Restoring citizen’s rights

Federal District Court Judge Ramona Manglona ruled local handgun law unconstitutional for violating the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The provision grants citizens the “right to bear arms…in self-defense.”

The Second Amendment is rather broad and only addresses rights and self-defense. It didn’t define type of weaponry that may be adequate for personal and family protection. Though the judge has a rather difficult social responsibility, I doubt though that she has the authority to define which weapon is suitable or otherwise.

The Legislature may try its hands regulating handgun ownership but must equally ensure it doesn’t become a vehicle to carry out the law just declared unconstitutional.

I’m not going to deny anyone his rights to bear arms though I still dread serious or fatal accidental injuries. Even experts get into this mess. I came close to one and the very reason I voluntarily gave it up, including my high-powered rifles. I’m fine with plans to buy a .223 or .22 magnum caliber rifle sufficient for my protection.

Appalling that it took a decision to realize that the NMI doesn’t have any laws regulating handguns. Legislators were caught with dropped jaws struggling to understand what’s “constitutional.” Any argument about culture is fluid and uselessly irrelevant. It’s about a citizen’s rights to bear arms for self-defense purposes. Gee! This shallow political calisthenics even fails the laugh test!

Around the Region: All Nippon Airways (ANA) has ordered three A380 aircrafts, each seats 525 passengers, to take advantage of competition hauling passengers to the State of Aloha, according to a recent news item in the Japan Times.

“ANA is keen to take advantage of the expansion of Tokyo’s Haneda airport for international flights. And in Japan, outbound flights means going to Hawaii.” Moreover, “flights for all airlines between Japanese airports and Hawaii are running at 80-90 percent capacity. By using the A380, ANA can substantially increase the number of people it carries without increasing the number of flights.”

Obviously, the NMI and Guam aren’t in this equation. But the Aloha State offers unmatched services in hospitality. Even I find trips to Hawaii rewarding as though I’m coming home once more. As soon as the door opens the trade winds carry my stressful load elsewhere and I’m whole once more.

The $400K Question: The appropriation of public funds is a constitutional mandate. He feels I’ve been vindicated by the subsequent appropriation of funds for the Settlement Fund. The constitution specifically talks about “legislative appropriation.” It never granted legislative delegations such authority.

Therefore, the $400,000 given by the Rota Legislative Delegation to the family-owned shipping firm of Lt. Gov. Victor Hocog must be returned forthwith! Obviously, Hocog has become a detractor himself by demonstrating that he’s not conversant with pertinent constitutional provision mandating legislative appropriation of public funds. And you’re now second in command? Your ignorance has turned fodder for students in civics courses throughout high schools here!

How about some semblance of integrity? You can start by proving divestiture in the family-shipping firm. Or is this why you’re the spokesperson? Finally, please publish your tariff rates so Rota consumers could find out how much you charge per 20-40-foot container.

Development Plans: The disoriented way with which the NMI deals with planned projects is further exacerbated by the lack of a set of administration plans how it wishes to dispose of the issue in organized fashion. As such, it engages in the scheme of “hits and misses” collecting more of the latter as trophies to boast about while our livelihood deteriorates.

If anything, any plan now in the incubation stage must begin looking for private lands for its purpose. No more public land leases! Nah! In fact, the indigenous landowners must actively participate in any proposed land use plan. Once and for all let’s collectively dispose of our land the way we see fit.

The KUMHO and Kan Pacific experiences are more than sufficient lessons that illustrated how the landowners (indigenous people) were screwed royally too. They secure huge tax breaks, fail to sink in real time investment, sell the development making millions of dollars then leave! No Mas!

Hypocrisy: Interesting how some public officials have turned hypocrisy into an art. Senators Arnold Palacios and Sixto Igisomar have started spouting about the need for basic infrastructure to a group of government agencies.

Appalling the grand hypocrisy Palacios displays after ensuring that BSI is handed real time cronyism with its permits. Why can’t Palacios also walk the papers of other businesses needing permits from the same agencies? Are there reasons why you would shy from doing the same, sir?

Rise of Localism: The rise in sentiment of localism—claims of indigenous interests and rights—has bloomed from one end of the archipelago to the other. It includes the misguided political status talks, retardant emplacement of basic infrastructure, revival of local tradition including fabricated Chamorro chant, among others.

The disjointed message is clear including the absence of a vehicle to carry through pronouncements about indigenous interests and rights. It sounds hip but completely misplaced what with each group conducting its own stationary agenda. Last I checked there’s nothing up that alley!

We promote the use of the vernacular unaware that 90 percent of households among Chamorro families use English from dawn to dusk. Adding insult to injury, we move the teaching of the language to school where it is taught as a second language. PSS has done an exemplary job. It’s the parents that have failed their own children on this score!