Found on actual repuable websites, not huffington post!

Pretty amazing numbers huh and actually over 370 of those deaths were alcohol related, lets ban cars!!! Those deaths are very preventable. I would like to know how many are (were) repeat offenders and how our system has turn them loose time and time again..

Chances are probably so. Definitely so in my family.

I see you found the link. However, that link is not the one to the article which appeared in the RTs. For some reason, that link seems to be unavailble via the Roanoke.com website.

If your objective is to reduce gun deaths, the data in the article offers clear evidence that putting more guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens will do the trick.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-sugarmann/gun-deaths-exceed-motor-v_b_1536793.html

It may be documented that the huge increase in gun sales has not caused an increase in crime (which is great), but it is not true that the huge increase in gun sales has not caused an increase in gun deaths.

Gun crimes and gun deaths are two different things.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/their-opinion/gun-deaths-still-too-high/article_5cca12b9-aee4-587d-b357-2882150c55c3.html

yes I’ll track it down for you. It was on the front page of Monday’s RTs, …looks like it originated with a Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter.

I get it now, your brother was a child in your family.

I think many of us have lost a family member due to “tragic circumstances”. I have. And believe it or not, we can empathize with folks even if not.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2012/12/18/gun_deaths_in_america_gun_deaths_outpace_motor_vehicle_deaths_in_at_least.html

http://dlglawfirm.com/auto-accidents/gun-deaths-outnumber-traffic-deaths/

As to your points:

1. The United States of America is not a business. It cannot be run like a business, it does not do the same thing as a business and it is not a business.

The Constitution was written to codify the structure of our government. The Bill of Rights (the first 10 Amendments) was added to codify the rights the Founders believed were needed to gain ratification and to clarify the importance of the rights of the people.

2. After seeing the damage and the loss to fishing, tourism and the ecosystem in the Gulf, and the damage from Hurricane Sandy, I do not support drilling off the Virginia coast. The potential for jobs is not worth the potential for the spoilage and tax dollars to fix the mess. (Same with Uranium mining while we are on the subject.)

And Robert, you are truly dreaming if you believe anything will “lower our taxes” or “increase our economy 10 foold”. We do not have the refinery capacity for the oil we process now BTW.

There is no boon without a bust and no opportunity without risk. I hope never to see oil rigs off our coast.

3 We all “support prosals for the longterm stabilization of social security and medicare” but I disagree completely that such is what has been offered from the GOTP. The “Obamacare” “taxes and fines” are not going to have any impact on “the healthcare industry as a whole”. They are to force people to make the needed insurance coverage a reality or join the exchanges to help pay for what they get. The health care industry does not care WHO pays, insurance, government or patients, as long as they are paid. The insurance rules, the exchange rules, the Medicare and Medicaid rules are where the savings and changes for the good will come from as it will no longer be just us against them.

As to the point about smokers, they are already paying more for insurance and in 2014 that can be up to 50 percent higher premiums according to my research so yes, back that “double” up with some sources. Smokers cost more in health care, especially end of life, it is not just because people don’t like them. I hope this helps many people quit smoking. Most insurance companies and even some businesses offer free help in quitting already.

If there is any “penalty” it is self-inflicted.

4. I support the current Immigration Reform as I understand it. I know that immigrants pay payroll taxes and Social Security and Medicare they will never be able to draw on. I do not know if you have all of your facts correct, but I am not interested in arguing about what immigrants are “given”.
http://www.neighborhood-centers.org/page.aspx?PageID=330#taxes