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County Council Passes Resolution Calling For Gun Control Measures

By WTOP Staff

The Montgomery County Council yesterday passed a resolution urging the Maryland General Assembly and Congress to enact a package of gun control laws.

The resolution supports background checks that would prevent those with mental illness from purchasing guns, a ban on armor-piercing bullets and all forms of assault weapons, a ban on magazines with a capacity of greater than 10 rounds, the removal of restrictions Congress has placed on the ATF that prevents it from sharing gun databases with local police stations, the closing of the “gun show” loophole and an increase in mandatory penalties for for criminals convicted of carrying guns during a violent crime.

There  are  many  legitimate,  law-abiding  reasons  to  own  a  firearm.  However,  assault  weapons, armor piercing bullets, and large capacity magazines have the ability to kill and maim large numbers of human beings,  but have  limited usefulness for hunters and other law-abiding citizens.

The proposals, introduced by Council President Nancy Navarro (D-East County), mirror many of the laws that Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) and others in the state legislature will attempt to pass during the General Assembly.

Today, President Barack Obama signed 23 executive orders that go toward strengthening background checks for those who wish to purchase guns.

The county lacks the authority to regulate the sale or possession of firearms under state law.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D) released a statement supporting Obama’s proposals on Wednesday afternoon:

Today, President Obama presented a clear vision of how we can improve gun safety in our nation.  I applaud the President for taking executive action where appropriate, such as increasing research on gun violence and improving our federal database that tracks guns.  Congress must immediately consider the White House’s recommendations for legislative action, including closing loopholes in criminal and mental health background checks for people purchasing guns, banning military-style assault weapons, and limiting the size of high-capacity magazines.

Our nation has buried too many innocent victims of gun violence because we have been unwilling to take action on sensible gun safety measures.  Despite the distortions and scare tactics used by the Washington-based gun lobby, a majority of Americans support these common sense measures.  Limiting the number of bullets that can be fired at once does not mean we are trying to take guns away from responsible gun owners.   If you’re on a terrorist watch list, you should not be permitted to buy a gun.  We can keep our children safe without infringing on the Second Amendment.

Flickr photo by mdfriendofhillary

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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