Author: Tom Laurent

Opinion

Opinion: How can we prevent the next school shooting?

Publishers note: Governor Newsom signed SB 1174 into law, which: prohibits local governments from requiring voters to present identification at polling places. California is now one of 14 states that do not require voter ID at polls. source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/elon-musk-compares-newsom-to-the-joker-after-gov-banned-voter-id-requirements-in-california We, as a nation, did nothing after the April 20, 1999 […]

Opinion

Opinion: Climate change denier Doug LaMalfa

Our Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. On Sept 20, 2023, this committee held a meeting in which Sec. of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was in attendance. Pete was discussing highspeed rail transportation and electric vehicles as ways to reduce carbon dioxide omissions.  […]

Opinion Siskiyou

One nation under guns

In 2023 there were 340 school shootings, 656 mass shootings and 42,987-gun deaths in our country. The basic truth about guns is that more guns equal more gun deaths  The American gun culture is the story of how the 2nd Amendment has been manipulated by a culture of acceptable gun […]

Opinion Yreka

Opinion: Was Jesus telling us to be woke?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines woke as being aware of important facts and issues, especially regarding racial and social justice. This tells us that “woke” people are informed people who are compassionate, committed to getting rid of all forms of discrimination, and making the world a better place for all. Would the messages Jesus preached qualify as being […]

Opinion Siskiyou

California’s Racist Past

Racism has been alive in California since the arrival of the Spanish in 1769.  Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, California was home to an Indigenous population of around 300,000 people.   Spanish and Mexican rule (1769-1848) was devastating for California’s Indigenous population. It has been estimated that the pre-contact […]

Opinion

Opinion: To whom does Palestine belong?

Why did Hamas kill 1,300 and wound 3,300 Israelis on October 7th?  Hamas said it was motivated to launch the attack because of long-term anger over Israeli treatment of Palestinians, expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and recent violent encounters at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque (cbsnews.com). Israel’s deliberate policies […]