Let’s take a look at the facts of the issue, shall we?

First, Americans own more guns than any other country on earth with 120.5 guns per one hundred people. Our good neighbors to the north own a whopping 37.5 guns per hundred citizens, and Mexicans own a paltry 12.9 guns per hundred. (World Population Review).

Now the question becomes, why do so many Americans own so many guns?

Let’s look at the history of gun legislation in America. An assassination attempt was made on Republican President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981, resulting in four people being shot by John Hinckley, Jr. Subsequently, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act was enacted by Congress on Nov. 30, 1993. (Brady had been shot in the head and was partially paralyzed for life.) The law mandated federal background checks on firearm purchasers in the United States. It also imposed a five-day waiting period on purchases until the National Instant Criminal Background Check System was implemented in 1998. Were anyone’s guns taken away then? Again, no.

Also under the Clinton Administration, an assault weapons ban went into effect from 1993-2001, when it expired. One year after signing the Brady Law, White House lobbying also played a role in the passage of the 1994 Crime Bill, which included the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act, commonly known as the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. The law banned certain semi-automatic firearms with two or more specific design features, and also prohibited the manufacture of ammunition magazines that held over ten rounds.

Did the Clinton-era Federal Assault Weapons Ban work? Recently published research from Stanford University found that from 1994 to 2004, the ban was associated with a marked decrease in mass shootings.

In 2025 alone, there were 408 mass shootings in the US, defined by the FBI as shootings involving four or more victims. (crimeresearch.org). So far this calendar year, there have already been 315 mass shootings, including eight killed in Michigan on July 24, six of whom were children! (massshootingstracker.site) And from 1966–present, 1,737 mass shootings have occurred, resulting in 4,465 total fatalities (Rockefeller Institute of Government).

Rights contained in the Constitution are not absolute. There are caveats to all of them. The fact that our founding fathers could not have predicted we would have weapons today that fire 700-950 rounds per minute is one. Regulating gun ownership to prevent mass shootings seems pretty reasonable to me. It seems to me Republicans don’t care about saving innocent lives; Democrats do.

Russ Bowers

Parkersburg

My back is twisted and I’m bent over, due to an extreme, fast onset of scoliosis. In the last 6 or 7 years I have lost 9 inches in height, three of those being in the last month. I am getting worse almost daily as my spine shifts to the side. Yes, my full height of a “tall” 5’ 2” is now down to 4’ 5”. When I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror,, I am shocked how bad I look but thankful I am still able to stand. The fact is, I did not agree to reconstructive surgery when it was first recommended and by the time I was ready, it was too late. So now I live each day the best I can.

Last night we went out to hear a band we had never seen before. They were great. They played a good mix of dancing music, were excellent musicians, and the lead vocalist was fantastic. I couldn’t resist dancing several times. Charlie helped me balance as we couple danced or I took my cane onto the dance floor with me. You know, people notice an old twisted up woman dancing. I’ve had singers from multiple bands come out to dance with me. (I may not be able to move even close to what I used to but I can still keep the beat. FYI, the way I feel about dancing is, you don’t have to do anything fancy, just let the music move you.) Tonight several people told me I was an inspiration to them. This isn’t the first time people have come up to me with the same comment. I get a lot of genuine smiles and hugs, too.

Whether I’m an inspiration when it comes to still getting out there and dancing or my attitude toward life itself, I don’t know. I don’t ask.

I haven’t seen anyone in as bad a shape as I am out in public for a long time. I can’t be alone in my deformities. Does everyone else give up on life or stay inside for fear of offending someone? I don’t insist people look at me. I’m just enjoying myself by doing something I love. No matter if I’m dancing, shopping, cooking, doing crafts, or praying with others, I have to be me.

Don’t be too embarrassed to do something that adds fulfillment to your life. Don’t be so worried about what someone else thinks that you stay home or sit wishing you could join in. Inspiring others is an added benefit to my evenings of dancing. I’m simply being me. Be you and maybe you will inspire others, also.

Bonita (Bonnie) Eaton

Vienna

Mark Penn proceeded to question these young people if they should be allowed to own their own home, to which they would reply yes. To which Mark Penn would inform them, under socialism, individuals do not own homes, all homes are owned by the government.

Next, Mark Penn would ask the same young people if they would like to own their own business, to which, they would answer yes. Mark Penn would then explain that under socialism individuals do not own businesses, the government owns and controls all businesses.

Next, Mark Penn would ask said young people if they believed they should be paid based on the amount of work they accomplished, to which they replied in the affirmative. Mark Penn, then, explained under socialism, the government strictly regulates the amount each worker is paid and all workers are paid the same. Thus, your lazy co-worker would be paid the same as you, no matter how much harder you worked.

