James Holmes’ killing spree in Colorado produced an anticipated call for stricter gun control laws. Gun apologists protested, as they always do.

Holmes is crazy. Even the strictest gun laws won’t keep the deeply disturbed from getting guns. There are 200 million guns in the country, after all. If laws prohibit sales, the deranged will steal what they want. The way to stop people like Holmes from acting out their violent illusions is to catch them early and treat their mental illness, psychologists aver.

Maybe that’s true. If so, society should be looking for ways to catch them early. One way would be to investigate young men who buy 6,000 rounds of rifle, pistol and shotgun shells over the Internet. The purchase of a shotgun, a high-capacity assault rifle and automatic pistols within a short period of time by anyone without an apparent need for such an arsenal might also be looked into. Those were the tracks that Holmes left.

America’s retailers know how to discover worlds of supposedly confidential information about all of us. It shouldn’t be much of a trick to clue the police in on the purchase of lethal weapons.

A routine investigation of Mr. Holmes would have discovered (1) he was an abnormally shy college student; (2) he was not a hunter; (3) he didn’t have competitive marksmanship as a hobby; (4) he didn’t shoot skeet; (5) he made all of the purchases of guns and ammunition within a relatively short period of time with no obvious motivation; (6) he lived in a low-crime community and had no need of weapons for his personal protection.

These discoveries should have been enough to trigger an interview of Mr. Holmes conducted by a trained psychologist.

If we decide as a society that public safety would be enhanced by seeking out and treating those who might go on a killing spree, paying attention to those who buy unusual amounts of guns and ammunition is one way to do it.

Those with perfectly logical reasons for making such purchases would never be aware of an investigation. Membership in a shooting club might cross them off the list. The wealthy who slaughter animals for sport and hang their mounted heads on their reading room walls would arouse no suspicion. The fearful who live in dangerous neighborhoods could plead self-protection.

But when an unemployed young man enrolled in a demanding doctoral program at a public university spends big bucks on guns, ammo and smoke canisters, common sense says look into it.

— Emerson Lynn, jr.

Dear editor,

Ed Bideau is the clear choice for state representative to the Kansas House, 9th District. Ed Bideau and his family were among the first friends I made when I moved to Chanute in 1987. It quickly became apparent to me how much southeast Kansas means to Ed and his family, and how passionate he is for its history, and more importantly, for its future.

Ed has a proven record of supporting issues that are important to us. During his previous time in office, Ed Bideau helped our aging population through a bill which provided protection to elderly couples when nursing home care is required. His work on the House Labor and Industry Committee and House Judiciary Committee also had direct connections to issues that affect southeast Kansas.

Locally, Ed is not afraid to speak up for what is best for our community. Ed’s community involvement has always centered on working for individuals’ rights, not governmental control. Whether it is one of the many local committees or boards he is active on, or if it is in front of the city or county commission, Ed will stand up for what is right. Additionally, as an attorney and former Neosho County attorney, Ed Bideau is well educated on the complexities of local and regional governments.

If elected to the Kansas House, Ed will continue to support southeast Kansas by working to create jobs, to relieve undue tax pressures on farmers and property owners, and to boost economic development by working to decrease bureaucracy that stifles small business. Ed is a “doer,” and not a “talker.”  In short, Ed will get the job done.

As a friend, I have found Ed to be moral, ethical, and true to his word. His involvement in local community and civic groups is diverse, and appreciated by all those with whom he serves.

When you go to the polls on Aug. 7, please vote for the candidate who has a proven record of doing what is best for southeast Kansas. Please vote for Ed Bideau for state representative, 9th District.

Mike Aylward

Chanute, Kan.

Dear editor,

I have known Ed Bideau and his wonderful family for more than 30 years. I actually knew his mom and dad very well, too. 

I don’t think I need to tell any of you how much God, family and service have taken priority in all of their lives, but I am honored to have this opportunity to testify to the kind of man I know Ed to be.

His word is his bond and his integrity goes unquestioned. If Ed takes on a responsibility, you can be sure that he will complete it in a thorough, efficient and timely manner. The one thing that you won’t experience is Ed “tootin’ his own horn” (as my NaNa used to say about braggarts.) What I am saying is, Ed gets the job done!

Since we’re living in such uncertain times, Ed is the man that I want representing me in Topeka. He cares deeply about the concerns of seniors, he is a businessman, a lawyer and truthful and trustworthy to his core !

Please join me and cast your vote on Aug.  7 for Ed Bideau. He will be a strong voice for us seniors in our House of Representatives in Topeka.

Thank you so much for considering a vote for Ed Bideau.

Anita Fairchild, 

Chanute, Kan.

Two years ago the Kansas Legislature passed Lexie’s Law, which requires small child care operations to be licensed and their employees trained. It is called Lexie’s Law, named after a 13-month-old girl who died from injuries she suffered in a day care center in Johnson County in 2004.

The new regulations and inspections have had dramatic success. Five years ago Kansas ranked 46th in the country for policies governing day care centers. This year, the Associated Press reports, Kansas was ranked third by a national rating organization.

Rachel Berroth, director of child care licensing for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, praised the law. “Everyone knew we needed more training to better prepare our providers to protect and care for our children,” Berroth said.

State officials reported that some providers got out of the business when the new law took effect, but others expanded their operations. The net effect has been to increase the number of available care slots — and to reduce the number of children injured in the centers.

Workers in the centers are now required to have training in basic child development, first aid, CPR and recognizing signs of abuse, among other areas, such as nutrition and child behavior.

New child care operators are required to have their workers trained within 30 days of going into business; existing  businesses have until February 2013 to complete the training.

THE SUCCESS  of Lexie’s law has an important lesson to teach: government regulations can make life better. Part of the purpose of government is to identify problems and devise solutions. In this instance, the problem was that untrained child care workers were allowing children to hurt themselves or unintentionally causing injuries through ignorance. Lexie’s Law was the solution.

The solution isn’t cost-free. It costs money to inspect day care centers to make certain the law is being followed and to offer further state assistance in making the centers safer and better places to care for children. Most would agree that value is received for the money spent.

Not everyone, however, seems to understand that our state government cannot continue to identify problems and provide solutions to them if choking off the source of money that government must have to function remains the primary goal of the governor and far too many of our lawmakers.

We learned the sad consequences of unregulated child care and took action. With a little imagination, we can conjure up a Kansas with failing public schools, highways gone to potholes, unkept public parks, part-time judges, second rate universities, legions of uncared for poor and elderly Kansans and let those nightmares jolt us into action.

— Emerson Lynn, jr.