The right to bear arms is a constitutional guarantee, but the State of Ohio should not reverse the current legislation that keeps residents from carrying concealed weapons.
Despite the prohibition of concealed weapons, a Cincinnati group plans to walk the city's Northside neighborhood Sept. 28 with their guns out in the open in an attempt to sway the Ohio Supreme Court to overturn the state's ban.
While the group of Cincinnati residents claim they need weapons for protection, the answer to violent crime is not to increase the number of guns on the streets.
Studies have been conducted in states before and after the implementation of concealed-carry laws and have shown the amount of violent crime decreases. In 1997, a paper released by John Lott and David Mustard states their finding that right-to-carry laws reduce violent crime. This is rebutted on the Journal of Law and Economics Web site, http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/. Two crucial arguments against these studies is the possibility of omitted variables or biased information.
The Ohio Constitution states that residents can arm themselves for defense and security, but the state has had some form of restriction on carrying concealed weapons since 1859. While Ohioans have a right to self-defense and security, the laws concerning concealed-carry have not changed over the years for a reason. Without proper, extensive training, the residents of Ohio should not be permitted to lawfully carry concealed weapons.
Technology increases distractions in classroom
As advancements are made, it is necessary to teach today's youth the importance of technology and allow them to master its uses. But schools should monitor the use of some technical devices so they will not be abused throughout the school day.
Any number of things can be a distraction in the classroom, but the latest technology trends have some schools banning certain gadgets. Because some "back-to-school" supplies such as laptops and cell phones can take students' attention away from learning, teachers are examining the need for them in the classroom.
It is almost impossible to walk down the street without seeing someone talking on a cell phone, but while children are in school, the phones should be on silent and left in their lockers. The possibility of text messaging, playing games or the phone ringing during class is too great and it is almost impossible for a teacher to constantly monitor. It is a disruption to the class as a whole and it detracts from the learning environment.
Another trend making its way into the hands of teenagers is handheld computers, also known as PDAs. The main purpose of these tools is to keep track of appointments, assignments and other scheduling tasks. Games and the Internet also are accessible through some PDAs, and for these reasons, they should not be allowed in the classroom. The small size of these computers makes it hard for teachers to notice students using them, and the distraction caused by PDA use is not beneficial to the student's learning. Students can write their assignments down in a notebook and program them into their PDAs after school.
Some schools throughout the nation are able to provide students with laptop computers because of corporate grants. If these devices are provided to students by the school, then they should be allowed during specific class time. The school should be responsible in controlling the software installed on the laptops provided to students. By only including the necessary programs and blocking out certain Internet sites, the school can do its best in ensuring the computers are used only for academic purposes.
Technological advances in our society are important and teaching students to use these devices gives them a valuable asset. But there is a time and a place for the use of these toys, and the classroom is not it. The main focus in schools is the education of students. Gadgets that allow programming of information or that deter students' attention from learning are not beneficial to their overall education and should not be permitted for use throughout the school day.
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