Quote for the day…

Being constantly offended doesn’t mean you’re always right…it just means you’re too narcissistic to tolerate opinions different than yours. – Unknown

Welcome to another exciting edition of Caught My Eye (CME)!

CME is the once-a-week column that is posted every Friday morning. This is when I take a look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week.

Here are some of the things that “Caught My Eye” this week:

• Guns, Guns, Guns
• Not a Joke
• Benefis Health System
• Dumbass of the Week

GUNS, GUNS, GUNS:

President Joe Biden unveiled his plan to prevent gun violence on Thursday saying, “Gun violence in this country is an epidemic. Let me say it again: Gun violence in this country is an epidemic, and it’s an international embarrassment.”

Sadly, Biden can’t do too much to change the epidemic by issuing Executive Orders.

The ink was hardly dry on the Executive Orders when Republicans started firing off press releases. Even the Republican Party of Montana decided to get involved in condemning Biden’s move and saying he wants to destroy the Second Amendment. Biden is not trying to destroy the Second Amendment.

The three members of the Montana Congressional delegation and the Montana Governor weighed in. You can read their statements HERE.

I particularly liked the statement from the office of U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT). Here is part of it:

“Senator Tester is a proud gun owner and a longtime defender of Montanans’ Second Amendment rights. He believes we can take steps to keep our communities safe — like ensuring that criminals, terrorists and folks found by a court to be a danger to themselves or others don’t have access to firearms — while also defending the rights of law-abiding gun owners.”

Compared to the other members of the delegation, Tester seems ready to work on the epidemic.

Back in 2012 when the names of the slain children from Sandy Hook Elementary school were read by President Barack Obama at the memorial service, I had hope that our country would come together to try to stop gun violence and these mass shootings.

Charlotte. Daniel. Olivia. Josephine. Ana. Dylan. Madeleine. Catherine. Chase. Jesse. James. Grace. Emilie. Jack. Noah. Caroline. Jessica. Benjamin. Avielle. Allison.

They were six and seven years old.

Nothing changed and now, years later, we have grown accustomed to mass shootings and most of America does not pay attention unless it is happening in their town.

I hope and pray that people like U.S. Senator Steve Daines, U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale, and Governor Greg Gianforte are never at the receiving end of “Our thoughts and prayers are with you” because they lost a loved one in a mass shooting.

Our elected officials need to work together. Biden is correct – this is an epidemic.

Read the President’s statement HERE.

Read the Vice President’s statement HERE.

NOT A JOKE:

This week U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) brought Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough to Montana for a statewide tour that lasted three days.

Anytime you can get a cabinet secretary to visit Montana, no matter which party they belong to or who invites them, it’s a good thing. A three-day statewide tour is unprecedented.

Some people said, “what a joke” mostly because they are partisan and did not like Tester getting publicity.

The good thing is that it was not a joke. Tester, McDonough, Steve Daines, Matt Rosendale held a discussion in Helena with veterans and heard first-hand about the struggles they face.

Veterans’ issues should never be a partisan issue. At least for one day, Tester, Daines, and Rosendale seemed to think the same thing.

Read the report about the visit from Lee Newspapers by clicking HERE.

BENEFIS HEALTH SYSTEM:

MTN News and other sources are reporting that Benefis Health System in Great Falls said last week that the COVID vaccine will be mandatory for all employees. John Goodnow, the CEO of Benefis, said in a company-wide email that the process for mandatory vaccinations will begin in May. Employees can request deferrals for medical and religious reasons.

Soon after the news was posted on social media, the anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers came out in force and, in many cases, sounded ridiculous.

Freedom is not free, folks.

I guess if you are a Benefis employee and cannot get a deferral for medical or religious reasons, you might want to find another job. Don’t let the door hit you on the ass on your way out! I use Benefis for my primary care needs and feel better knowing the vaccine is required for those working there.

Sooner or later, someone will challenge this in court. That’s fine. I think they will lose.

DUMBASS OF THE WEEK:

This week’s “Dumbass of the Week” or “Dumbasses of the Week” are the folks in the Montana Legislature who voted for House Bill 711.

According to Lee Newspapers, House Bill 711, introduced last week, sought to require media outlets to publish the resolution of court cases with comparable placement, “magnitude, prominence, scale and manner” as prior coverage of the case. The bill went down on a 48-52 vote on second reading, with 15 Republicans joining all 33 Democrats voting against.

Lee Newspapers also reported that the bill would also give a defendant’s representatives the ability to demand that media outlets “take down any unflattering pictures” or mugshots that were previously published if found not guilty, charges are dropped or convicted of a lesser charge. If media outlets fail to comply within 10 days, the requester could seek $10,000, plus attorney’s fees and other damages, from the outlets.

Beam me up, Scotty!

The 48 members of the Montana Legislature who voted “YEA” on HB 711 are the “Dumbasses of the Week.” Congratulations.

## WEAR A MASK TODAY ##