Cheers: To cracking down on ghost guns. Among the Washington laws that went into effect July 1 is a prohibition on so-called ghost guns — firearms that do not have a serial number and therefore cannot be traced by law enforcement. Ghost guns typically are bought online in parts and assembled by the buyer. Hobbyists may continue making guns at home if they use parts that have serial numbers.
Recent mass shootings have reinforced the need for the United States to address its gun violence problem, and Washington in recent years has passed several laws to address that problem — including a new regulation restricting high-capacity ammunition magazines. The law regarding ghost guns will be difficult to enforce; an untraceable weapon likely will come to the attention of law enforcement only after violence occurs. But lawmakers deserve cheers for recognizing the crisis and doing what they can to tackle it.
Jeers: To negligent driving. A tractor-trailer carrying a base for a wind turbine crashed into the bottom of an overpass on Highway 14 this week. No injuries were reported, but five vehicles were damaged by concrete debris.
The driver was cited for second-degree negligent driving, and a crash report said he failed to do a pre-trip safety check or lower his trailer for the route. We’re happy nobody was injured. More important, we are thankful for the many drivers who safely carry potentially dangerous cargo throughout our community.
Cheers: To Vancouver police. The Vancouver Police Department is beginning a second round of testing for body cameras and vehicle cameras. City officials are anticipating a $1.5 million federal grant this fall to fund the purchase of equipment in order to implement a camera program.
Body cameras are helpful in answering questions about police actions and providing information regarding claims of abuse. They do not provide all the answers, but they help protect the public and protect officers when questions arise. Cameras can help improve policing and help keep our community safe; they should be adopted by all law enforcement agencies.
Jeers: To COVID rates. Coronavirus activity has increased this week in Clark County, following a slight decrease in the previous week’s report. According to Clark County Public Health, there were 196.1 new cases per 100,000 population in the latest tally, and an infectious disease expert in Portland said the latest variants are “masters of immune evasion.”
The numbers provide a reminder that COVID-19 is still with us, even though most people have chosen to go about their daily lives and eschew masks in public. Vaccines and booster shots remain the best way to avoid the virus and to prevent the toll from growing. That toll in Clark County: 851 deaths attributed to coronavirus since its arrival in March 2020.
Cheers: To Katie Clark. The Columbia River High senior is one of 15 students from across the country selected to the FEMA Youth Preparedness Council. As if that were not enough, she is one of 13 students to serve on the Red Cross National Youth Council.
The positions will allow Clark to share youth perspectives on disaster preparedness and emergency response while seeing high-level decision-making in action. “Many teens don’t have good access to this information,” she said. “I want to help bring youth voices to life.” Clark’s involvement with important issues is a signal that our community — and our country — will be in good hands in the future.