Socialism does away with any inclination for an individual to work harder and be more productive to “get ahead.”

Finally, Mark Penn asked these young people to name one country where socialism was successful. The young people were deafeningly silent. Young people are voting in socialism, a system they do not understand, largely because of the curriculum being taught in today’s schools and universities on the “evils” of capitalism, with no mention of the much greater “evils” of socialism.

Once socialism is voted in and takes hold, it will never be voted out because the government will totally control the ballots and the elections.

Conservatives need to do a better job of getting the message across on the failures of socialism, which is always the precursor to communism, to young people or we are going to lose our country to socialism. Under socialism there is no American dream for anyone, including young people.

Steve Wolverton

Parkersburg

I’m writing this letter in hopes that our government officials care, since many live and work here and have to breathe the same poisoned air and drink the same polluted water. I urge them to take action to protect the public from negligent companies that create and mishandle dangerous materials that are literally killing us. The owners of these companies don’t live here. The People’s Cartage guy lives in Canton, and it’s pretty obvious a $46,000 fine for a fire and improper storage at warehouses in the MOV haven’t made a difference.

There is such a history of chemical companies in the MOV causing more harm than good, that its what Parkersburg is known for (i.e. “Dark Waters”). I challenge us all to hold these companies accountable. I ask that we hold our regulatory and safety departments accountable as well. When accidents keep happening, there is a pattern that predicts accidents will continue to occur unless significant change happens. Stop the insanity, please. Demand answers! We are entitled to TRANSPARENCY! Here’s a few questions that I think would be important for our government officials to find the answers to:

* Were hazardous materials present? We know the answer to that already, so what quantities and classifications?

* Were all required permits and inspections current?

* Were storage practices compliant with fire and hazardous materials codes?

* Were emergency response plans adequate?

* Are additional inspections of similar facilities planned?

* Will the investigation findings be made public?

* Does current state law provide sufficient oversight of large industrial warehouses?

* Will air and water quality impacts be reported and made public?

“Better living through chemistry” is a slogan DuPont used to market themselves. Do we have a better life here in the Mid Ohio Valley? Ha! What a joke. The joke is on us. No more. This has to stop. Challenge your government representatives to take action to protect us from negligent companies operating in our community.

Patrick Ward

Williamstown

Red flag laws are not the only dangers facing American gun owners, as Democratic senators are currently pushing three anti-gun bills already filed and facing legislative action.

The first: S 1531/HR 3115 introduced by Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., would grant the attorney general the authority to create “a banned guns roster,” outlawing most semi-automatic firearms, by name and would regulate most pistols, shotguns and rifles out of existence and require BATF pre-approval before owning what few firearms remain and ban standard-capacity magazines, which hold more than ten rounds.

The second: Sen. Martin Heinrich’s misnamed “GoSAFE Act,” S 1370, being marketed as “Supreme Court-proof” and “reasonable” by regulating firearms until they are virtually impossible to buy or manufacture. Heinrich believes he can sidestep the Heller and Bruen decisions and any new pro-gun cases the court might take up.

The third and most recent: Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, based on one of the most expansive gun bans in the country, which just passed in their home state are now taking their crooked, unconstitutional legislation S 4339 nationwide. This is what the Democrats passed when they took control in Virginia and launched a campaign against the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Virginians.

Different bills, different co-sponsors, same goal: Ban all guns. Reduce the Second Amendment to a group of meaningless words in the U.S. Constitution.

Americans have voted RINO John Cornyn, R-Texas, from office, making him a dangerous lame duck for the next five months, who needs not worry about voters’ opinions and can vote however he wishes.

Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate are now awaiting the next tragic mass shooting to ram these bills through Congress and onto President Trump’s desk while the liberal fake news media screams for its passage.

American gun owners need to flood Senate and House offices with petitions, phone calls and internet posts, informing senators and congressmen they will pay a high political price if they pass these or any other terrible anti-gun bills.

Remember, a disarmed nation is more easily conquered by its enemies.

My source of information for this letter is the National Association for Gun Rights.

Steve Wolverton

Parkersburg

To get back to my point, this friend said she would come spend another day with me before she moved. With all the packing and glitches with the moving company, etc. she ended up too busy to waste a day with me. When we got together we didn’t need to do anything special, just hang out. We both felt so comfortable with each other that being together was enough. I was happy that her ordeal with selling her house was over and she was able to get the house she had seen before and wanted in Florida. But when I got off the phone with her it hit me, she’s gone. Sure, we will still talk on the phone but no more so glad to see you hugs, no more in person smiles, no more tasting something I like to fix and knowing she wants the recipe. I started to cry. Except for friends dying, I haven’t cried over much of anything for quite a while; not even about my health and feeling I only have a short time left, myself.

