Ever since I abandoned my gun-free life in Los Angeles and became a hermit in the Ozarks, I’ve owned firearms. And I’ve come to view the gun phobia common to my circle of friends in California as naive.

I guess the same goes for the East Coast, as this poll suggests, with so many people fearing guns in similar way. But, let’s leave that argument for another day. There’s a real issue here. Wasn’t one of the reasons for the second amendment that ensures private gun ownership a fear that government would someday become oppressive? Wasn’t it to ensure that people would have a fighting chance to remain free, if that sad day ever came? Well, then it doesn’t make sense to me to provide that government with an easy list of where to find guns to confiscate. Think about it.

Of course, in practice, the issue requires compromises. Can we afford to have private armies everywhere with tanks and missiles, ready to fight against our nation’s military? Probably not. So, we need reasonable restrictions, and we need to hope for the best. Some trust of our ability to install rational government is necessary. But, after that, we need to cross our fingers.

So, compromise, yes. But a national gun registry? I think that might be a step too far — but likely one that will eventually be taken. — MC

I get it. Granting United States residency on the grounds that Germany forbids home schooling is a stretch. But why would our government spend all this effort and money expelling one good family, when the mood of the Obama administration seems to be leniency toward less educated and less civic-minded illegal immigrants? Well, maybe we know why. This selective deportation bothers me. — MC

I love these cars. Go here and pick your own colors and interiors: http://www.teslamotors.com/. They’re semi-expensive. And there’s a long waiting list. — MC

This raises important issues. Should a tournament be retroactively cancelled after a cheater is disqualified? Or should only the first-place cheater be disqualified and the other prize-money winners move up in rank? Many other questions. No obvious answers. And the Borgata probably had no choice than to follow the law. Still, a terrible solution. — MC

This is evil. If the actress has a grievance, she should seek monetary damages in a civil case. You don’t ban video from the public for reasons like this. Where could this lead? — MC

Call me insensitive, but this isn’t my kind of feel-good story. Don’t mess with athletic events. Points are points, and you shouldn’t be giving them up out of sympathy. There are other ways to show concern. Beside, what if I was in the audience and had made a friendly $100,000 bet with a friend? The two points might have made a difference. Just sayin’ — MC

Actually, I’m not unhappy with this event. It was the wrong case to establish, once and for all, that Americans have a right to play poker. There were too many other things being argued that were clouding the issue. Find a case in which people are arrested for playing poker in a friend’s house. That’s the one that’s likely to permanently establish a constitutional right to play. Keep it simple.— MC

For godsakes, can you just send these whinny, misguided, global-warming children to their rooms. Stop treating them like adults with grown-up opinions. Being kind to the environment is something I was raised to do. Fine. These folks don’t care about the environment. They care about being on an adventure. And, by pure coincidence, that adventure involves a “climate change” and “global warming” thrill ride.— MC

Not so fast! It’s human nature to approve things that will help our selfish best interests. We want to play poker online. Fine.

But what about people who are passionate about betting sports online? Or playing blackjack online? We engaged in this battle because we were ethically right. We shouldn’t cheer legislation that enshrines the oppression we were fighting against, just because it exempts us. Think about it. — MC

Can so-called “zero tolerance” get any crazier. Probably. Stay tuned. — MC

Damn! I have a deluxe wood-burning stove for back-up heating at my retreat in the Ozarks. I’ve never used it, but this type of low-cost heating is common in the area. I wonder if the benefits of a ban will help the environment as much as switching to conventional energy will hurt. I haven’t done my math on this. Has the government done its math? — MC

This trend will be fascinating to watch. Already some major retailers are accepting Bitcoin payments — not just online but in physical stores. Yes, government will attempt to regulate or even destroy this alternate currency. But can that be done? — MC

Strange. Wasn’t Ronald Reagan known as an optimist who appointed many women to high positions? — MC

I’ve publicly alerted poker rooms to this type of cheating over 15 years ago. I don’t know the specifics of this case or whether this guy actually did what was alleged or had sinister motives. But I do know that the practice isn’t uncommon. Management needs to make sure chip counts balance at the end of poker tournaments. And they should begin each event with either new chips or ones specifically marked to prevent previous chips from being introduced during competition. — MC

When you’re a major corporation listed on NASDAQ, you might feel the civic obligation to inform an unsophisticated public about history. Maybe you should let them know about United States presidents whose accomplishments have faded from memory. I recommend Millard Fillmore.

Online coupon magnate Groupon decided on a different person, instead. They chose Alexander Hamilton and informed us: “President Hamilton is best known for the fiscal sensibilities that led him to author economic policies…”

Reporting on this same story, USA Today further quotes from the Groupon Presidents’ Day promotion: “The $10 bill, as everyone knows, features President Alexander Hamilton — undeniably one of our greatest presidents and most widely recognized for establishing the country’s financial system.” My only question about him being “undeniably one of our greatest presidents” is did he serve before or after he was assassinated by Arron Burr in that famous duel?

Or was this “undeniably one of the greatest promotions,” anticipating that it would be widely publicized? — MC

Journalists could help sell millions of papers with factual reporting of the Environmental Protection Agency’s abuses of power. In fact, the only reason the EPA still exists in its present form is because the lefward American media will not report.

