunteers will protect the schools in his county in Arizona. John is like saying, we'll really feel comfortable to have guys who have nothing to do 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday (unemployed or unemployable) patrolling our schools, armed, and that will make us feel safer. And we expect these volunteers to have a uniform level of proficiency. It goes on.

I think this is a gun-crazy culture that we need to curb, put some limits on. I have no objections to some limits, and I'm not an anti-gun guy.

On On Guns and Safety

Posted on January 10 at 10:20 a.m.

Angry,

You have company in your stupidity. There are many who opine that bicycle and motorcycle helmets impair vision and one's ability to navigate - aside from the apparent negative esthetic factor that pedal bike helmets incur.

Fortunately, in the powered bike world (as in scooters and motorcycles), many of the young and invincible love to wear helmets adorned with the graphics of stellar international riders - Rossi, etc. - which they aspire to be like anyhow.

Perhaps you can keep working that "brain" graphic concept, among others - anything that encourages helmet use. I'm sure you are aware, you were lucky. You could have been temporarily or permanently gone. Just from a goofy ride. Yup.

Suggest you don't encourage, even in jest, folks to abandon helmet use. While it may seem like helmet laws discourage riding, riding without a helmet can end riding, life, and sentient functioning. And the cost? Way more to care for you in a persistent vegetative state than the economic benefit of selling 100 more bicycles.

Consider that, Angry.

On How Now, Bow-Wow?

Posted on May 24 at 7:49 a.m.

Rstein9 is missing maybe a huge factoid: Hove and Washington were in a situation in which their lives were in jeopardy - and they had legitimacy for using deadly force. But instead these fine human beings sought to, at great risk to themselves, resolve this matter through non-lethal means.

Look around at the news; read about what happened in Placerville to a woman who nabbed an ambulance - shot dead.

Be thankful that we live in a community where folks like Hove and Washington are not only impressive law enforcers - and maybe athletes too, considering what was going on - but really nice people.

Kudos to you dudes, Hove and Washington! Keep it up.

On Officers Honored for Valor and Bravery

Posted on March 19 at 9:37 a.m.

It seems odd that so-called "traffic engineers" have determined bulb-outs and other traffic disruption devices safety enhancements.

If one drives through Samarkand, you'll frequently find a bulb-out pointing to cars at each other, a potential headon collision. How is that safe?

These traffic disruptions narrow the roadway and, particularly in residential areas, often create a greater likelihood of accident.

One might imagine in a few years, bulbouts will begin to disappear as the negative impact is evenually appreciated.

On Battle of the Bulb-Outs

Posted on November 15 at 7:06 p.m.

Perhaps the media should review the situations of other counties in California. Almost all have struggled in recent years to match the service need demand with adequate funding. It's nothing new. It's just that finally this dilemma has come home to roost in Santa Barbara County.

On Mental Health Braces for Budget Bloodbath