We were all shocked by the mass shootings in Ohio and Texas, shocked, but not surprised. America definitely has a gun problem but seem powerless to do anything about it, and it won't be long before we hear about the next shooting.
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On reading an article by James Morrow, in which he states it would be very difficult to impose a John Howard style gun control, he came up with some interesting statistics.
In America it is estimated there are 393 million civilian held firearms - more than one for every man, woman and child. Most of these weapons are unregistered.
Now here is an alarming statistic. A 2017 analysis showed that mass shootings only accounted for 0.7 percent of all the nation's homicides. Over the same period of the Ohio and Texas shootings, 47 people were shot in Chicago alone, with four fatalities.
President Trump has put mental illness as a problem. The US Secret Service released a report which found that 67 percent of mass shooing suspects had some form of mental illness.
Australian style gun reform may be a problem too hard for the US. In a related article, Miranda Devine suggested at the very least, battlefield weapons should be impossible to procure for someone under 25. For the life of me, why any civilian needs an automatic or semi-automatic weapon is beyond comprehension. It's time for change in the US of A.
WITS
One of the all time favourite movies, "The Wizard of Oz", an American musical fantasy, premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood on this day in 1939.
This movie starred a young Judy Garland and featured a dog called Toto. Toto was a Cairn Terrier and two dogs actually filled the role. Jo and myself bred Cairn Terriers and have never been able to pick any difference in the dogs.
In the movie there were three characters that lacked certain traits. What was lacking in the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion? You should know, but if not, all is revealed at the end of the column.
WITS
Doesn't time fly? It hardly seems like a year ago, but Woolfest is almost on us again as the long weekend in October rapidly approaches.
One of the competitions run in conjunction with Woolfest is Rotary's Beanie or Beret Competition. Now would be a great time to start that masterpiece. To make a beanie or beret you can knit, sew, crochet, macramé, pot, carve, felt or use any other construction method including, and don't ask me how, weld.
READ MORE: Worthwhile endeavours: Word in the Streets
If you want information on the Beanie or Beret Competition, it's available from the Community Op-Shop or give Lyn a ring on 0427 900 313.
WITS
The success, the very future of a town can often be measured by the success of its Annual Show. The continuing success of our show is a reassuring reward for the hard working members of the Boorowa Show Society.
They all work hard, but as the saying goes, "many hands make light work", so new members are always welcome.
A chance to get involved occurs Monday next August 19, 7pm in the Boorowa Hotel Café when the Society holds their AGM to be followed by a short general meeting.
There you are, an invitation to get along and support the Show Society with all welcome.
WITS
Those Wizard of Oz characters missing traits: Scarecrow a brain, Tin Man a heart and Lion courage. Now don't be so unkind as to say I could have played any or all of those parts.
