Why fight against something that aims for good?

Miners are dying and people don't want to stop it?

The editorial that ran Wednesday was about how the Columbine massacre and the Oklahoma City bombing can inspire us to take part in advocating a safer and more secure world for our ourselves and families. Activists have been out during this time protesting against laws that make it possible for people to buy guns from private individuals who don't make background checks or fill out paperwork. These rules are being targeted because the gunmen who caused the Columbine massacre bought the guns without being checked.

This past weekend, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration conducted inspections in nearly 60 mines that have a history of violating safety regulations, according to an Associated Press article on page two. The mining disaster at the Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, W.Va., where 29 miners were killed, spurred the MSHA to make these checks. These safety regulators are taking a terrible event and working to help prevent it from ever happening again. They're striving to make the miners and the world a little safer.

At the same time, one coal owner whose mine was inspected, had the nerve to rail against the extra safety precautions. He called the MSHA's work as "forcing an unnecessary crackdown."

Rick Abraham, the individual owner, blamed politicians and "headline seekers" for his employees being on edge and for not being able to work as well as they should be. It couldn't have occurred to him though that maybe the miners at his facility are on edge because of the massive deaths that just occurred at Montcoal and the fact that Abraham's mine has violated safety regulations in the past.

It is horrible that this man is making such a big fuss against work that is trying to prevent another terrible accident like at the Upper Big Branch mine from happening. You would think, too that mine owners would be happy for the extra inspections that aim to keep their mines safer. Massey Energy Co. is expecting to lose between $80 million and $150 million in its second quarter because of the explosion that happened at the Upper Big Branch mine.  Other effects of the accident are the CEO of Massey, Don Blankenship, being asked to give up his position as chairman and the company facing a shareholder lawsuit, wrongful death litigation and more scrutiny from regulators, according to another Associated Press article found on page two.

Wouldn't any owner aim to avoid these financial losses and public criticism? In light of any catastrophe, it is for everyone's best interest to support the efforts by companies or individuals who want to make it so those accidents don't happen ever again.