Alaska

Where Alaska US House candidates stand on banning assault weapons

Published

3 years ago

June 5, 2022

Where Alaska US House candidates stand on banning assault weapons

Assault-style rifles on show at Chuck’s Firearms gun retailer in Atlanta. The gunmen in two of the nation’s most up-to-date mass shootings, together with the bloodbath at a Texas elementary faculty, legally purchased the assault weapons they used after they turned 18. (Photograph by Erik S. Lesser/EPA/Landov)

Forty-eight candidates are working within the particular election to fill the remainder of Congressman Don Younger’s time period. It’s probably the most candidates ever in a single election in Alaska. First up is the first. Ballots are out now and should be returned by June 11.

To assist Alaskans type by way of the handfuls of choices, we’re asking every candidate the place they stand on the problems.

Right here’s how they responded, in their very own phrases, to the next query about banning assault weapons:

Would you assist a ban on the manufacture and importation of semiautomatic assault weapons, as outlined within the federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004? Please clarify your response in not more than 50 phrases.

Jay Armstrong (R): “NEVER. Learn the preamble to our Invoice of Rights. They’re restrictive clauses in opposition to Our US authorities we created. Constitutionally ALL our civil rights are off limits to them together with proudly owning excessive capability semi automated rifles. Extra accountable firearm house owners are the reply.”

Tim Beck (Undeclared): “I see no purpose to not reimpose the ban because it was in 2004. There was no restriction on hunters. Should you can’t hit what your taking pictures at with one shot you want extra observe along with your weapon of selection or stalking your prey to place your self in vary.”

Nick Begich (R): “I strongly assist the Second Modification. I might not assist reinstating the ban that expired in 2004.”

Gregg Brelsford (undeclared): “I’m the proud hunter-owner of a gun, belong to a taking pictures vary and the NRA, maintain a hid carry allow, and passionately assist the two^nd Modification. I be part of thousands and thousands of conservative-American, safety-conscious gun house owners like me who acknowledge the necessity for widespread sense state-laws, like Florida’s, on gun buying.”

Robert Brown (nonpartisan): “I might not assist any gun bans. Most gun management disproportionately discriminates in opposition to the center and decrease class, in addition to minorities.”

Arlene Carle (nonpartisan): “No. With thousands and thousands of those weapons already within the arms of residents, banning newly manufactured or imported ones wouldn’t meaningfully deal with issues just like the Uvalde bloodbath. Extra productive Laws would attempt to establish and deal with probably perpetrators.”

Santa Claus (undeclared): “YES – IF AMENDED: take away quite a few exceptions, embrace weapons with/with out modification and/or equipment, increase age to 21, limit use to energetic army forces and on-duty regulation enforcement officers, embrace 117th Congress HR7910 and SB736 provisions, secure storage, no-exception UBCs, crimson flag protections, and repeal gun trade immunity.”

John Coghill (R): “I don’t assist an assault weapon ban. A nation broad ban violates our second modification for all regulation abiding residents. Regulation breakers can be empowered with gun management as a result of they care not for the regulation or the lifetime of others. Safe gun free zones. enhance our public security responses.”

Chris Fixed (D): “Sure. We’ve got to rigorously navigate the Second Modification, nonetheless, gross sales have elevated almost yearly over the previous decade, and can improve with out additional motion. We’ve got far more weapons than individuals within the U.S. We’ve got to do one thing. Extra assault rifles is not going to assist save kids.”

Al Gross (nonpartisan): “I assist common background checks and interviews by native authorities for assault weapon purchases that are held to a nationwide commonplace. I used to be interviewed by a TSA agent to get my 5 yr TSA pre-check card. This stage of scrutiny is suitable if somebody desires to purchase an AR-15.”

Andrew Halcro (nonpartisan): “Sure.”

Ted Heintz (nonpartisan): “No. That was a confirmed failure. Any actual discount in crime should deal with psychological well being and substance abuse with a concentrate on prevention.”

John Wayne Howe (AIP): “No. All gun management legal guidelines are unconstitutional, their existence is the same as making the US structure void. We have to take away gun legal guidelines, not make extra.”

Don Knight (nonpartisan): “I recommend a authorities appointed particular person be a part of any gun buy. They’d consider and be accountable for sponsoring the applicant to buy. If any illegal actions happen because of the applicant sooner or later, the evaluator could lose their license and be in any other case liable.”

Jeff Lowenfels (nonpartisan): “Completely assist! Navy type, semiautomatic weapons weren’t contemplated by the second modification, however even when they had been, I’d be in favor of the bans.”