This story is just another example. Most people don’t even realize the power that the EPA has to steal, repress, and terrify citizens. What’s to blame? Oddly, I partially blame the radical right Redneck culture for making themselves poster people of anti-regulation to such an extent that they are so despised that city folk can’t think straight. I blame politicians’ failures to confront radical environmentalists who are treated as if they have wrong-headed, but heartfelt beliefs. Well, let me tell you, as one who lived among the hippies: These folks don’t have heartfelt beliefs. They’re just out to stick it to the man and act out their insanity in visible ways. There’s no more to it than that.

Once you understand that great truth, all the rest of the so-called progressive nonsense begins to make sense. You suddenly see the EPA, the radical left, and others for what they are. They’re children who will continually push boundaries against permissive parents, desperately waiting to be told to go to their rooms. — MC

You know, this isn’t a bad idea — Valentine’s at McDonald’s. You just need the right soul mate to think it’s campy and memorable. Warning to guys: Don’t surprise your gal with this. It needs to be an idea suggested by her. Even then, add something extra and very special. — MC

The near-total intellectual meltdown of American society surrounds us. Don’t be swayed by arguments that claim that older generations always said the same thing about younger ones. That may be true, but it doesn’t refute the obvious fact that U.S. citizens (and perhaps citizens in developed nations worldwide, on average) really are getting stupider.

The poor round-off logic cited in this mathematics test question possibly is a good example. But a more powerful example is the frequent use of claims, even in science articles, similar to “contains five times fewer calories,” “a thousand times less massive,” “earning three times less money,” and so on.

What bothers me so much about that isn’t the clear lack of logic in not understanding that “one times” less money is zero, but that if you visit forums where articles using this language is criticized, you don’t see, “Good point.” Instead, you see arguments about why it’s okay to use that wording. Everyone understand it, they say.

But, actually, if people understand it, there’s something terribly wrong happening. There’s a difference between, “I think I know what you meant,” and “it makes sense to me.” So, you’re doomed if you understand “it,” but you’re okay if you understand what was intended by the mistake. This story, in a small way, helps illustrate the problem. — MC

Whenever society rightly confronts a serious problem it seeks to resolve, common sense often suffers. This has become the case with child sexual abuse.

If you’re like me, you can’t put yourself into the minds of the abuser, because the actions seem so alien. And, yet, this very contempt for what we perceive as horrendously unacceptable behavior can lead us collectively to be unreasonable.

I remember seeing a PBS documentary decades ago about school teachers being charged with conspiring to sexually abuse very young students, even though there was no compelling evidence. The filming was done during the trial. Some of the accused were offered sentencing without jail time if they’d simply plead guilty.

They refused to accept the lenient sentences on ethical grounds. The children had obviously been poisoned into thinking bizarre sexual crimes had involved them, even though it was obvious that the memories had been planted by psychologists. Finally, they were found guilty and sentenced to decades in prison. And one of the jurors stated that he thought the accused were probably innocent, but couldn’t risk that verdict, because the children must be protected.

I’ve tried to find the original video, but it predated the internet and doesn’t appear anywhere that I can discover. But it made a great impression on me. And I’ve ever since been alert to instances where logic surrenders to emotion in regard to sexual crimes alleged against children. I think the story of this young girl (which isn’t unique, by the way) being threatened with child pornography charges is an example of emotions overruling logic. — MC

In an age where the racist label is attached inappropriately to ideas that aren’t liked — whether there’s a logical connection or not — it’s refreshing to see an incident described as racist that really is. If you don’t think so, here’s a link to the actual tweet with the doctored photo from the Russian Olypian woman who lit the flame yesterday: → See tweet with photo. Yes, it’s safe to call this one racist. — MC

People are asleep. They don’t realize that the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) was infiltrated long ago by the radical left. Same goes, to some extent, for the Girl Scouts, although many parents are unaware. — MC

If you don’t understand how this can happen, please read my explanation: → How government got involved in gambling — MC

Sadly, the video of this newscast has been lost, but the four-minute audio is preserved and can be heard along with the story. In recent years, I’ve been astonished to learn how many historic television programs — sitcoms, newscasts, variety shows, and more — were recorded, but not saved.

Many were taped over to save cost. Why didn’t people realize the great historic value these would have? — MC

So what? This is the mathematical truth behind bureaucratic do-good programs in this category. Try harder and you get punished.

I still remember comforting a couple who worked multiple jobs each, trying to qualify for a townhouse in California. They had excellent credit, but weren’t quite making enough. They sat by and saw the government provide the same townhouse to not-so-upstanding folks who earned less money, but qualified for assistance. Sad story that will always haunt me.

Moral? Don’t put in that extra effort next time. — MC

Okay, so what do we have here? Dogs running loose in hotels without floors, open wastebaskets to hold used toilet paper — an adventure you’ll never forget.

The thing is, the entire purpose of Russia bidding for and winning the Winter Olympics was presumably to showcase the country. This might call for a public relations makeover. But, it also makes this one of the most interesting Olympics to watch, because — in addition to the athletic competition — you get the suspense of possible terrorism, overzealous police, skii slopes that are too steep, humorous complaints from visitors, and all kinds of unexpected drama. Who could resist watching this? — MC