Extreme Pa. GOP mapping its own demise

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa You’ve probably heard about the old story about the dog who finally caught the car — and didn’t know what to do with it. In Pennsylvania, of late, assume legislative Republicans are the dog grabbing the rear bumper, but one who doesn’t see the reverse lights suddenly turn on. They’ve already moved to take emergency declaration power away...

New Congressional maps are a karma bomb for GOP

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Republicans across the state of Pennsylvania are howling mad and running to the courts seeking assistance. Karma is a bitch, right? It seems like they may have to compete on a fair Congressional map — not the 2011 map that was among the most Gerrymandered maps in the entire country — and they don’t like it one bit.

Letter: Thoughts and prayers are not enough

To The Editor, By now you have heard the sad but all too familiar news of another mass school shooting. This is the 18th school shooting of the year and it’s only February. It seems that our politicians only response to these horrific acts of violence is to offer thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families. While thoughts and prayers are well intended, it is action that is needed...

Don’t offer your ‘thoughts and prayers’

Accept the reality of mass shootings: this is what you wanted By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Don’t bother sharing your “thoughts and prayers.” The truth is, the slaughter of 49 innocent people in Orlando Sunday is exactly what you chose. Just as you chose the slaughter in Charleston, Sandy Hook, Aurora and dozens more. You also choose the shootings in Coatesville which of late seem to...

Why is the Second Amendment more important than all other rights?

Spoiler Alert: It’s not, despite what some might want to sell you By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Much has been said about a recent event at Patton Middle School in Unionville in which a parent left a gun in an unlocked, running car in the school’s parking lot. While I’m not sure that the ending — the unidentified parent involved apologized to the school district and community, surrendered...

Q&A: Tom Buglio of Chesco Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

Today is National Gun Violence Awareness Day By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times Editor’s Note: In honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Day — today, June 2 —  Nathaniel Smith sat down with Tom Buglio of Chester County Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence to discuss both what today means and his group’s effort to reduce gun violence in the county. Smith’s questions...

Letter: a call for action in Kennett

To The Editor, Last week, at the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors meeting, dozens of concerned residents came to voice their concerns about repeated, annoying and unsafe discharges of firearms in township neighborhoods.  The residents had called the police on numerous occasions and spoke with the homeowner, all to no avail, despite dangerous, high-powered rifles being fired with no berm to...

Rally supports gun background checks

Six months after the Newtown Square, Conn. massacre, local residents ask for action By Nicole Brown, Staff Writer, The Times A supporter of universal background checks for gun purchases holds her sign at a rally, Friday, to commemorate the six-month anniversary of the school shootings in Newtown Square, Connecticut. The event, one of many across the state was organized by Mayors Against Illegal...