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Episode 68: What Policy Solutions Should We be Focused On in the Year Ahead?
Free to Offend Episode 68 | Guest: Geoff Lawrence, Director of Research, Nevada Policy At first glance, it seems like divided government should make it harder to get meaningful reforms passed into law … but the truth is, there are still plenty of opportunities. Geoffrey Lawrence, director of research for… Read More
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The Second Amendment Applies to Women, Too
Rape in Nevada, which had decreased since 1994, rose dramatically in 1997. According to "Crime and Justice in Nevada 1997," a collection of statistics compiled by the Nevada Uniform Crime Reporting Program, the rape rate rose almost 18 percent last year. The horror of rape has been brought home to residents of Las Vegas, where a serial rapist has attacked seven women since December of 1996. Although Metro Police officers have worked diligently to make an arrest, their dedication cannot change a fundamental reality about personal safety: Law enforcement personnel cannot possibly be present to ensure the security of every citizen at all times. Ultimately, individuals are responsible for protecting themselves against violent predators. More and more women have recognized this, and have made the choice to arm themselves.
Unclogging the Court System through Juvenile Justice Reform
The United States currently faces a severe juvenile crime wave. Youths violate the law with increasing frequency, and criminologists believe things are likely to get worse before they get better. States have responded to this crisis in a number of ways. Perhaps the most popular option is to "crack down" on violent offenders. These juveniles are often tried as adults and incarcerated at adult facilities.
A Raw Deal for Secondhand Smoke
Last October the Nevada Casino Dealers Association (NCDA) filed a lawsuit against 17 tobacco companies and organizations. Claiming that casino dealers are "particularly vulnerable" to "the dangers of secondhand smoke," the NCDA filed its suit in Reno federal court on behalf of nine dealers. Since then, separate lawsuits have been filed by individual dealers making similar claims. But a ruling last month by U.S. District Judge William Osteen may take much of the wind out of the sails of the NCDA lawsuit, as well as other attempts to attack the tobacco industry for the alleged health effects of secondhand smoke. On July 17, Osteen found that the Environmental Protection Agency dishonestly linked secondhand smoke to cancer in its landmark report on the issue in 1993. Herewith, a look at the little-known facts about "dangers" of secondhand smoke, and the weak science upon which secondhand smoke lawsuits are based.