The murder rampage in Aurora, Colorado, has caused some to conclude that had more people in the movie theater been armed, perhaps 40 people would have been killed, and that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution “applies to ONLY those people who are in the militias.”

A few years ago, David Giles, a media lawyer, and I were asked to visit our company's newspapers and television properties to discuss a number of issues including libel, the dangers of the Internet and a variety of other subjects -- he from the legal standpoint and me from the editorial.

WASHINGTON - The narrow defeat of a proposal to ban flag desecration marks the second time in a month Senate Republicans have lost bids to amend the Constitution in ways designed to inspire social conservatives to vote in the midterm elections.

WASHINGTON - The Senate dealt an election-year defeat Wednesday to a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, rejecting pleas from President Bush and fellow conservatives that the measure was needed to safeguard an institution that has flourished for thousands of years.

WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' liaison with the White House will refuse to answer questions at upcoming Senate hearings about the firings of eight U.S. attorneys, citing her Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination, her lawyer says.

So the President released his list of executive orders and suggested legislation last week — nothing surprising there, given the President’s previous comments. None of them will stop a madman from killing. Even the President recognizes that. But they might diminish the amount of carnage the madman can inflict. And if we’re lucky, might even prevent him from carrying out his murders.

second amendment

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court appeared willing Tuesday to say that the Constitution's right to possess guns limits state and local regulation of firearms. But the justices also suggested that some gun control measures might not be affected.

A year has passed. The outrage has subsided. The public outcry for change has faded. But the slain are still deceased; the wounded are still trying to recover and lives and families have been damaged forever.

The Gilbert Town Council voted to amend the town zoning code Tuesday to allow Southwest Ambulance to find a new home for a downtown station the town recently asked it to relocate. Two of the ambulance provider's three stations in Gilbert were recently discovered to be illegally located in parts of town.

A year has passed. The outrage has subsided. The public outcry for change has faded. But the slain are still deceased; the wounded are still trying to recover and lives and families have been damaged forever.

When is a park a pleasant community retreat - and when a soapbox? When is a monument a cultural display - and when a religious statement? When is a city free to accept a gift with a distinct message - and when can it say, "Thanks, but no thanks"?

Queen Creek is seeking comments from public agencies on three proposed general plan amendments.

In one of his best-known routines, the late comedian George Carlin famously questioned why the day's temperatures are recorded at the local airport - when nobody actually lives there.

In one of his best-known routines, the late comedian George Carlin famously questioned why the day's temperatures are recorded at the local airport - when nobody actually lives there.

Gov. Jan Brewer said Wednesday she is open to the idea of denying automatic citizenship to children of illegal immigrants even though she conceded that's not what she was taught in school.

WASHINGTON - Rep. Elton Gallegly has argued for nearly 20 years that one way to fight illegal immigration would be to deny citizenship to U.S.-born children of people who enter the country illegally.

Let’s face it, the nation’s founders didn’t create the Second Amendment to allow people to kill defenseless, unarmed school children.

Despite some contemporary opinion, there is no historical evidence, except for a bit of Thomas Jefferson’s political writings, that the Second Amendment to the Constitution was designed to ensure that Americans could, if necessary, rise to remove a tyrannical government.

It has been reported Senators Adam Driggs and John McComish are preventing SB1112, The 2nd Amendment Preservation Bill, from consideration by the full Senate.

WASHINGTON - Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell has asked his fellow commissioners to overturn a much-criticized decision that an expletive uttered by the musician Bono on a network program was not obscene.

For 15 years, the National Transportation Safety Board has urged states to pass laws requiring children to ride in booster seats up to age 8 or until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall.