Tech Briefs Insider » 2008 » July

Did the Supreme Court make the right decision on handguns?

TechBriefs — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:16:05 +0000

This week’s question concerns the Supreme Court’s recent Second Amendment ruling. Gun control has always been a controversial issue in America. Last month the Supreme Court made its first decision on the matter since the Second Amendment was ratified in 1791, striking down Washington DC’s 32-year-old ban on handguns. The ruling, in effect, confirms that Americans have a constitutional right to keep handguns in their homes for the purpose of self-defense. Supporters of the narrow 5-4 decision heralded it as a victory for personal freedom while critics decried it as a terrible mistake. What do you think? Did the Supreme Court make the right decision on handguns?

Vote here.

Should the U.S. develop magnetically-levitated railroads?

TechBriefs — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:54:46 +0000

This week’s Question of the Week concerns the future of high-speed railroads in the U.S. A transportation bill recently signed by President Bush includes $45 million to fund a magnetically levitated, or “maglev” railroad that would whisk passengers between Anaheim, CA, and Las Vegas, NV, at speeds up to 300 mph. Magnetically-levitated trains now operate in Japan and Shanghai, China. Opponents, such as the Federal Railway Administration, argue that magnetically-levitated trains require erecting costly new infrastructure and the funds would be better spent upgrading the country’s existing railways. What do you think? Should the U.S. develop magnetically-levitated railroads? Yes or no?

Vote here.