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Question for those who propose to "seal the border" - dig a moat and fill with alligators? Build a giant fence? To me, explaining that we should "seal the border" is about as helpful as saying we should stop illegal immigration. If life in the United States is perceived to be an order of magnitude better than a residents current location, immigration will happen.

Do companies really hold a position? I thought that only individuals held these opinions.

Okay, putting on my moderator hat - the SCOTUS has determined that the 2nd amendment protects an individual's right to have a firearm even if they are not in a militia. They may also use that firearm for useful purposes such as shooting an intruder (in self-defense) in their home. They've also ruled that private citizens have no right to create their own militias or to own weapons for semi-military purposes - i.e. a "militia" is a government entity. The government may also regulate the concealment of arms and the age to which one may legally posess a gun (i.e. juveniles may be restricted th

Yes, SCOTUS has stated that the BSA is a private organization. Getting out of the Ft. A.P. Hill set-up for jambo should re-inforce that belief. But, keep in mind that I can see why some folks feel the BSA should be legally viewed as a public organization. But, as a private organization, there should be zero legal blow-back for barring membership based on sexual orientation. Politically, I can see very little damage in having more restrictive membership qualifications for adults but I would think the negative feedback for not allowing youth membership would be quite a bit higher

Cowardly? The Supreme Court has stated that the BSA may set membership standards as they see fit due to the fact that they are a private organization. Charter Organizations have always had the right to pick and choose Scout leaders. They could choose to pick only left handed, Catholic females of Swedish decent under the age of 25 with a weight proportional to height for their adult troop leadership positions if they wished. I bet that would be a thriving troop!

I've slept with (actually meaning sleeping) females in the same car at the age of 16. I've slept with males in the same room and house all through college. I've slept in the same tent with the Scoutmaster (male) of my son's troop. That Scoutmaster, 10 years later, now happens to be a transgendered female. I've shared a hotel room with girls/women (19 yrs old). I've slept with adult males in a hotel room. In all cases - our sexual orientation did not come up and neither did any type of sexual situations. Now for a Scouting situation. Do you really feel the position of some fol

Red Bull all around! Seriously, give them choices. For me pizza (traditional) and chips are a no-no (I'm over weight) but for others, it may not be. Some items like pizza and hot dogs can be pure junk or quite nutritious depending on type. Unfortunately, it may cost more to eat nutritiously (why do the poor have a higher percentage of obesity?). I also agree that sugar water is not the best drink option.

Terry, very thoughtful, heartfelt and well written article. That passage of time has come, and today the Boy Scouts of America have announced theyre finally close to dropping this policy, and returning the choice of leaders and members to the local communities and parents where it always should have remained. That decision may come within a week, or certainly will come some day soon. Is this public knowledge or do you have inside information? Also, do you think that was a business decision or a ethical decision on the part of the BSA to drop the policy? Probably a coalition of both i

Oh my, God has come down from the mountain tops and has spoken to us! That was an attempt at light hearted humor - not meant to be condescending or cynical. Terry, as a moderator, sometimes I feel I shouldn't weigh in on issues as much and let others carry that torch, but usually that feeling fades after awhile. I sure you feel the same sometimes - times ten. Thanks for all you've done for this forum for so many years. Now, excuse me while I try to hunt down a Forbes article.

If a Scout has earned a rank and or merit badge but as the Scoutmaster (who is in charge of the advancement program on the troop) you feel the Scout is rusty or worse with that skill - simply assign him to teach that skill to younger Scouts in the troop. That will be a big motivation for him to get proficient real quick. Of course, offer him all the adult support he may need to obtain that proficiency too.

DeanRx - damn right. Them "revenuers" - next thing they'll take away is NASCAR!

The problem I have is the infringement "laws" that restrict that right to law-abiding citizens and with a stroke of a pen turn them into criminals with no activity on their part. Like the ownership of slaves? Like the use of LSD? Like having oral sex with a willing partner? Like drinking beer? Like texting while driving?

How about the death penalty for both the user and owner of any firearm used in a crime? That would act as an incentive for "responsible" gun owners to properly secure their weapons.

From what I gather, the anti-Hagel crowds main dislike of Hagel is his view on defense spending, Israel and Iran. Less than ardent fans of the U.S. military. - Ted Cruz (Texas) I fear that Hagel will be a staunch advocate for, or even accelerate, the continuation of this administrations misguided policies. Jim Inhofe. The misguided administration policies were determination to oversee significant reductions to the size and resourcing of our military. Also, his views on Israel and Iran are not universally endorsed. Chuck Hagel, if confirmed to be the secretary of defense, wo

With our massive anti-bullying, everyone wins, self-esteem culture nowadays, many folks grow up not having a clue to handle conflict. A four year old may be teased and bang his head on the floor or bite, a 10 year old may throw something, a 12 year old may take a different path to school to avoid a bully or decide to fight back, etc. Now, a person may grow up sheltered and the first real conflict they experience is with a school administrator that states he doesn't qualify for financial aid so his rememdy (he has not learned any other approach) is to shoot them. http://www.stltoday.

Okay, everyone get this through your heads - the official BSA reason for the BSA policy on homosexuality is not youth protection, not a guard against sexual molestation - it is because homosexuals (in their eyes) don't make good role models. So, your arguments on this thread are irrelevant. If that is not the "real" reason of the BSA policy, they should state it as such and thus a healthy debate could ensue. But for now, we can only debate the morality of "being" a homosexual. That has nothing to do with molestation and youth protection.

Trouble is, politicians from both sides of the aisle can claim that they "did something" about the problem - even if what they did in actuality is exacerbate the problem.

First of all, having an armed professional (security "rent-a-gun", off or on duty police officer, etc.) will have an as yet indeterminate effect on safety. Can't have any research on that - it may be controversial. Second, if implemented, how will it be paid for? Third - I guess if you have armed guards from kindergarten on, it may not be of much psychological consequence. Having them in schools will not warp them or remove their innocence. But it reminds me when I entered the "real" workforce right after I graduated from college in the late 1970s. Britain (pre-Thatcher) was g

JMHawkins - are drugs a policy issue? Yes. Should drug research continue yes. I think your argument is totally inane. So, unless we get universal agreement on something, let's continue to stick our heads in the sand? I'm not quite sure of the academic definition of disease, but the incidence of gun violence in the USA makes it a health issue. As such, it should be studied. I guess that just deep down, I have more faith in research. Yes, there are some to try and use it for political gain but by and large, I think that science wins out in the long run. Look at aids res

If guns or for that matter obesity, are major factors contributing to "ill-health" screw the controversy and study or gather the facts. I'd rather have the debate done with facts as opposed to ignorance.

Frog with no legs is deaf. As an engineer, I get a kick out of medical research because very rarely, does it show cause and effect, just tendencies. For example, bald men age and eventually die and then someone (media, misguided doctors) or some corporation (Merck-propecia, Pfizer-rogaine) touts their new drug to prevent baldness and prolong our life! Data, in and of itself, is not good nor bad. I think it would be wonderful to collect data on gun violence - the questions are who pays for database management, who enters the data, who has access to the data, etc.

Five shot on MLK road, after MLK parade, on MLK day. To quote Linda Ellerbee, and so it goes. The New Orleans Police Department says that a gunman in a white sedan shot at five teens in front of a store on Martin Luther King near LaSalle around 1 p.m. Monday. The incident occurred on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday marked by a parade in New Orleans that passed by the area of the shooting about 30 minutes prior to the incident. Five people were shot in the incident. The injuries were said to be non-life-threatening. According to police, the drive-by shooting was caught

I'm old enough to remember the last war where the Government drafted able bodied young men against their will, I wasn't impressed.

FDIC insurance is now to 250,000K. That is correct if the "units" are in tenths of a cent. Otherwise, it is $250K or $250,000.

This would solve the problem really fast, unless we run out of bullets. Anyone who harms another individual with a firearm should be shot.