RANT: It seems to me that enough people have weighed in with their opinions over what is being euphemistically referred to as “The Incident” at the high school this week that I don’t need to throw in my (frankly uneducated) 2 cents worth. This is obviously a fraught issue and, regardless of the legal outcome, something that our community will continue to grapple with for quite awhile.

The thing that struck me, though, was how few people even questioned that a teenager could apparently easily get a hold of what are effectively weapons of mass destruction. This observation has nothing to do with my views on the Second Amendment. Well, it does in that I understand where the initial idea germinated, but have a feeling that the founding fathers were not envisioning concealed (emphasis on concealed) weapons for a hike in a national park. The bottom line is no matter what your views are regarding #2, teens are not allowed to have a gun permit.

Ironically, I just received an application to join the NRA. I don’t know if this is simply a precipitous (on their part) marketing accident but I have the feeling that after a week like this, they might have a few more takers in our town.

RAVE: Tax Day is April 17 this year — and surprisingly, it isn’t because of a government shut down. Instead, the delay is caused by Emancipation Day, a little-known government holiday to commemorate Lincoln’s signing of the act that freed the slaves. This act of liberty gives me an extra 48 hours to put my house in order. Hallelujah!