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HOMER GUNMAN: A man openly carrying two handguns on his belt and a rifle across his chest was contacted by Calhoun County Sheriff Department deputies in Homer on Monday. Deputies were called at 2:30 p.m. said the man from Litchfield was wearing camouflage clothes and walking downtown and in residential neighborhoods. The man was about four blocks from Homer Community Schools, which waswas placed on lock down as a precaution. When deputies arrived the man began recording them and said he was conducting a Second Amendment Audit about the law enforcement response. He said the deputies passed and was apologetic when deputies explained that the schools were concerned because it was near their release time. The man gave his weapons to deputies and the schoollifted the lock down and then the guns were returned, officials said. He later posted the encounter on You Tube.

DOMESTIC ASSAULT: Battle Creek police have reported the following cases:

A warrant is being sought for a man, 35, after his girlfriend, 40, said she was assaulted in the 500 block of North Avenue at 1 p.m. Sunday.

A warrant is being sought for a man, 27, after his former girlfriend, 26, said she was assaulted in the 5700 block of Dahlia Drive at 2:41 p.m. Sunday.

A warrant for stalkingis being sought for a man, 53, after police said he repeatedly attempted to contact a woman, 41. Police were called at 4:15 p.m. Sunday.

ASSAULTS: Battle Creek police have reported the following cases:

A warrant is being sought for a man, 24, after a male friend, 23, said he was assaulted on Columbia Avenue at 11:04 p.m. Sunday. Police said the suspect had been drinking.

A girl, 10, was slapped and thrown to the ground by two other children at a playground near Truth Drive and Jordan Street. Officers were called at 9:10 p.m. Friday after the girl went home and reported the incident to her father. Another girl slapped the victim, believing she was called a name by the victim. Then a young boy stopped the victim from walking home by picking her up and throwing her to the ground. The girl's father said the same children have harassed his daughter before.

A man, 40, told officers he was assaulted by a man and woman outside his home in the first block of Arlington Drive in Bedford Township at 3:09 p.m. Saturday. The man said the couple were angry because the victim had given another man a ride to a party and that man caused some problems. The victim said the man and woman kicked and punched him and then ran off. The victim was not able to identify the couple and police were unable to find them.

HOME INVASION: A man, 26, was arrested after he kicked a door and entered a residence in the 500 block of West Jackson Street at 3:13 a.m. Monday. Police said the man was intoxicated and believed he was entering the home of a friend.

Call Silent Observer at 269-964-3888 or text CRIMES (274637) SOTIP or see http://www.crimereports.com with information about crimes.

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Police & Fire: Man with guns in Homer told deputies he was testing Second Amendment rights - Battle Creek Enquirer

A few more Maine towns this month have declared themselves to be Second Amendment sanctuaries, following a trend in which pro-gun advocates are hoping to fend off possible gun control measures from Congress and the state Legislature.

In the past month, boards of selectmen in Harrington and Princeton have signed similarly worded resolutions expressing support for their constitutional rights to bear firearms and opposition to any laws that they say would infringe upon those rights. On March 16, Columbia Falls residents passed a resolution by voice vote at their annual town meeting to declare their town a Second Amendment sanctuary.

An official with the Maine Gun Safety Coalition said Tuesday that the resolutions are a continuation of an effort that began a few years ago in which state, county or municipal governments publicly declare their support for the Second Amendment. The resolutions have no legal standing, he said, and often are coupled with a declared opposition to any additional gun control measures that resolution proponents say would be unconstitutional.

Our general stance is that these are symbolic measures that have no force of effect, Geoff Bickford, executive director of the coalition, said Tuesday. Theyre just pieces of paper as far as were concerned.

Bickford said that there is proposed legislation in the Legislature and in Congress to enact gun control measures. Among them is a bill in Augusta that would mirror a federal ban on bump stocks, which increase the firing rate of semi-automatic weapons, while another in Washington would renew an expired ban on so-called assault rifles.

But Bickford said the bump stock ban in Maine already is in effect, courtesy of federal law, and that the likelihood of any additional gun control measures being passed by Congress are low, given the 50-50 split between Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate and the need to get 60 votes to overcome a filibuster in that chamber.

