News & Politics
"In a subtle way, you can shake the world."
― Mohandas Ghandi
― Mohandas Ghandi
Gun Laws and Gun Safety CoursesChristina Maldonado '19
Should you have to take a gun safety class before purchasing a firearm? Some Americans think that it will reduce gun violence and many others believe that they should not have to take a course to purchase or own a firearm. Each state in the United States have their own laws when it comes to firearm purchasing or owning. The state of Iowa, Maryland, and North Carolina require a permit before purchasing a gun. Michigan requires a license to carry the firearm and it is valid for thirty days. Nebraska needs a handgun certificate from a buyer. New York needs a license to purchase or possess a handgun. Rhode Island requires a pistol/revolver safety certificate issued by the state. There are certain conditions that are involved for obtaining a license and they are :
There are many deaths caused by firearms. 4.4 of every 100,000 residents of New York died from gun related causes. Rhode Island and Massachusetts had a lower rate than New York Massachusetts was the lowest with 3.4 gun related dea5hs for every 100,00 residents. Alaska has the highest gun death rate with 23.3 for every 100,000 people dying from a gun related cause in the year of 2016. In 2016, New York State reported 900 gun related deaths. This was the 17th highest number in the country. Texas was in a higher position with 3, 353 deaths due to a firearm. The NRA Training website can help interested gun buyers to take a gun safety class online or find a NRA education course near their area. More information about the course can be found on their website. http://lawcenter.giffords.org/gun-laws/policy-areas/gun-owner-responsibilities/licensing/ http://www.politifact.com/new-york/statements/2018/feb/01/brian-kavanagh/rate-gun-caused-deaths-ny-among-lowest-country/ http://www.nrainstructors.org/search.aspx
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School Shooting in Parkland FloridaChristina Maldonado '19 There was a school shooting in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday, February 15th. This school shooting caused seventeen deaths. Many young survivors are expressing their views against gun violence. The shooting was ranked in the top ten deadliest gun rampages in the country; three of the shootings just happened in the previous four months. Florida’s governor, Rick Scott, said, ”The violence has to stop. We cannot lose another child in this country to violence in a school.” He promised to meet with the lawyers of the state in search for solutions involving gun control and mental illness. Nicolas Cruz is a nineteen year old shooter. Cruz is charged with seventeen counts of premeditated murder. The gunman entered the compound, which consisted of three thousand students. The shooter began to shoot at 2:19 pm and made his way down the halls, then to the different floors of the school building. Twelve deaths occurred inside the school building; two other deaths happened outside the building, and one death on the street. Two other deaths happened in the hospital and fourteen people were injured. The interrogators from the Brown County sheriff’s office got a statement from Cruz about when the shooting started, and apparently “he began shooting students he saw in the in the hallways and on school grounds.” Cruz ran out of the building when he saw an opening, but before he left the building, he left his bag and rifle, so he could look like the rest of the students - running out to protect themselves from the shooter- and find his way far from the school. Cruz then went to a Walmart to purchase a drink from Subway, and made his way to McDonald’s. Cruz was finally arrested at 3:41 pm. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/15/florida-shooting-suspect-charged-questions-nikolas-cruz Abuse: Cocaine and Opiatesby Sydney Teran '18 and Sage Addington '18
Ambush! contacted the Gallup Police Station, the Gallup Indian Medical Center, and Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services to ask how many cases of cocaine and opiate abuse they have witnessed, and how many of those cases were minors. Only one person got back to Ambush! Journalists. Philip Hart, Chief of Police, referred our questions to Narcotics Commander Lt. Padavich. Hart said he appreciated the newspaper’s interest “as it affects our entire nation.” Padavich has yet to comment. Like any drug, there are risks that come with taking it. A 2011 report from the Drug Abuse Warning Network showed nearly 1.3 million emergency visits were from misuse or abuse of drugs. 40% related to the use of cocaine. What can happen if taken? Some short-term effects are dilated pupils, increased body temperature, as well as high heart and blood pressure. Some psychological effects include, as some users reported, irritability, paranoia, anxiety (attacks), and hallucinations. Each individual may have a different experience with the drug, resulting in effects not being the exact same. Although the long-term effects might match up. A continuation can lead to strokes, convulsions, cardiac arrhythmias, and the worst case scenario: death. Cocaine can also cause inflammation in the heart muscle and other difficulties from the strain cocaine puts on the heart. Seizures and brain bleeds are also high risks. Risks can affect everyday activities leading up to losing one’s job, close ones, and even bankruptcy. Cocaine is known to be one of the most addictive drugs; next to nicotine, heroin, alcohol, and caffeine. Now I know what you’re thinking, caffeine? How is that as bad as the others. Well according to the Drug War Facts (DWF) caffeine is ranked a 2, second to last for dependence. Dependence meaning the difficulty to quit. The last ranked a 1 for dependence was marijuana. How