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Opinion a Kansas Viewpoint Page 2 Colby Free Press Thursday, June 8, 2006 Opinion A Kansas Viewpoint The right people decide who carries From The Winfield Daily Courier Before we get comfortable with Kansas’ new concealed carry law, let’s look at it. Any citizen not convicted of a felony, under a court order or men- tally ill can qualify for a permit. Who grants those permits? The attorney general, of course. So far as anyone knows, the attorney general is not an expert in mental health. Yet the AG is expected to decide who is, and who is not, mentally sound enough to carry a concealed weapon. God save us. Those who work with the mentally troubled know there are doz- ens of shades of mental illness. Not all are formally diagnosed, by any means. Mental illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia have epi- sodes. Sorting out just who actually has these or other mental dis- eases is a tough, tough job. Ask any mental health professional. Nor are many individuals with deep anger diagnosed as mentally ill. Attorney General Phill Kline can do this state and his successors a big favor by calling for an advisory panel of mental health profes- sionals to share these decisions. If the law needs to be amended, the Legislative Coordinating Council can do it this summer. We dare not leave recommendations on those decisions to the Just another day of the week young lawyers in the AG’s office, bless their ambitious hearts. If we do, everybody involved will be sorry. I wish someone would explain to me the to type. phrase, “It’s Monday.” Jan Katz Never once does the phrase “It’s Monday,” I don’t understand why so many people put a run through my mind in a negative way. I love About those letters . negative twist on a day of the week. Ackerman Mondays. It’s time away from my office and The Free Press encourages and welcomes letters from For instance, I walked into an office on Mon- being out and about. It’s time spent with neat readers. Letters should be typewritten, if at all possible, day and said hello to those seated at their desks • From Where people in Thomas County and a chance to view and should include a telephone number and an address. and asked, “How’s it going?” I stand what’s going on in the fields I drive by. Most importantly, all letters must include a signature. I heard an almost unanimous reply of, “It’s Monday. It’s a great day. It’s the day after Unsigned letters cannot be published. We reserve the Monday.” Sunday, which is a great day. I already knew it was Monday, and that wasn’t And it’s the day before Tuesday, which is also right to edit for clarity and length, what I’d asked. Speaking of weekend, “It’s Friday,” usually great day. Something struck me that I should test out my has a more upbeat sound in the respondent’s Turning Monday into a positive day only question in another office. voice in eager anticipation of the weekend. takes the action of one person to not let the day “Hi, how’s your day going?” I asked in the next I think the reason I don’t understand the “It’s be given a negative connotation. That positive Comments to any opinions expressed on this page are encouraged. office where an individual sat behind a computer. Monday” issue is I spent my growing up years action will be contagious if an entire office, Mail them to the Colby Free Press, 155 W. 5th St., Colby, Kan., 67701. “Oh, it’s Monday,” was the reply without even as the daughter of a self-employed parent who community, etc. grabs hold of it and changes Or e-mail [email protected] or pdecker@nw kansas- eye contact from the individual. was a contract mail carrier. their voice fluctuation. .com. Opinions do not necessarily reflect the Free Press. Monday. From where I stand it’s the day after For many years my dad’s job was a seven day Instead of saying the word Monday in a sad, Where to write, call Sunday and the one before Tuesday. a week haul from the originating post office to depressed or sullen way, try uplifting your Monday is a day which can be seen as a bless- three other post offices. voice fluctuation and see what happens. People ing that the Good Lord provided breath in one’s It’s true, neither rain nor sleet nor however that will wonder why you are happy and excited U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, 109 Hart Senate Office body to haul himself or herself out of bed and go saying goes, nothing but an absolute blizzard about Monday. Building, Washington, D.C. 20510. 202/224-4774 to the job He has provided. keeps the mail from being delivered. It’s like my answer to people who ask me U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, 303 Hart Senate Office Monday is a day for some people who get to When my dad retired from his mail route I how I’m doing. My usual answer is “I’m awe- Building, Washington, D.C. 20510. 202/224-6521 stay at home because they’ve worked a weekend took it over and for eight years it was my turn to some.” shift and it’s a day off. buck snow and be out in the heat of summer. Talk about throwing someone a curve. U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, 2443 Rayburn House Monday can also be a day of holiday as part of Even today when people ask me what I think Well, for several months of answering a par- Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. 202/225- a vacation, or a day for a funeral or a wedding or about the weather I have to stop and get my ticular woman’s question of me how I was, she 2715 or Fax 202/225-5124 any other activity which may take place in a thoughts together in order to reply because stopped in her tracks at the post office and asked State Rep. Jim Morrison, State Capitol Building, person’s life. weather isn’t something I spend time thinking just what made me awesome. 303 SW 10th St. Rm. 171-W, Topeka 66612. 785/296- But Monday certainly isn’t one to be isolated about. What an opportunity. 7676 e mail: [email protected] web: www.ink.org/ out as a bad day of the week. As a reporter it really doesn’t matter what the I asked her if she truly wanted to know why For instance, how many times would my test weather is outside, sun, rain, sleet or snow, if you I believed I was awesome. She did. public/legislators/jmorriso question be replied to with, “It’s Tuesday,” or want the story you just go. Two hours and a few prayers later over cof- State Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, State Capitol, 300 SW “Oh, it’s Thursday.” Same goes for the day of the week. fee the woman accepted Jesus Christ into her 10th St., Rm. 128-S., Topeka, Kan. 66612, 785/296- But then there’s Wednesday. Right now my Mondays are spent covering life as her Lord and Savior. 7399 [email protected] “It’s Wednesday,” which is usually followed the Thomas County Commissioner meeting, Isn’t life great? by, “Thankfully only two days to go,” from those checking on things at the courthouse and law Jan Katz Ackerman is a reporter for the waiting for the weekend. enforcement center and returning to my office Colby Free Press. COLBY FREE PRESS 155 W. Fifth (USPS 120-920) (785) 462-3963 Colby, Kan. 67701 Changing the face of Kansas politics State award-winning newspaper, General Excellence, Design & Layout Excellence, Column Writing, Editorial Writing, Sports Columns, News, By Steve Haynes nal Republicans for years. Most governors have governor’s mansion. She has an outstanding Photography. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius seems intent on re- been Republican. Only when the GOP could not political mind. Popular and virtually assured of Official newspaper of Thomas County, Colby, Brewster and Rexford. making the political landscape of Kansas. produce decent candidates has the Democrat had a second term, she has moved to seize the high John Van Nostrand - Publisher The governor returns again and again to the a chance. ground and, perhaps, change the Kansas politi- [email protected] liberal side of the Republican party for recruits. And then, only exceptional Democrats — the cal landscape for all time. NEWS First, she named John Moore, a respected Dockings, father and son; the maverick Joan If she succeeds in drawing off even part of the Wichita Republican and Cessna Aircraft execu- Finney; the able and appealing Ms. Sebelius — liberal Republican voters, making them Demo- Patty Decker - Editor tive, as her lieutenant governor. have made the grade. crats or even independents, she might just re- [email protected] Tisha Cox - General Assignment She had Mike Hayden, the Atwood native and Because you had to be a Republican to play store the two-party system. And in doing so, she former Republican governor, continue as secre- the game, many young politicians joined the might restore a more “normal” look to Kansas [email protected] tary of wildlife and parks. She held over Secre- GOP who in other states would have been politics. Jan Katz Ackerman, Area Reporter tary Janet Schalansky at Social and Rehabilita- Democrats. Mark Parkinson and Mike Hayden Freed of its left wing, the Republican party [email protected] tion Services.
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