There is no compelling reason to adopt these resolutions, Bickford said, adding the courts decide what is constitutional, not boards of selectmen or county commissioners.

Even so, many Maine towns are considering similar resolutions. Paris, Fort Fairfield, Van Buren and Caribou all have voted to declare themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries, while similar resolutions have failed to pass in Ellsworth and Bridgton.

Steven Cilley, a selectman in Princeton, acknowledged that the March 3 resolution in that Washington County town was symbolic, but said that as more Maine cities and towns adopt similar resolutions, it will send a message to policymakers in Augusta and Washington.

It made us feel a little bit better with everything else going on in this country, Cilley said, adding that Vietnam veterans approached him about bringing the resolution to the Princeton board of selectmen.

A Navy veteran, Cilley said he is concerned that President Joe Biden will push through more gun control measures such as universal background checks for gun buyers and bans on high-capacity magazines, which allow gun users to fire off more rounds before they have to stop to reload. Biden has said enacting the measures will save American lives by helping to prevent mass shootings like those that happened earlier this month in Atlanta and Boulder, Colorado.

But Cilley said that people arent buying into Bidens argument.

A lot of states and towns are doing this, Cilley said of passing resolutions. There are more deaths with automobiles than with AR-15s.

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Down East towns declare themselves 2nd Amendment sanctuaries - Bangor Daily News

As a former chair of the State Higher Board of Education, I am greatly concerned over pending legislation. The political overreach of the legislature in the second amendment to SB 2030passed by the ND Senate now being considered in the Houseis inappropriate and the harbinger of nightmares to come for higher education in the state of North Dakota. The amendment purports to affect only one grant; in reality, it threatens academic freedom for every single professor and graduate program in our public colleges and universities. Successful research cannot happen if government interference is but one legislators whim away.

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The amendment seeks to punish North Dakota State University for a federal research grant that has been in place for many years because it is highly successful and meaningful for North Dakota adolescents, including New American, Native American, and at-risk teenagers. Included are youth in foster care, youth with HIV/AIDS, victims of human trafficking, and pregnant and/or parenting youth who are under the age 21. The subject matter of the grant is sex education and preventing teen pregnancy. Parental permission is required and parental involvement is sought. The well-received curriculum actually is not in question. It's the federally approved curriculum provider for the grant that the legislature objects to.

If state funding for our institutions of higher education can be withdrawn because legislators dont approve of one research grant (or in this case, one facet of one research grant) the institutions of higher education as we North Dakotans know them--and take such pride in them--will be no more. The second amendment to SB 2030 must be scrapped.

Kristen Bakke Diederich served on North Dakota's State Board of Higher Education from 2010 to 2015 and served as board chair from 2013 to 2015.

This letter does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Forum's editorial board nor Forum ownership.

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Letter: The second amendment to SB 2030 must be scrapped | INFORUM - INFORUM

Have you had enough yet? Three shootings in the Fargo/Moorhead area in a week. Two 6 year olds shot. Two national mass shootings in a week. A mass shooting in Minnesota last month. School children need to practice active shooter drills. Have you had enough yet?

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New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, and Canada have had mass shootings. However, they enacted strict gun control in weeks and months. What endures the U.S. to continue to allow gun violence?

In 2016 the National Rifle Association spent $100 million in paying lobbyists and buying political attack ads. In 2020 it was $50 million. If you pay membership fees to the NRA, do you realize you are paying to keep the violence?

No civilian should own a military style rifle. Automatic and semi-automatic rifles are not made for target practice, they are made to kill many people in a short amount of time. If you think it is OK for you to own one because you don't intend to kill anyone, others may have malicious intent. Giving them up is for the good of society as a whole.

This isn't about your Second Amendment rights. When the Constitution was written, guns only fired once before needing reloading. This isn't about hunting. You can hunt with a hunting rifle. This isn't about your entertainment. Find another hobby so others can live.

There are more guns in the U.S. than people. The argument that the more guns you have, the safer you'll be is statically incorrect. Imply limits on the number of pistols owned. Why does anyone need so many?

