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Letters to the editor
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Updated: Oct 17, 2015, 6:06 PM
Published: Oct 17, 2015, 7:06 PM

We should blame criminals, not guns

TO THE EDITOR:
With articles that have appeared in the Southern Standard, someone must believe in gun control. We need to be honest and realize guns are only a tool and can end up in the hands of criminals. Why not control criminals, not guns?
The best first line of defense for us today is the armed homeowner. Even felons should be allowed to have a weapon in their home, but only in their home. Ask yourself, what would you do if someone kicked your door in during the night, or even with your family inside during the day.
We should teach all of our young people to use guns safely and teach them what they should be used for. Where problems come with guns is when an idiot uses a gun to rob or kill.
People also need to realize we have police officers that, in my opinion, should not even have a gun. Anyone who thinks all officers are correct needs only to watch news programs about when an officer shoots an unarmed person.
The problem with guns are our laws that let people kill and spend 30 days in jail. Then they are released to do the same thing again.
Miles Snider
Victor J. Young Road
Rock Island

Recording meetings makes sense to me

TO THE EDITOR:
There is nothing creepy about recorded meetings. It is a standard procedure in almost all the areas in the United States.  It is about time Warren County politics catches up with the rest of the world.
It makes for good government and can be played back if any misunderstandings occur. It's common sense.
I do not know Wilcher. Thumbs up to him for catching Warren County up to the real world of politics!
Regards,
Linda Salter
Meiser Lane
McMinnville
Where Did that Come From? - No earthly idea
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Stan St. Clair
Published: Mar 29, 2025, 5:04 PM

My good friend, Delores Green asked me about this one a few weeks ago. There are several ways “No earthly” is used in speech (idea, means, purpose or reason).

This simply means ‘no conceivable…’ as it is derived from relating to earthly means of thinking.

It is impos-

sible to tell exactly who first used this expression.

The earliest known citation to a form of this is in the Dissertation in The Lusiad; Or, The Discovery of India: An Epic Poem by Luís de Camões, translated into English by William Julius Mickle, published in London, 1778:

“In the first book, Jove summons a council of the Gods, which is described at great length, for no earthly purpose but to shew that he favoured the Portuguese.”

Here it could be said that ‘no earthly purpose’ was used because the council was said to have taken place in the heavens, thus it may be a literal application. But in 1832, a clearly figurative example showed up in Trials of the Persons Concerned in the Late Riots, Before Chief Justice of Great Britain, page 10:

“…where he (the Mayor) could have no earthly idea whether the military assistance was required at that precise time or not…”