much does it take to get addicted to cocaine? The answer is simple, tolerance can occur after a couple doses. It doesn’t have to be a lot and can want you craving more which then is the start to the addiction. For this article, GHS Ambush! talked to a teen cocaine and opiate abuser. To protect the identity of the interviewee, they have been given a code name: Andy. All other names in this interview have also been changed. The interview was conducted by Sage Addington. To some, it might sound like Andy did not seem to take the interview seriously, but I know my friend better than that. Andy covers his emotions with laughter and smiles, but my friend can have a dark head. When I first confronted him to ask for an interview, Andy immediately exclaimed, “F*ck, yeah! Interview me! I’m perfect, my dad is seriously about to send me to rehab for coke.” I found out after the interview a friend of Andy’s told his dad. With permission, I started off with my first question, “How old were you the first time you tried cocaine?” Andy thought for a moment before saying, “Eighth grade, so like, thirteen.” We had met in the eighth grade and were good friends. Andy would come over to my house, and we’d walk everywhere around Gallup. Now I’m not too sure we were really that close. A little taken back I asked, “How were you able to obtain cocaine?” “My friend Liz and I would steal it from her mom,” Andy began to laugh, “Her coke was really sh*t.” When asked how Andy currently obtains cocaine, he simply said he “steals it” or picks up people so they can buy it. I was sure I already knew the answer, but inquired, “Do you ever mix substances?” “All the time,” Andy scoffed. “What kind?” “I usually smoke weed, drink a little, and sometimes take a pill.” “What kind of pills?” I was writing down Andy’s replies when a small period of silence was created. “I don’t know,” Andy admitted, a thoughtful look on his face. “You don’t kn--” Andy cut me off, “It's like Xanax and something.” I didn’t push that question much further, “Do you abuse at school?” “I don’t go to school,” Andy cackled. I laughed a little at the remark, “Okay, how about when you went to school?” Andy dropped out of high school last year. He tells me he just hated going to school, but his father said that “kids weren’t too nice to him.” “Um, yeah,” Andy grinned widely and took out his phone. A minute later, Cardi B was blasting from the bluetooth. “Do you think doing drugs is morally wrong?” I asked over the music. ”Good people don’t do drugs. I do drugs,” Andy shrugged, laughing, but avoiding eye contact. “You’re not a bad person,” I impulsively said, but it wasn’t entirely true, so I added on, “To me at least.” Andy’s always been a mischievous kid… Stealing his mom’s cigarettes at age nine and asking adults to buy us booze with the baby fat still in his cheeks. A couple of my friends have told me that Andy has stolen from them or lied to them on a constant basis, but I never got that kind of disrespect. Andy has always kept it straight with me and I feel like I can count on him, but lately the “friends” he hangs out with have me worried. Whenever they come over for a brief it they talk about their drug cocktails and brag about their lack of memory the next morning. Andy tells me he hates them, but they always have weed and something else, so he hangs out with them. Since hanging out with this crowd, Andy’s been stealing more often. “If you think doing drugs is bad, then why do you do them?” “Because I’m addicted,” Andy said a bit seriously. “A f*cking crack fein,” he added, making sniffling noises. We laughed quietly at the sniffling, but I could tell we both knew the moment was serious. “Seriously though,” I began, “Why did you first try it?” “Because it looks cool,” Andy didn’t hesitate with his answer. “I’m not buying that,” I said, skeptical. “I just wanted to try it,” Andy replied. “You just wanted to try it?” I questioned. “I thought it would be a good high, like in the movies.” “So is it worth it?” I asked my final question. “No,” Andy shook his head, “It’s not. It’s so f*cking expensive and it doesn’t do sh*t. Like, honestly, I wish I could spend my money on something else.” There are other methods of intake that come with their own set of consequences. Smoking cocaine can cause lung problems, bronchitis, or chronic cough. Ingesting, another form of intake can reduce blood flow. One everyone might have heard is snorting. Not only can it damage sinuses and the nasal cavity, that can result in nosebleeds, loss of smell, and swallowing problems. Injecting too can lead to scarring, skin lesions, collapsed veins, and risk of being infected with diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. Cocaine might be a good “high” for awhile but is the end game worth it all? If you are having difficulty quitting, or know someone who might need help here are a list of people or sites you can contact. 1-877-332-6981 1-855-557-6730 https://www.thewatershed.com/lp/addiction-treatment-2-a/?tws=b&ps={adposition}&id=kwd-77378201092029:loc-190&aid={creative}&ver=ETA&msclkid=ed6f6cb34850158f4ebd36c748ce6d9f&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=00%20-%20Demographic%20-%20National&utm_term=heroin%20addiction%20treatment%20center&utm_content=Drug%20Addiction%20Treatment%20-%20program https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine/what-are-long-term-effects-cocaine-use https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/234239.php http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Addictive_Properties http://www.narconon.org/drug-abuse/cocaine/intestinal-problems.