States take initiative on immigration

The lack of action at the federal level on immigration reform is compelling states to act on their own.

California’s state Supreme Court, for example, ruled recently that a Mexican man who entered the United States illegally as a young teenager, went to college and law school and passed the bar exam on his first try can practice law in the state.

The ruling was based on a law that California’s legislature passed as the man’s case was being heard in the high court; it allows immigrants brought to the U.S. as children by their parents to become lawyers and practice in the state.

California is the first state to pass such a measure, and to have its highest court rule on it, but similar cases are pending in Florida and New York.

2nd Amendment freedom draws tourists

If you’ve strolled through Waikiki lately, you undoubtedly noticed the people handing out fliers promoting the private gun clubs in the area.

A reporter for The certainly noticed, and wrote an article about the clubs and their popularity with tourists, especially those from Japan. The reporter noted that nearly 1.5 million Japanese visited Hawaii in 2012, and for many of them, the opportunity to shoot firearms was one of their vacation highlights — especially since firearms are virtually illegal back home. A Hawaii Rifle Association official estimated the number of such enthusiasts in the "tens of thousands."

Some might say this activity is better than cluttering our beach ways for turtle tours. In any case, it’s a tourism reality, even if some folks might rather it not be.