A Yes/No Question to Rep. Steve Stivers Concerning the National Security Council - by Colin Gawel

To the Honorable Steve Stivers:

Dear Representative Stivers, As you undoubtedly know President Trump recently reorganized the National Security Council by elevating his own chief political strategist to a position while simultaneously demoting both the Director of National Intelligence and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Eliminating the military and intelligence from the Security Council is unprecedented in U.S. history. As is having a Political Advisor serving on the the council in any capacity.

I called your Hilliard office today and had a very nice conversation with one of your staffers and the question I have is this: With your extensive military and political background do you personally believe this reorganization by President Trump is in the best interests of our National security? Yes or no.  

Additionally,  I would be very interested in your personal opinion of the pros and cons of this new arrangement concerning the NSC. We can publish your response at pencilstormstory@gmail.com or just stop by Colin's Coffee when you have a moment to chat. The coffee is on me. 

Thank you for your time.

Respectfully,  Colin Gawel, 15th District, Ohio.

Colin Gawel does not represent the opinions of Pencilstorm.com. He does own a coffee shop and is a musician. He was recently profiled on PBS. You can watch the interview here. Or read about him in the book Hitless Wonder. 

Thank you for your time. 

Colin Gawel - owner of Colin's Coffee, 15th District of Ohio. 

You can email any response to pencilstormstory@gmail.com And I would be happy to publish it unedited. 

America's Biggest Loser: Gun Policy or the Cleveland Browns? - by Colin Gawel

 I have a question and I know you have it too: Which is America's biggest loser, our current gun policy or the Cleveland Browns? 

Now before all you Dawgs and gun nutz lose your shit, just hear me out. I'm not proposing any changes to current gun policy or the Browns. I have no answers.  More guns or less guns? More Manziel or less Manziel? Hell, I don't know. (Click here to read my open letter to Rep. Steve Stivers) What I do know is that going strictly by the numbers, both the Browns and America's gun policies are an unmitigated disaster. A total embarrassment. Or put another way, they both suck. Bad.

As a huge fan of both the Browns and the USA, it brings me no pleasure to point out the obvious. In fact, I'd much prefer to squint my eyes and tell you i see some hope on the horizon.  However, the cold hard numbers tell a different story and it isn't pretty. This isn't personal and it isn't my opinion. This is just how it is. Hopefully somebody smarter than myself figures something to get both things trending in the right direction in 2016. Until then, I'll leave it to you to decide which is America's biggest loser. From my vantage point, it's too close to call.  - Colin G.

                                                          Gun Policy

Click here to read "27 Americans were shot and killed on Christmas Day". 

                                                                vs                                                       

                                                    Cleveland Browns

Click here to read The Cleveland Browns are the suckiest bunch of sucks to ever suck. 

An Open Letter Concerning Gun Violence to Congressman Steve Stivers by Colin Gawel

Sir, I'm writing you from Colin's Coffee. It's a small business I run in your district and where I have become increasingly weary of opening up the morning newspaper to find yet another story of a mass shooting on U.S. soil. Though I'm no expert, it appears our current gun policy primarily benefits two groups: mass shooters and lobbyists. It seems to be increasingly dangerous and depressing for the rest of us. 

 So, if anybody on Capitol Hill has any ideas on how to put a dent in the growing domestic body count, I for one, would love to hear them. Only Congress can get this ball rolling and as we both know, doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. Perhaps it's time to explore a different approach to help solve this problem unique to our great country.  I would greatly appreciate your help in this matter. Thank you for your time.

Respectfully, Colin Gawel (Parent and small business owner residing in the 15th district.)

Colin Gawel writes songs both solo and as part of the group Watershed. You can read all about it in the best selling book "Hitless Wonder-A Life in Minor League Rock n Roll" by Joe Oestreich. He owns Colin's Coffee and is the founder of Pencilstorm.com . Cheap Trick is his favorite band.

To contact Steve Stivers you can call his office at 614 771 4968 or Click Here for more contact info or to find your representative.