| Today's Feature Laser Pointer Ordinance Shot Down.
The Public Safety Committee
took no action on the issue of laser pointers in
the hands of those under 18 years of age during
their meeting at the Police Station last Monday
night.
Council member Don Stearnes
presented the Committee with several documents
that showed varying amounts of concern by other
cities and doctors.
The practice of
"dotting," or pointing the small hand
held laser lights at another person, was
presented as the most dangerous activity.
Stearnes documented that studies have shown the
beam can cause damage to the eyes if exposed over
a period of time.
Committee Chair Mike Harris
said that although he could see the potential for
some control, he felt that existing ordinances
concerning assault and other nuisance type
activities were sufficient for the time being.
Committee member Charlie Bastin
said that he saw no need for a specific ordinance
at this time, unless there are more complaints
cited by the Police Department.
Police Chief Dennis Veach told
the Committee that his department has not seen
any real problem with the devices, but he
understands that Pittsburg has had some
difficulties.
"I understand that there
is a place for protective ordinances," said
Veach. "I would certainly not be in favor of
an ordinance that dealt with possession (of the
device). If anything, I’d be OK with
something that had to do with the illicit use.
"I would suppose, if
someone was to walk into our lobby tonight, and
said that someone had pointed a laser in his face
and blinded him for a second, and asked us to do
something about it, I would think it would be
covered by minor assault."
Harris agreed.
"Similar to if John Doe
stuck a fork in your leg," said Harris.
Stearnes also noted that the
laser beam’s red "dot" is also
used as a sighting device on some fire arms,
which can frighten unsuspecting individuals. He
told the Committee that the devices were not
allowed to be carried by students in the Carthage
schools.
Some ordinances cited by
Stearnes from other cities made the mere
possession of a laser pointer by anyone under 18
a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 90 days in
jail.
Harris said that he was not
against stopping anything that was dangerous to
the general population.
"What I am against,"
Harris told the Committee, "is picking up on
something and just deciding that because some
people don’t like it, we’re going to
keep everybody from doing it.
"I do think there is
information that needs to be looked at, in depth.
The Committee asked that the
Chief keep them informed if further complaints
are received and if further action is necessary
in the future, it will look at the possibility of
an ordinance.
The Committee also heard a
request from Main Street Carthage to permit the
Farmers Market to use the Square again this
summer. Main Street Director Diane Sharits told
the Committee that the Wednesday and Saturday
market would rotate on a schedule to that
established last year. The possibility of closing
one lane of traffic was discussed but not
considered as feasible.
Commentary
Martin
"Bubs" Hohulin
State
Representative, District 126
Without trying
to sound too dramatic, we probably saw a vote on
the most defining issue since I was first
elected. I am talking about the issue of
unionization of state employees, commonly known
as collective bargaining.
This issue has been around ever
since Governor Mel Carnahan took office back in
1992. It had never been really pushed hard until
this year when Gov. Carnahan called for passage
in his State of the State address. As I have
mentioned before, this was done in an attempt to
attract massive amounts of labor union money to
his campaign for U.S. Senate.
This would have covered all
state employees, including teachers, and would
have forced them to join a labor union.
Ironically, most state employees don’t want
to have to join a union. The reason the labor
unions want this so bad is that the number of
workers joining labor unions has been declining
and as a result, the amount of workers paying
dues to labor unions has been declining. Without
their members’ money to spend as they wish,
the power of the union bosses has been declining.
If they could force public employees to join a
union, their ranks would swell tremendously.
Government as a whole has been one of the fastest
growing employers this decade.
The key to this whole issue
actually rested with about a dozen rural democrat
legislators. Except for one, possibly two
members, all the republicans were committed to
voting against it. All but about a dozen
democrats had committed to vote for it. It became
apparent those members would be key to whether it
passed or was defeated. Immediately Gov. Carnahan
and the labor unions went to work on them.
We heard from reliable sources
that these members were threatened with
guaranteed primary election opponents, funded
with massive amounts of campaign cash, to run
against them if they voted against this. They
were also told their legislation would never see
the light of day and they would NEVER be
appointed chairman of a Committee.
Likewise, if they voted for it,
they would be guaranteed there would be no
primary opponent and would be given huge amounts
of campaign money. Their legislation would be on
the fast track for passage and they would be
appointed to chair a Committee next year. Press
releases were sent to the media in their
districts slamming them over and over.
Since many of these members
were new legislators this had to have been
tempting, but they resisted. I have to say that I
admire them greatly at this point. Instead of
buckling to the pressure, it seemed to strengthen
their resolve to do what was right for their
district. In the end, 15 rural democrats joined
75 republicans to defeat this measure. It would
have been 16, but after the vote ended, one rural
democrat got up and begged the Speaker to let him
change his vote to yes. It is possible this
measure might come back again this year, but for
right now, public employees won’t be forced
to send dues money to labor bosses.
As usual, I can be reached at
House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City,
MO 65101, or 1-800-878-7126, or
mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions,
comments, or advice.
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