Reece Gardner: Topics everyone wants to discuss

First, I want to say how great it was to have my Precious Daughter Jessica visit with me last week. She is such a LIGHT TO THE WORLD! Today, I will address two issues which are on the minds of a lot of people and which need our attention.

First, let's talk about COVID-19 and the effort by most to put it safely behind us, while there is an effort by some to keep it alive. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has challenged advice from Dr. Fauci and some others in the medical community urging people to continue social distancing and wearing a mask even after they are fully vaccinated.

Gov. DeSantis issued this statement: "My view is if you get a vaccine, and the vaccine is effective, you're immune, so act immune."

His belief is that some people have become discouraged from getting the vaccine since they are told that doing so will result in no major changes in their daily lives. He says the message should be that the vaccine works and that it will enable us to get back to "Living" our lives.

"It's a problem when you're telling people to get the vaccine but to continue to wear two masks."

He was referring to a report issued earlier this month by the CDC which declared that "After you've been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you must continue to wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart from others, and avoid crowds."

This doesn't sound much like getting 'back to normal' anytime soon. The measures Gov. DeSantis is implementing sound like a return to "Freedom of the People" to make decisions for themselves as to what is common sense as opposed to what is nonsense.

The other issue I want to address is the obvious need to deal more effectively with rioters who block traffic, destroy property, or engage in other unlawful acts. This need seems to be coming to the attention of leaders of numerous states and localities, with various anti-rioting bills being introduced in at least 34 states, with Florida and its Governor leading the way.

Among the bills being put forward, currently being proposed in Oklahoma and Iowa, and already in effect in Florida, seek to protect drivers from criminal penalties for continuing to move forward against protesters who block traffic and endanger the lives of innocent people. Meanwhile, in Indiana and Minnesota, lawmakers have proposed banning convicted rioters from holding government office and receiving certain forms of government assistance.

DeSantis heralded his state's crime bill, which he signed into law last week, as being the "Strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement legislation in the country." This law also makes it a FELONY to destroy monuments, stiffens riot-related penalties, and makes local governments civilly liable for damage sustained. Oklahoma Governor Standridge summed it up this way: "We are not trying to stop anyone from exercising their rights. We are simply targeting lawbreakers. You can protest all you want, I encourage that. But once you start throwing things at people's cars, and trying to break their windows and pull them out of their cars, it's no longer a protest. IT'S A RIOT, and we as free people must deal with it."

Now to close on a humorous note:

A man comes running to the doctor and screaming in pain, "Please, Doctor, you've got to help me. I've been stung by a bee."

"Don't worry," says the doctor, "I'll put some cream on it."

"You will never find that bee. It must be miles away by now."

"No, you don't understand," says the doctor, "I'll put some cream on the place you were stung."

"Oh, it happened in the garden in the back of my house."

"No, No, No," says the doctor, getting frustrated, "I mean on which part of your body did the bee sting you."

"On my finger," Screamed the man in pain, "the bee stung me on my finger and it really hurts."

"Which one?", asks the doctor.

"How am I supposed to know? All the bees look the same to me!"

HAVE A WONDROUS DAY!