The framers of our Constitution believed in freedom and were intent on limiting the power of government. I have come across commentary that calls this a “quaint notion”. There are some that are uncomfortable with this idea because it implies an adversarial relationship between us and government. On the flip side of the argument, I remember a teacher I had that told me “the government is us”. Now that is a quaint idea, especially in light of recent legislation.

The West Virginia Legislature completed its 2013 session over this past weekend. I can now breathe a sigh of relief. Legislation is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you’re going to get. Legislators take an oath to defend the Constitution, but I’m of the belief that they should also take an oath to adhere to the primary tenant of medical ethics, “first do no harm”.

The issue of local gun control laws is one that refuses to go away. Last Thursday the Jefferson County Commission considered a resolution “against gun violence” proposed by a Quaker group based in Shepherdstown. It included this quote from the Bible: “Thou shalt not kill”. I share the Quakers’ desire to end violence, and I ascribe to the Ten Commandments. However, “restrictions on sales of firearms”, as the resolution advocates, particularly on the local level, have a troubling history.

When I was in the third grade I remember an incident where a classmate shot a spitball that stuck to the blackboard while the teacher had her back to the class. She was writing a lesson on the board. For those of you not familiar with what a spitball is, it is a little wad of paper that a kid will roll around in the mouth and then shoot it through a straw. The teacher whirled around as a couple of kids giggled. She demanded to know who the perpetrator was. She never found out, but in retribution, she canceled a class trip for the following week that all of us were looking forward to. We were all punished for the actions of one individual.

I would like to make a correction regarding my previous column. Instead of “Food and Drug Administration”, it should have read “Environmental Protection Agency”. That said, in this missive, I will make mention of the FDA.

I am a big fan of supporting local agriculture. Small local farms provide what I consider to be a healthier alternative to so-called factory farms. As much as possible, when I put something on my table, I prefer to know where it comes from. It is better for the environment and I also get added satisfaction knowing that I am doing business with a neighbor while contributing to the local economy. I buy organic when practical. These are personal choices that I have made - I am not making recommendations for others.