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4673290.stm Confusion Over the Emergency Alerts; What’s Happening?Jocelyn Sung ‘18 Remember the mass panic that ensued when a false emergency alert notification warning people about an “incoming ballistic missile” was received by thousands of Hawaiians in January? You might have seen a few of the jarring videos over social media. There were people with tears welling up in their eyes as they wished their loved ones well, no matter what happened to them. There were adults helping kids no older than ten into sewage drains, hoping that doing so would protect them from a threat—unbeknownst to them at the time—that never existed. This false alarm was later said to be the result of a human error. Over Twitter, Hawaii’s governor, David Ige, tweeted that he was meeting with “top officials of the State Department of Defense and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency… to prevent it from happening again.” While there haven’t been any more false alarms from Hawaii, people became a bit concerned on Tuesday after they heard that there was a tsunami alert. This information wasn’t spread through the Wireless Emergency Alert like the Hawaii ballistic missile warning was; the National Weather Service claims that the message was only a test, “intended only to go to state warning points and certain other government agencies.” News and weather services noticed the test message, and they posted it to both their apps and social media. People thought that this was a serious message and began calling the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), asking if there was a tsunami warning. The National Weather Service and other news channels began telling their followers over social media that this alert was simply a test message, and that there was never a tsunami threat for New England. Some are wondering if this confusion is somehow related to the Hawaii missile alert, considering that the two events aren’t too far apart in time. Either way, it’s always better to be safer than sorry. If an immediate threat is posed to your safety, don’t think twice; seek immediate shelter. Sources: https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/13/politics/hawaii-missile-threat-false-alarm/index.html https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2018/02/06/national-weather-service-says-there-tsunami-threat-for-east-coast-despite-apparent-false-alarm/dcNGkHWNhzVVLgfCZdblJJ/story.html https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/wireless-emergency-alerts-wea Taiwan's Current EarthquakeChristina Maldonado '19 A powerful earthquake hit the east coast of Hualien Taiwan with a magnitude of 6.4 quake. This happened at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday. The earthquake was centered 14 miles northeast of the coastal city of Hualien. All of Taiwan could feel the shaking, but the most disastrous place that was Hualien, because there were walls collapsing and it left buildings at an “alarming” position. Officials reported 62 people missing and 9 deaths. Most of the missing people were believed to be trapper in the 12 story Yun Men Tsui Ti Building. There had been an estimated amount of 196 people rescued from that building. Hualien residents are used to earthquakes, but despite that, the region is well known for its beauty. The people I interviewed did not experience a high magnitude earthquake, but I found their stories interesting and exciting. Everyone who has not experienced an earthquake probably could picture what the scene looks like, but I think these interviews will give a better picture of what it is. I interviewed Jocelyn Sung about her experience. Maldonado: At what age did you experience the earthquake and where did it take place? Sung: The most recent one I can remember happened when I was about twelve or thirteen in Menifee, California. Maldonado: Could you describe the earthquake and tell whether it was intense or not? Sung: A few people I've met think living in California is experiencing intense earthquakes more often than not, but I've actually slept through a majority of them because they're so tiny. (They happen at night more, or at least that's what I've experienced). This one was a bit stronger than others, which is why I woke up. I could see the picture frames trembling on the walls. Maldonado: Do you recall the first thing you did and why you did so? Sung: In all honesty, I was still trying to wake up. I remember sitting there and telling myself that it would probably be smart to crawl under the table, since that's what my teachers always reminded us to do in case of an earthquake. Before I could shake off the sleep enough to do so, it already ended Maldonado: Have you encountered earthquakes before or after that one you've mentioned? Sung: Yeah. I know I’ve experienced other earthquakes that I just slept through, but they all blend into each other after a while. Luckily, I haven’t had the misfortune to find myself in one of a large enough magnitude to cause some serious damage. I also interviewed Zyla Layugan about her first time experiencing an earthquake. Maldonado: At what age did you experience your first earthquake and where you aware of it? Layugan: I experienced an earthquake when I was ten years old and living in the Philippines. I was aware that a volcano was erupting near, but I did not think that t would reach where I lived, because it was far. Maldonado: Could you describe your reaction to the earthquake? Layugan: I was astonished. My brother and I had to run to my mom, but I wasn’t scared. Maldonado: Did you experience any more earthquakes after, and if so, was your reaction the same ? Layugan: I have not experienced more than that one Maldonado: How intense was the earthquake? Layugan: It was not intense. However, the glasses in the cabinet was shaking and we could hear them moving. The interviews were interesting, because I did not know these people had experienced an earthquake. If you know someone with an earthquake story, then