Eric Byler Weighs in on the Past, Present and Future of Immigration Reform

MoonHowler

Guest contributor Eric Byler weighs in on the Immigration Resolution, the tragic fatal wreck, and comprehensive immigration reform. He has been out in Phoenix as well as other areas, watching the immigration issue unfold before his eyes. He has talked to many people and heard a variety of opinions in his travels.

Any statements and opinions by guest contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the administrators of moonhowlings.net.

 

The fact that this drunk driver was turned over to ICE in 2008, after the
“Immigration Resolution” was put into effect, brings up some real
questions about the wisdom of expensive policies at the local level
that redirect the time and resources of local law enforcement toward a
focus on immigration status rather than public safety. For 2 months
in the spring of 2008, the policy in Prince William County was very
similar to that proposed in Arizona’s SB 1070. But we corrected our
course on April 29, 2008 so that we check the status of ALL
individuals who are arrested for an underlying crime, rather than
people out on the streets who have not committed underlying crimes but
fit a “probable cause” standard. Just about everyone in our county
agrees that the repeal of the “probable cause” mandate made for a more
effective, more fiscally responsible, and more legally defensible
policy. Still it did not prevent this tragedy.

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Law Enforcement Nixes Privatization of Liquor Stores

MoonHowler

Many people who have are in the know fear the enforcement end of private sales of booze.  Liquor stores are known to be rife with crime issues, including organized crime.  See what some Virginia law enforcement officers have to say about privatizing the ABC Stores.  McDonnell really needs to get off this campaign promise.  He is being a naive Nelly.  It isn’t good for Virginia.  The true conservative stand on selling the liquor stores is to tell McDonnell NO. 

From the Richmond Times Dispatch:

Ashland, Va. —

Ashland is a college town with one state-owned store for selling liquor.

Police Chief Douglas A. Goodman Jr. knows that probably would change if the Virginia General Assembly agrees to Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposal to give up the state’s 76-year-old monopoly on the liquor business.

“There’s no doubt there would be an increase in outlets,” Goodman said. “I’m not aware of what the number is going to be.”

That’s a big question for local law-enforcement officials, who met with key members of the governor’s staff last week for a briefing on concerns about the potential effects of privatizing the liquor business on the communities they police.

Instead of 334 state-owned stores spaced across Virginia, local law-enforcement officials are uneasy about the prospect of 800 to 1,000 private liquor retailers, many of them concentrated in areas of high demand, trying to boost sales of spirits in a state where liquor consumption is relatively low.

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Post Nuclear World-65 years after Nagasaki

MoonHowler

65 years to the day after the bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, one has to ask still, why the Japanese clung so tenaciously to non-surrender, especially after such devastating military losses, fire-bombings of Tokyo and other large cities, and a nuclear blast that flattened Hiroshima 3 days earlier. 

Japan had a figure head emperor but had been slowly taken over by a military government.  The people were far removed and had been convinced that they must fight hand to hand, if necessary, to the death to protect their homeland and the Emperor.  Until the surrender, the Japanese people had never heard their Emperor’s voice. 

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University of Virginia now requires students to disclose arrests, convictions

MoonHowler

UVA is lowering the hammer on students who may have an evil twin.  When students return August 21 for the fall session, they will be required to disclose any arrests or convictions.  Failure to report an arrest or conviction will result in an honor code violation.  Honor code violations are good for a trip home–permanently. 

This crackdown is a result of the death of lacrosse star Yeardley Love who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, George Huguely who was a fellow lacrosse player.  UVA hopes to flag those with violent tendency.  The dean’s office will be interviewing those who report an arrest or conviction or any crime committed other than a routine traffic violation. 

According to the Washington Post:

University President Teresa A. Sullivan discussed the new rule at a news conference marking the end of her first week on the job. University leaders hope screening students for criminal encounters will flag those who might commit violent acts.

Students return to Charlottesville the weekend of Aug. 21. When they log onto the campus computer system for the first time, each will be prompted to report any arrest, other than minor traffic infractions, since enrolling.

UVA is getting serious about domestic violence and it’s about time all colleges follow suit.  Domestic violence was a problem 40 years ago at UVA.  Hopefully students will police themselves and take any and all expressions of violence seriously and report cases to the campus police.  Young people are all too willing to dismiss acts of violence and blame them on drinking, stress, and ‘personal problems.’  These young adults need to understand that these types of behavior are harbingers of worse to come.  The message must be sent that domestic violence, even that which can be classified as verbal assault, is dangerous and will not be tolerated in a civilized society.

Is violence that prevalent on campus?  What else can be done to ensure students report it so we don’t have another Yeardly Love on our hands?  How much does substance abuse contribute to the violence problem?  How does the Love killing really differ from the beheading at Tech or from the Tech Massacre?