The United States jails about 1 out of every 100 of its citizens -- more than 2 million people, according to a report released late last month by the Pew Center on the States. Not only that, but the rate of incarceration has increased in recent years, further straining state budgets that are already tight. And what are we getting for all of that money? According to Pew, not very much. Perhaps it's time to listen to activists who have been saying for years that there has to be a better way.

A teacher in Medford, Oregon is seeking to bring a semi-automatic pistol into her classroom. The woman, who is a victim of domestic violence, wants to carry the weapon in order to protect herself from her ex-husband, whom she fears might show up to attack her at the school.

On August 2, Chauncey Bailey, a journalist known for his outspoken views and hard-hitting reporting on urban issues was gunned down in broad daylight on a street in Oakland, California.