Say no to businesses that advertise weapons. Say no to NRA memberships. Willingly surrender your AR rifles. Write your senators and legislators. Support gun reform. It is time to say "Enough."

Beth Ann Volk, Moorhead, is a former member of The Forum's Readers Board.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Forum's editorial board nor Forum ownership.

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Letter: This isn't about hunting, entertainment or your Second Amendment rights | INFORUM - INFORUM

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Second Amendment outlives its purpose

That America stands out in gun-related deaths, where mass shootings have become almost routine, is due to one simple fact, according to gun violence research: There are far too many guns, too easily acquired, in the hands of too many Americans.

America justifies this with the belief that gun ownership is an unalienable right of its citizens. This belief is enshrined in the Second Amendment, which has far outlived its purpose.

Today, anyone who wishes to bear arms to protect the state can join the National Guard. It is a myth that unregulated gun ownership will produce a well regulated Militia necessary to protect freedom.

It is past time to repeal the Second Amendment. It has become the greatest impediment to meaningful gun ownership regulation. Remove this crutch to those Second Amendment politicians who argue that unregulated gun ownership is worth this horrible cost to society.

Arthur Mersereau

Manoa

Consult doctor on allergies to vaccines

With respect for those worried about getting vaccinated because of either underlying conditions or possible allergic reactions, the wisest course would seem to be addressing this directly with your doctor (Those with allergies need vaccine reassurance, Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 25). Ideally this professional has your records, sees you annually and is trained to give you current, correct advice.

As for places that are medically prepared in case of problems, it seems reasonable to assume that the state Department of Health could answer those questions.

Having received my vaccinations at Pier 2, I was thoroughly reassured through the entire process that my well-being was under close observation, including the post-shot monitoring period.

Andrea Bell

Kailua

State keeps changing the rules on vaccines

During the past three months, the state said that people with medical issues will be classified in the 1c category. Now that we are in the 1c category, the state is changing its mind, only allowing people with serious medical issues to get the vaccine.

It also seems that people with these issues arent in the 1c category anymore, having to wait for their age group to get the vaccines. Except for our kupuna, people with medical issues can suffer greatly if they catch COVID-19, possibly even threatening their lives.

It is disappointing that Lt. Gov. Josh Green doesnt help people in this group get their vaccines. As a doctor he should know that this group can suffer if they catch COVID-19. I was hoping that Green wouldnt continue the Ige legacy of being wishy-washy, but he continues the legacy of poor planning and not keeping the public in the decision-making process.

Stan Sano

Makiki

Parentage, not paternity, crucial

The commentary, Birth certificates should identify paternity, not parentage (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, March 23) is unsurprisingly sexist. The author said that birth certificates are to identify the biological participants in the creation of the baby.

No, they are not. To frame birth certificates as an inconsequential biological record is lazy and self-serving to those empowered by the traditional family model.

Birth certificates establish parental rights, are critical documentation to travel, provide authority for health care decisions and school applications, just to list a few.

Current laws allow male partners to volunteer their information on birth certificates. Only male partners. To not allow female or non-binary partners this option is outdated and discriminatory. A bill in the Legislature attempts to rectify these current prejudices.

The legislation in question is an intersectional feminist issue, an issue on the financialized penalty imposed on those who exist outside of, and in spite of, gender binaries and patriarchy.

Chauncey Hirose-Hulbert

Manoa

Include parentship on birth certificates

Birth certificates should identify paternity, not parentage (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, March 23), was a thoughtful and important article. I support the author.

Instead of ditching paternity in the current formula, why not keep paternity but add parentship as a separate, alternative field on birth certificates?

This subject puts me in mind of a recent article in the Star- Advertiser about COVID-19 vaccines and the difficulty of manufacturing, and shortages of, biologic medications. Why deny future science the possibility of pursuing the biological trail?

Scarlett Zoechbauer

Makiki

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Letters: State keeps changing the rules on vaccines; Second Amendment outlives its purpose; Parentage, not paternity, crucial - Honolulu...