This week's current event is to find any opinion article or editorial cartoon that is interesting to you. Please write a summary about what you read or saw and whether you agree or disagree with their opinion and why. Here is an interesting editorial about a topic that is currently in the news in Alaska. Today Governor Sean Parnell made it illegal to text and drive. You may use this opinion piece for your assignment or go to the below sites and find another topic that interests you.
Our view: Don't text and drive
Governor signs bill to make the law clear
(05/10/12 18:47:44)
The late Jim Morrison of The Doors had the best sponsor statement for this legislation in just 11 words:
"Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel."
Gov. Sean Parnell signed House Bill 255 Thursday morning, a bill that made explicit what lawmakers thought they had done in 2008 -- banning texting while driving.
A Kenai magistrate cast doubt on the first effort in 2011, so Reps. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, and Bill Thomas, R-Haines, led a bipartisan effort to remove all doubt.
The bill bans reading or typing messages on a cell phone, computer or any other screen while operating a motor vehicle in motion.
Is it necessary to say that this is a commonsense rule of the road for the sake of everyone's safety?
Evidently, because the Legislature had to spell it out in law.
So, as of Thursday, you text at the wheel, you're breaking the law. Otherwise, text at will.
And try to get "Roadhouse Blues" out of your head.
BOTTOM LINE: Turn on the ignition, turn off the screen.
The New York Times Opinion Page
The Juneau Empire Opinion Page
The Anchorage Daily News
The Cagle Post: Daily Cartoons and Commentary
