<DIV>Neither the Sheriff or the Mayor have offered any solutions to Moscow's problems. But Moscow deserves them because they elected them. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As long as Moscow continues to ignore its sick, elderly, and poor, it will continue to struggle. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Best,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Donovan<BR><BR><B><I>Saundra Lund <sslund@roadrunner.com></I></B> wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Visionaries:<BR><BR>I find Sheriff Rausch's comments in today's Daily News . . . interesting in<BR>light of his comments in yesterday's Spokesman Review, which I'll definitely<BR>be remembering come election time next year.<BR><BR>"Latah sheriff sees safety with more guns <BR>He wants increase in citizen permits<BR>Associated Press <BR>August 9, 2007<BR><BR>MOSCOW - The sheriff of Latah County, where a shooting rampage left four<BR>dead and three wounded last
May, wants more people to obtain concealed<BR>weapons permits and carry guns, including on the University of Idaho campus,<BR>to improve public safety.<BR><BR>"In my opinion, if there were more students with (concealed weapons<BR>permits), the world would be safer," Sheriff Wayne Rausch told the Lewiston<BR>Tribune. "Just because we (law enforcement officers) are charged with<BR>protecting the public doesn't mean the public shouldn't be able to protect<BR>itself."<BR><BR>The university bans guns except under supervised circumstances at its firing<BR>range. Except for law enforcement officials, the university requires that<BR>firearms "be transported to the range unloaded, encased, with a trigger lock<BR>attached or otherwise rendered inoperable."<BR><BR>Rausch's idea also contradicts Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney, who late last<BR>month asked for a legal opinion from the state attorney general's office on<BR>whether the city has the authority to ban both concealed and exposed
weapons<BR>in public areas such as city buildings. . . . <BR><BR>Rausch said people who apply for concealed weapons permits are screened and<BR>are typically not a problem. He said some 540 people in the county now carry<BR>concealed weapons. . . <BR><BR>Rausch is the only law enforcement officer in the county with the authority<BR>to issue concealed weapons permits to individuals. . . "<BR>http://www.spokesmanreview.com/idaho/story.asp?ID=203801<BR><BR><SNORT>Yeah . . . the UI would be *much* safer if students could carry<BR>concealed guns on campus -- NOT! I truly thank God Rausch has no say over<BR>the UI's policy because clearly, he has NO CLUE about the immature and<BR>otherwise "irate" students UI faculty and staff deal with on a regular<BR>basis. Perhaps he should spend some time in those folks' shoes before he<BR>runs off at the mouth proving what a complete and total nitwit he is.<BR><BR>Note, too, this is the same sheriff who lied on TV by saying Jason
Hamilton<BR>didn't have a concealed weapons permit. Fortunately, Joel Mills from the<BR>Lewiston Tribune was present to set the record straight about what the<BR>records actually show rather than what Rausch wishes they showed :-)<BR><BR>And, here's today's article where he modifies his tune to say that<BR>apparently ONLY those working in city and county buildings deserve special<BR>protection in his book from the "irate" folks they deal with whom he thinks<BR>should be carrying concealed weapons. What a flippin' hypocritical nitwit<BR>he is!!!<BR><BR>"Moscow-Pullman Daily News<BR>Sheriff defends mayor's decision to ask about gun restriction<BR>Rausch has concerns for enforcement of firearm rules in public buildings<BR>By Tara Roberts, Daily News staff writer<BR>August 10, 2007<BR><BR>Latah County Sheriff Wayne Rausch said he supports Moscow Mayor Nancy<BR>Chaney's decision to look into what power Moscow has to restrict guns in<BR>public parks and city-owned
facilities.<BR><BR>"I don't think it's a good idea for there to be arms in the (City) Council<BR>chambers anymore than I think it's good for there to be arms in the (county)<BR>commissioners' chambers," Rausch said Thursday. <BR><BR>"It's an attempt to prevent loss of life, and I agree 100 percent with it."<BR><BR>The issue stems from a letter City Attorney Randy Fife sent at Chaney's<BR>request to the Idaho Attorney General's Office asking what authority, if<BR>any, the city has to restrict firearms in buildings like City Hall, the<BR>Eggan Youth Center and the Moscow Police Department.<BR><BR>Rausch said signs alone do not prevent people from bringing guns into<BR>buildings where they are banned.<BR><BR>He cited the Latah County Courthouse as an example. Although there are signs<BR>stating guns are not allowed in the facility, there are not metal detectors<BR>or armed guards to enforce the rule.<BR><BR>Rausch said he is sure armed people have come into the courthouse
despite<BR>the signs.<BR><BR>"It's been my recommendation that we have a magnetometer at every available<BR>entrance, and that we take better provisions to better protect that<BR>building," he said.<BR><BR>He said the courthouse and city buildings are vulnerable to violent<BR>incidents, but it's expensive to take measures that would make them more<BR>secure.<BR><BR>"It's of major concern and most of it's prohibitive just due to cost," he<BR>said.<BR><BR>The county has installed security cameras in the courthouse as a safety<BR>measure.<BR><BR>"Most of the time you're in there, you're gonna notice there's cameras in<BR>there saying, 'We're watching you,' " Rausch said.<BR><BR>Rausch said he is "a very strong Second Amendment proponent" and has no<BR>problem with concealed weapons permits, but understands the reasoning behind<BR>the mayor's request.<BR><BR>There have been several incidents recently when people have come into city<BR>and county buildings "very irate," he
said.<BR><BR>Moscow Police Chief Dan Weaver, who met with Rausch and Chaney to discuss<BR>the gun-restriction issue Thursday, said such incidents concern city and<BR>county leaders.<BR><BR>"People have come into City Hall or other city buildings and become<BR>extremely angry - yelling, cursing, demeaning to employees," Weaver said.<BR>"With that type of anger shown, it does concern us that we need to try to<BR>take some steps to protect our folks."<BR><BR>Chaney said the city is considering other safety measures for employees,<BR>such as installing panic buttons in some locations.<BR><BR>As far as enforcing a gun restriction, Chaney said the city will "cross that<BR>bridge when we get to it."<BR><BR>"I'm not under the illusion that even if the attorney general's opinion is<BR>we have the authority to regulate firearms in city facilities that would<BR>stop" violent incidents, she said.<BR><BR>Thursday's meeting was not the first time Rausch, Chaney and Weaver
have<BR>discussed firearms and public safety, and it won't be the last.<BR><BR>Weaver said they started talking about "the proliferation ... of gun<BR>violence in this area" after Jason Hamilton's May 19-20 shooting spree in<BR>Moscow left four dead, including Hamilton, his wife and Moscow Police Sgt.<BR>Lee Newbill.<BR><BR>Weaver said the issue is about intimidation as well as gun violence.<BR><BR>Chaney said guns in public meetings could intimidate people and hinder their<BR>ability to openly testify.<BR><BR>The city would be remiss if it didn't address the issues of safety and gun<BR>violence, Weaver said.<BR><BR>"We think that it would be wise and prudent and in everybody's interest to<BR>regulate firearms in public meetings and public buildings," he said. <BR>"We are trying to preempt problems here." <BR><BR>Tara Roberts can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 234, or by e-mail at<BR>troberts@dnews.com."<BR><BR><BR>Saundra Lund<BR>Moscow, ID<BR><BR>The only thing
necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do<BR>nothing.<BR>- Edmund Burke<BR><BR><BR><BR>=======================================================<BR>List services made available by First Step Internet, <BR>serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <BR>http://www.fsr.net <BR>mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>=======================================================<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><p> 
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