you should ask about their experience. https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.nytimes.com/2018/02/07/world/asia/taiwan-earthquake-search-survivors.amp.htm WEEKLY POLLOp-Ed: #MeTooMovement*This article is a retraction, though no information was changed. The article was accidentally posted without being titled as an Op-Edby Christina Maldonado '19 Just Be Inc was the beginning steps of the #MeToo Movement. Tarana Burke was a youth worker who worked with children of color. Burke heard many stories about broken homes, and abusive or neglectful parents. During this time, Burke met Heaven. Heaven was a girl who left Burke speechless. The young girl would follow Ms. Burke around, so she could beg her to listen to what she was going through. Burke sat down to listen about Heaven's ‘stepdaddy’ or her mother's boyfriend. Heaven talked about the horrible and monstrous things that were being done to her body, but this talk lasted less than five minutes. Burke had to stop the young girl from talking because Burke couldn't take it. The girl had to be directed to a different female counselor who could ‘help her better.’ “... I watched her walk away from me as she tried to recapture her secrets and tuck them back into their hiding places. I watched her put her mask back on and go back into the world like she was all alone and I couldn't bring myself to whisper… me too.” -Tarana Burke, the founder of Just Be Inc. The #MeToo Movement is supposed to help others feel like they are not alone. Sexual harassment can happen anywhere. It is important to understand when it's happening and to know that it is safe to speak out about it.There are terrible things that happen to those who try to speak out. There may be threats, name calling, or other relationship issues.Threats are not taken lightly, because the abusers want to push the victims back into silence, and that is not what the #MeToo Movement is about. This movement is supposed to help victims express their voice. These incidents of sexual harassment and abuse are real problems happening in the world, yet not everyone is seeing what is happening. The work place is one of the most common places where sexual harassment can occur. When there is an issue at work, there should be people who can help handle the situation and this help can be found in the Human Resource (HR) Department. This department is in the work environment to help with hiring, training, employe interaction, etc. I was able to get a document from a restaurant and see how sexual harassment is something that they're aware of and they do not tolerate it. Jolene is a supervisor for the restaurant Cheii’s Restaurant. She stated that the employees should be well aware of how their behavior should be, because their employee handbook has a section that covers Sexual Harassment in the section under Human Resources Policies and Procedures. Supervisor Jolene was able to provide a copy of the sexual harassment section found in the employees’ handbook. The document reads Sexual Harassment:
2. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to actions such as:
There may be workplaces who do not handle these types of situations or acknowledges these incidents. Some employees may not feel like enough can happen so it might come to reporting a lawsuit. Bruce Johnson from Davis Wright Tremaine talks about the impact of the #MeToo Movement. The victims of sexual harassment and sexual abuse have “drawn an outpouring” of testimonies from the #MeToo Movement. A variety of lawyers say they’ve seen a “spike of defamation” when it comes to the recent years of lawsuits. More than a half dozen of women called Johnson in the past two months, because they were being threatened for telling their story. If you want more information when it comes to lawsuits, visit American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) website. Sexual harassment is something that should be taken seriously and people should understand the true meaning of #MeToo and what it represents. http://justbeinc.wixsite.com/justbeinc/the-me-too-movement-cmml https://www.aclu.org/blog/womens-rights/worried-about-getting-sued-reporting-sexual-abuse-here-are-some-tips World Wide Fluby Christina Maldonado '19 The flu season is spreading worldwide. The CDC estimates that the flu has resulted between 9.2 million and 35.6 million illnesses. 12,000 to 56,000 deaths have been reported each year in the United States since the year 2006.
The federal health officials say that the flu rates have been intense since 2006, because of the swine flu pandemic. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated 34 million Americans got the flu during the year of 2014 to 2015. 710,000 of these Americans were hospitalized. 56,000 Americans died from the flu of that year. During a telephone news conference, the director of the C.D.C’s influence division, Dr. Daniels B Jernigan said, “We'll be expecting something around those numbers.” The deaths of seven children was reported to the C.D.C this week. This seasons total of deaths is now at 37. There was 148 pediatric deaths in the year of 2014 to 2015. The agency encourages Americans to get their flu shots, because some doctors and pharmacies may vary in amount of supplies. According to the CDC, the most common symptoms a person feels when having the flu is:
•Not everyone with the flu will have a fever or feverish/chills Most people recover from the flu in several days to less than two days. The body takes about two weeks to create a full immune response. Clinicians recommend a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.nytimes.com/2018/01/26/health/flu-rates https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/01/25/heres-what-you-should-know-about-the-flu-season-this-year/ |
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