Fertilizer Plant Explosion at West

On Tuesday 23, 2013 the Austin Statement published an article titled “Blast damage in West more extensive than anticipated.”  This article shows us about the terrible explosion that happen in a fertilizer plant in West, Texas on Wednesday 17.  This is a sad notice because the massive explosion damages many houses, apartment complex and mobile homes.  More than 200 people were injured and 14 were reported death.  The funeral services for some residents will start the next week, few have their families living in Mexico and they have to get special visas to assist to the funeral of their loved ones.  The state is making an investigation to see what is the damaged reported in dollars.   Also the state authorities restricted access to the devastating area.

Few residents and some insurance companies are accusing the owner and employees of the plant for negligence with the equipment and they plan to sue the owner of the fertilizer plant.

Some critics says that the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, is the agency responsible for investigating industrial accidents involving chemicals, but the board officers  are saying that the small annual budget makes meaningful investigations almost impossible.

 Now the eyes of Texans are over Governor Rick Perry, if he can have a solution to avoid future disasters of this magnitude, especially government over-sight when it comes to safety regulations for this kind of business.

It could be accident or negligence but we know that many people are suffering consequences; in this situation we have to show compassion and solidarity with the people from West, Texas and give them our support and prayers.

Comments on a Colleague's work

On Friday, March 29, the Blog Spot of Austin Kotch, one of my colleagues at school published an article titled “Safety is Important. We must allow open carry in Texas”   His article is very important because it refers to concealed carried guns in Texas.  I agree with part of his comment, because crime rates could be dropped in Texas if the law of carrying concealed guns to public places is approved.  My colleague says that the weapon should not be hiding in other words it should be shown in a gun holster as it was in the old West, and I don’t think I agree with that part because first it is against the law and second that under certain circumstances could cause public alarm especially in the places where it is a peaceful environment.  Also open carried guns can make you a target of an angry or unreasonable law enforcement officer or that robbers can target your gun and try to get it violently or clandestinely.  We have to considered the advantage of surprise that we lost with open carried guns.