Sherry Mettler (undeclared): “I’ve to imagine that there are lots of untapped methods to have security in our society with out infringing on our 2ndAmendment rights.”

Mike Milligan (D): “No, there are thousands and thousands in circulation since 2004, a brand new ban would simply be a fundraising gold mine for the NRA. Prohibit semi auto buy and possession, together with pistols, for anybody beneath 25, exceptions for .22 caliber rimfire. Anybody convicted of taking pictures a freeway signal is barred firearms for all times.”

J.R. Myers (Libertarian): “No, I might not assist a ban on the manufacture and importation of semi automated assault weapons, as I imagine is exterior the reputable scope of Constitutional authority for the federal authorities.”

Robert Ornelas (American Impartial Get together): “No, I don’t assist it. I absolutely assist the 2nd Modification of our U.S. Structure. Alaska has an issue like Ukraine with the Russian Navy in occupation. A well-regulated militia is critical to expel Russian army from Wrangell Island, Alaska within the Arctic Ocean.”

Sarah Palin (R): “No. The time period “assault weapons” doesn’t actually have a universally agreed-upon definition, and politicians have confirmed again and again that they’re greater than prepared to abuse ambiguity like that to infringe on our freedoms.”

Silvio Pellegrini (undeclared): “On precept alone, no. A number of research have proven the Assault Weapon Ban of 2004 had little to no impact on the discount violence from the firearms focused.”

Mary Peltola (D): “I assist the creation of a bipartisan congressional committee tasked with bringing widespread sense gun laws to Congress that helps forestall tragedies in our communities, preserves the subsistence way of life that many individuals rely upon, and respects our 2nd modification rights.”

Tara Sweeney (R): “I’m a steadfast supporter of Alaskans’ Second Modification rights and couldn’t assist measures that may infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding residents.”

David Thistle (undeclared): “do NOT assist a ban on any sort of weapons. The 2nd Modification could be very clear. Disarming American’s is strictly what the Russians, Chinese language and Cartels have been praying for. I imagine in correctly Funding and Coaching our Police.”

Ernest Thomas (D): “Sure l would assist such a invoice. Higher but, management the ammunition. No bullets no deaths.”

Adam Wool (D): “I discover this kind of query a bit unrealistic. The assault weapons ban that was beforehand in regulation was acceptable, but it surely’s a special political panorama proper now. I do imagine we have to restrict entry to a majority of these weapons however the particulars matter.”

Stephen Wright (R): “No, I might not assist a continued ban on assault weapons. I really feel that it’s the particular person’s proper to maintain and bear arms. It’s our second modification proper that shall not be infringed. We should uphold our structure.”

Editor’s observe: We’ve left solutions largely unedited. If candidates exceeded the phrase depend we didn’t embrace the final sentence(s).

The next candidates are on the poll, however Alaska Public Media has not but obtained a response to our emails: Dennis Aguayo, Brian Beal, Chris Bye, John Callahan, Girl Donna Dutchess, Otto Florschutz, Laurel Foster, Tom Gibbons, Karyn Griffin, William Hibler, David Hughes, Robert Lyons, Anne McCabe, Mike Melander, Emil Notti, Josh Revak, Maxwell Sumner, Richard Trotter, Bradley Welter, Jason Williams and Jo Woodward.

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Alaska

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport busy with holiday travelers

Published

1 hour ago

December 23, 2024

Press Room

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport busy with holiday travelers

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) -Many of the people arriving to and departing from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Sunday agreed that Anchorage’s main airport isn’t as tough to navigate as most right now.

On Dec. 22, three days out from both Hanukkah and Christmas, travelers at the airport were lined up, checking in, waiting for baggage, or going through security; all of those, demanding a wait. However, several travelers told Alaska’s News Source about their experiences and what they were expecting during their flights.

Matt Howard departed from Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina around 5 a.m. “It was the busiest I’ve ever seen it,” Howard said. He estimated he touched down in Anchorage around 6 p.m., adding Ted Stevens was much “less frantic” than the other airports he was at, but thought the evening time frame might have been a contributing factor.

Flying in from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, Kimberly Lamar said she visits her mother in Alaska at least once a year.

“It was pretty overwhelming, trying to get through from Atlanta,” she said. “Then I got to Seattle; it was hard to get through to the gates of Seattle. And finally, this is the easiest airport I’ve actually been in all day.”

Born and raised in Alaska, Gideon Mahoney was traveling to Colorado where he recently relocated. “I’m actually really surprised, right now it’s easy and we were a little late, so…” Mahoney said, glancing at the line for security.

Growing up in Alaska, Mahoney said flying into Denver International Airport can be overwhelming at times.

“We’re working on figuring out how to deal with that,” he said. “We’re getting it.”

As for travelers who haven’t left just yet, Lamar’s advice was aligned with a prepared statement from Alaska Airlines: both said arriving early is the key for holiday travels.

“If you’re flying, make sure you leave early because those lines are crucial,” Lamar said.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com

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Alaska

Hydroponics provide year-round growing for Alaska farmers

Published

9 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Hydroponics provide year-round growing for Alaska farmers

On a recent December afternoon, Soldotna farmer Taylor Lewis preps for a day of harvesting crops. She walks to a tray filled with ripe lettuce and snips a head of it by the stem.

It’s just one of about 900 plants that Taylor and her mother-in-law Jayme Lewis will harvest and process this week – despite freezing temperatures and slushy snow outside. That’s because the duo works for Edgy Veggie, an indoor farm that grows produce year round.

“In the summer, a lot of our business drops off because folks are gardening at home. But in the winter, they’re not, because it costs money to heat your greenhouse,” Jayme said. “It costs a lot of money to heat your greenhouse.”

The company is a hydroponic farm, meaning they grow plants without soil. Hydroponic systems recycle and reuse nutrient-filled water, which minimizes waste. Specially made lighting and climate controlled conditions make it possible for Edgy Veggie to grow indoors during the winter months.

Climate controlled grow rooms like this one at Edgy Veggie in Soldotna make it possible to harvest greens and herbs year-round.

Around Thanksgiving, the company harvested 150 pounds of lettuce, enough to make about 800 salads. That took two days and was one of their biggest hauls of the year. Although not a typical harvest for the company, Jayme says she does see an uptick in business during the winter when Alaska’s produce is almost exclusively shipped up from the Lower 48.

“If you go to the grocery store and pick up a head of lettuce right now, by the time you get it home it will be wilted,” Jayme said. “That’s sad. Literally, that’s sad.”

Jayme says some local restaurants have sourced their vegetables from Edgy Veggie because they last longer and are fresher than grocery store produce.

Nestled between two train cars-turned-restaurants on the other side of town, Henry Krull walks inside his shipping container farm. He points to a wall that’s growing hundreds of bunches of butter lettuce.

Krull is the owner of fresh365, another Kenai Peninsula based hydroponic farm. Just like Edgy Veggie, the farm operates entirely indoors.

“The advantage of growing indoors, in a container like we have, is that we can control the environment,” Krull said. “We can grow no matter what’s going on outside. It can be 30 below outside, but it’s always 70 degrees or so inside.”

fresh365 also sees an uptick in direct-to-consumer sales in the winter. Otherwise, most of their sales go to other businesses, like local restaurants.

Lettuce sprouts, like these seen at Edgy Veggie in Soldotna, are placed in a specially designed watering system and grown without soil.

And while indoor farming means fresh, local produce year-round for Alaskans, it faces a number of challenges. Krull says growing in a hydroponic setting is much more expensive than traditional farming methods. So, to offset his farm’s energy costs, he installed solar panels, which were partially funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP.

But, Krull says the property doesn’t get much sunlight in the winter.

“The sun is a very valuable commodity, it’s valuable for not only producing electricity, but it helps to lower the energy costs,” he said. “And the energy costs of the farm containers we have is actually very, very high, because we can’t take advantage of the sun.”

Edgy Veggie, on the other hand, doesn’t even have solar panels. Jayme says their energy costs are high year round.

“Electricity, especially, is outrageous,” she said. “I wish that the state had some sort of option with the electric companies to help support farming. We’re providing a service to the community, honestly. We’re trying to, but it might run us out of business.”

Other challenges to hydroponics include faulty pumps and timers, ventilation issues and water leaks. Like traditional farming, hydroponic farmers say it’s backbreaking work.

fresh365 owner Henry Krull says the hydroponic farm recently started growing mushrooms, like — fresh365 owner Henry Krull holds a box of lion’s mane. The hydroponic farm recently started growing mushrooms alongside its greens and herbs.

But, for farmers like Taylor Lewis, offering fresh and local produce year round is a labor of love.

“Being able to supply our community with anything fresh is great,” Taylor said. “What we have as options in the grocery store – it’s not cutting it.”

“These belong in every community,” Krull said. “We’ve been able to prove that as a business model, it works. You can make a profit doing it, you can provide a good service to your community, and I think we can really do good for our community by providing something that is not readily available on a year-round basis.”

According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, only 5% of food Alaskans consume is grown locally. The state also has very short growing seasons.

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