VENDOR WRITING
Story of Life Changer BY LOUM O., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR Who can’t believe that through God, United States is a life changer for everyone in this world? I myself Loum O. felt unbelievable that the United States can change my life. Being in a war-torn country South Sudan, I thought I would enjoy my life in that country. I thought it could offer me opportunities to live a good life, but at 8 years old the war tore my life away along with my family. My village was damaged along with neighboring villages and many people died — fathers, mothers, children, grandfathers and grandmothers. But for me and my family, God had not set up time to leave this earth, so because of big atrocities of the war, we escaped to Uganda through bushes with no food, or clean water, surviving on wild fruits until we escaped to Uganda and took refuge living in a camp for eight years until the United Nations provided a food program and clothes. Due to congestion, we moved to Kenya living in a deserted camp where many refugees died due to overpopulation. Diseases of all
kinds poured among escapees. I lived there in the camp under a U.N. program for three years. Now, through a strong nation — the United States, sent by God, I am living in the United States in Nashville trying to get a better life in the country where God has poured upon me many opportunities. It is my great life changer and I've expereinced unbelievable things that I never expected in my life. Opportunities such as enrolling in a university after I completed my high school. I enrolled in Tennessee State University for four years and graduated with a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics. However, I found that choosing the field of teaching was difficult because being a little person, I knew I would not be able to reach up the board. So I was frustrated for years without using my degree. However, due to God’s greatness and being in the United States another door opened up for me selling newspapers along the streets with The Contributor newspaper company where you own and run you own business gaining at least a
little income for living. At first, I faced many challenges by my own close step-brothers and other close relatives who made negative statements about me, but I left them behind with their negativity and keep on pressing on the business with my little income. The business brought for me wonderful customers with all kind offers.They have being a life changer for me. I am so happy for this business as a life changer in which I not only earn money, but I also meet wonderful people that advise me to keep on pressing. Indeed, I am so happy to God, my Lord, for sending me a faithful man named Jesse Holman and his wife Heather. They reveal for me the kingdom of God and now I am joined in prayer with them and going to a church believing that coming from a war-torn country to the United States, to university where I learn how to write, read to do self business, to the church and lastly to read the Bible and understand what is in it and apply to the world in order to open the door to everlasting life in heaven.
Loum O. stands in front of The Contributor office sign. PHOTO BY LINDA BAILEY
Follow-Up On Gun Rights Verses Victims Rights: What Is More Important? BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR I can’t say I’m surprised by the fact that I’ve taken a lot of heat for the article I wrote about gun owners rights versus victims rights. I actually expected it. Because of that, I feel it necessary to provide further explanation on some aspects of what I wrote. For instance, I’ve been asked, “How can you say guns serve a useful purpose?” Though I do not have guns in my home, as far back as I can remember, a full gun rack was always on display in the living room of my grandparents house. (My cousin Ray once described it as the safest place in the world. I would have to agree.) As a young person, I enjoyed target practice. (A skill that comes in handy if you ever use a gun for self defense, a reason many people give for owning a gun.) My dad took pride in teaching me to shoot, and I took advantage of every opportunity to be with him, and I would do whatever I could to make him happy. This activity accomplished both objectives. As an adult, living in Bugg Hollow (yes, it’s as country as it sounds, and very appropriately named) a gun came in handy when it came to killing snakes
— rattlesnakes in particular. (My biggest kill had 13 rattles and a button, my husband once shot one with 17 rattles and a button!) More recently, most of my customers know I often trade papers for different things, and each year I have a few who give me deer meat. I was hesitant to take it at first, telling one customer I really like it, but I honestly don’t know how to cook it. She returned later that day with a bag full of deer meat and instructions on how to prepare deer burgers, deer for chili/tacos, deer steaks, and more. And even though one man I know does hunt with a bow and arrow, each time he’s bagged a deer, it’s been with a gun. I’ve also been asked, “What makes you an expert on gun owner's rights and victim's rights?” I was told, “You need to pick a side. You can’t be for both.” My answer: Why not? I was always taught to respect the power of a guneven an unloaded gun, and as I’ve said before, I was taught when I was young how to properly handle a gun. As for victims rights, I’ve had a gun pointed directly at me, and it’s only by the grace of God and a faulty firing pin
that I lived to tell the tale. I’ve also been shot at. That’s how I found out I was pregnant with my first child. (*See the article titled, “What Not To Do When You’re Expecting.”) Given that information, I’d say that makes me uniquely qualified to speak about both sides of this issue! That being said, I am in favor of RESPONSIBLE gun ownership, which is what led to the suggestions that were made in the previous article regarding possible laws to improve public safety with regard to guns. It’s noteworthy that while the original article has been met with some resistance, there have also been several GUN OWNERS who have commended and even agreed with many of the suggestions contained in that article because they recognize the need for change with regard to our lax gun laws. Lest we forget, innocent people of ALL ages are dying! As of July 26, 2022, there have been 372 mass shootings in the US. (NY Post/ gunviolencearchive.org) Did you know that Tennessee ranks No. 1 in the number of gun thefts in the US? (WKRN 5/18/22)
More than 70 percent of all guns stolen are taken from vehicles. These guns are routinely used in other crimes. (News Channel 5 3/15/22); 810 so far this year! (Nashville.gov 5/17/22). There is currently proposed legislation that would require a gun owner who does not properly store their weapon to take an approved gun safety course. What if it were to go a step further? What if those who fail to secure their guns properly lost their right to carry a gun for a period of time much like someone who is convicted of a DUI/ DWI is fined and loses their drivers license for a specified period of time? With each infraction the fines/penalties increase and if you’re declared a habitual offender, you’d lose license and or your right to carry a gun permanently. Also if a stolen gun is used in a crime, the gun owner could and should face charges if they failed to properly secure their weapon thereby posing a threat to the public. A precedent has already been established when Jeffery Reinking was charged with unlawful delivery of a firearm for giving his son the weap-
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on that was used in the Waffle House shooting in Antioch. He now faces a sentence of probation up to three years in prison. Implementing ideas like this would ensure a higher level of public safety as well as promote responsible gun handling and ownership. Since the original article was published, new bipartisan gun legislation was passed, the most significant gun safety measure in decades, and while something is better than nothing, there is still much to be done. I urge you ask yourself: What lengths would you go to to protect yourself and those you love from gun violence? I encourage you to look at ANY new legislation as well as any proposed changes to our gun laws with that in mind. Hopefully this will clear up any misunderstandings with regard to my previous article, and give you something more to think about. However, if you do have additional questions or comments, feel free to ask! You don’t have to agree with me, but I would hope you’d keep an open mind and respect my views on this controversial matter.