I realize how selfish wanting her to stay in WV really was. She deserves time to enjoy life, not always be stressed out about all the trouble she has been through in the last 3 or 4 years. Yes, I will miss those days of relaxing together. I’ll miss her being at the table if I ever am able to have another group of ladies at my home for lunch. At least she was able to come last time.

Do you have a best friend or best friends who you love to be with? Are they close enough to do things with or are they far away? I have accumulated so many friends over the years that are so special to me; I’d really hate to try to pick only one best friend. Friends who aren’t here any more will always be close to my heart. Like I tell other people, suck it up and don’t feel sorry for yourself. I need to be happy for my friends who will enjoy where they have moved to. I have a lot of good memories of time with them. Besides that, it doesn’t cost per minute of long distance like it used to. I can talk to the ones who moved south an hour at a time and not cost a dime. Cherish time with others. I’ve said it before and am saying it again, “We’re not promised tomorrow” for whatever reason, so make the most of today.

Bye for now,

Bonita (Bonnie) Eaton

Vienna

Claiming it for my private use would amount to theft, and stealing is illegal, immoral, and wrong. Public land belongs to the public, not to adjacent landowners, no matter how much they want it or how small the encroachment.

God bless Roger Kalter for preventing the theft of public land in Knox Park. All residents of Marietta should support him in his efforts to keep public land public, and it is the city’s duty to protect its property from theft.

Roger has put countless hours and who knows how many calories of labor planting trees, righting fallen tombstones in Oak Grove Cemetery, and otherwise improving public places — not for his own private benefit, but for the public good. He should be encouraged and thanked for his tireless work serving the public.

Marietta City Council: Stop the steal of Knox Park!

Dawn Hewitt

Marietta

It is possible to recover usable fuels such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene from assorted plastics using a process called pyrolysis.

Checking the web, there is an innovative company in Veracruz called Petgas Mexico doing just this.

Given that Parkersburg is the center of the Polymer Alliance Zone, with abundant raw plastic resources and obvious environmental needs, Wood County with its local expertise is an ideal place to profit from a pyrolysis processing facility.

Stanley Cole

Parkersburg

However, this apparent comfort is an illusion built on systemic financial fragility.

The modern working class enjoys high consumption not because of rising wages, but due to unprecedented access to debt. This creates a deeply unstable economic foundation characterized by specific structural limitations. The bottom 50% hold mostly transactional money. Cash enters checking accounts and immediately exits to cover bills, leaving zero room to compound in high-yield savings. This demographic remains entirely locked out of Wall Street, missing out on the wealth-generating power of equities, compound interest, and real estate. Prosperity is skin-deep. A single car transmission failure, an unexpected medical bill, or a cut to a government assistance program can cause instant financial crisis.

The old adage rings truer than ever: The wealthy get wealthier while the bottom half remains trapped on a treadmill, perpetually one emergency away from poverty.

I realize the world has always had a level of this disparity and that our adult employment rate is below what it should be.

We have also become too used to government subsidies.

That bottom 50%, though, may eventually organize to take steps to undo some of that disparity.

Doug Reeder

Vincent

One solution which could help prevent many mass shootings, though not all, is properly written and applied red-flag laws.

Many states are enacting red-flag laws of their own and sadly many of these states are setting themselves up to have their red-flag laws overturned because their laws contain no “due process” provision.

Amendment V of the U.S. Constitution reads, in brief, “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law,” and firearms are property.

Also, Amendment II of the U.S. Constitution reads “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

Therefore, a poorly applied red-flag law would be an infringement of Amendment II.

With any red-flag law, is a huge potential for false accusations being used for harassment or for leverage in divorce battles and in custody fights. False accusations of domestic violence or tendencies toward violence abound in family law. Sadly, mere accusations of domestic violence without a shred of physical evidene can cost an individual not only their firearms but their freedom, their career, their friends and their life savings, in defending themselves from such false accusations.

Those who support the Second Amendment believe the answer is “dangerous person control,” not gun control, and will not accept “red-flag laws” with their potential harm to innocent citizens without a swift and fair due process, with provisions for severe penalties for those who make false accusations. These elements are notably absent from most, if not all of the current red-flag gun control schemes.

Clearly, in Democrat controlled “blue states,” the ultimate goal of red-flag laws is to deprive, as many citizens as possible, of their firearms, with no provisions of having their firearms returned, even when they are proven innocent of any wrongdoing.

The fate of states no due process red-flag laws will eventually be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Steve Wolverton

Parkersburg