Gun Control Laws
In the wake of the mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater and the death of Trayvon Martin, the nation is forced to reevaluate its gun control laws. Gun enthusiasts insist that additional laws will only be a disservice to law abiding citizens.
Gun Salesmen, Payne Cooke of Folmar’s Guns and Jewelry does not believe stricter gun control will prevent gun related crimes.
Payne Cooke:
“I’ve always said that guns don’t kill people, people kill people flat-out. I don’t think it will.”
Although the second amendment protects citizens to possess an operable handgun, easy access to assault rifles and the lack of federal background checks is placing firearms in the wrong hands.
Payne Cooke:
“It’s the private buyers; it’s the guys going to get it from the guy across the street. And it’s hard to stop that.”
Tallahassee law enforcement and community organizations have partnered together to host “The Bury a Gun, Not a Love One” program. The event is gun buyback program that aims to reduce homicides and other gun related incidents in the Tallahassee community.
According to the U.S Department of Justice, 40% of gun sales do not require a background check. Between March 1994 and December 2008, background checks prevented 1.8 million prohibited people, including felons and the mentally ill, from purchasing firearms.
Same Sex Marriage Debate
.
In
May, President Obama announced that he endorses same sex marriage.
Gay
rights activists Reverend Elder Diane Fisher of Gentle Shepherd Metropolitan
Community Church believes this could help push others to support marriage
equality.
Reverend
Elder Diane Fisher:
“We
can certainly look to President Obama and what President Obama said as we lobby
for people to become tolerant of different.”
Gentle
Shepherd, located in Tallahassee, Florida is an open and affirming Christian
church. The congregation outreaches to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender community.
Winnie
Miles, co-worship leader of the Gentle Shepherd has been with her partner
Carolyn Allen for 29 years. Miles explains her thoughts on marriage.
Winnie
Miles:
“A
partnership of everything..sharing everything and it doesn’t need to be
regulated.”
With
laws in place prohibiting same sex marriage, same sex couples are denied basic
protections and rights that include hospital visitations and health insurance.
Although
Florida has banned gay marriage, national support for gay marriage has jumped
nearly 16 percent since 2008 according to a pew research poll.
For
News 20 at 5, I’m Amanda Legros.
Madisa
Ngozi Art & Hair Gallery: Business Thrive Despite Economy
Valencia Jones, owner and master braider of Mandisa
Ngozi Art and Hair Gallery in Tallahassee, had plans to become a psychologist
upon graduating from Florida A&M University. But instead her passion for
hair led her to establish the first natural hair care gallery in North Florida.
Valencia Jones:
“I believe with what we are doing here with natural
hair and natural hair care it has a deeper meaning like I said it relates to
our culture. It’s something that is healthy.”
Mandiza Ngozi, which means sweet blessings in EBO,
is one of several hair businesses that continue to thrive during tough economic
times. The gallery offers a variety of hair services from traditional braids,
loc extensions herbal oil treatments and natural hair care products.
The recent expansion of the gallery now offers
African art, custom made jewelry by Denise, designer clothing and signature
hair accessories.
While the rest of the economy is barely surviving
to stay afloat, beauty salon sales grew at a 5.4% rate last year and in 2010.
Co-owner of Mandisa Ngozi, Denise Jones joined in
with her sister Valencia despite her intended career plans.
Denise Jones:
“My initial career plan was to become an educator.
My major at Florida A&M was education but I had a passion for braiding and
doing natural hair so I stuck with it. And here we are Mandisa Ngozi.”
A report in the LA Times showed that from 2009 to
2010, the hair market grew 2.3% and shipments of hair products reached $1.9
billion dollars. This is proof that the hair industry continues to turn a
profit.
For News 20 at 5, I’m Amanda Legros.