Gun Control

Got this feel good graphic from one of my brothers who loves America, but just can't stand the politics of more than half the people that live here.

In 2006 there were 31,000 gun related deaths in the US. Only about 600 were accidental and around 17,000 were suicides. The remaining 13,400 were homicides and only 400 of those were committed by law officers while making arrests. So, that left 13,000 people getting shot to death because someone had a gun handy.

Oh yeah, on Sept 3, 2006, the number of US troop killed in Iraq surpassed the number of Americans killed by the 911 terrorist: 2,974, but only 1,000 of them died in 2006 and only about 400 of that number from gun shot wounds.

So what can we make of this numbers game. In 2006, Iraqi militants shot and killed 13,000 less Americans than were shot and killed in America.

What can really be said is with or without the numbers, “There’s no reason for all the guns in America, and there never was a reason for Americans to be in Iraq.” Humph!

Our 22nd Annual 4th of July Parade and Party

The parade is always pretty much the same, but the party can vary greatly. This years was one of the best. The guest count was manageable -- probably 75 total with half that number for lunch. Two years ago there were so many people that the only way I could get from the front yard to the backyard was by walking around the side -- the inside was wall to wall people.

Another good part this year was the addition of more children. Still no where near the number we had in the first years, but more than I've seen in a few years. And there's promise of even more kids in the future. That's what I'd like it to be all about. That and hot dogs and cold beer and ...