This week marks the latest installment of an occasional Editorial Ink Drops feature we titled “Standing O’s And Oh Nos” — because some issues and individuals in the community deserve this kind of heightened focus, for good or for ill, right here at the top of our front page.

Our first “Standing O’’ of 2022 goes to Newtown Police Commission for its careful and wise decision to forego a regional/national search for a new Police Chief, and selecting the ideal candidate from among the department’s own ranks. We wholeheartedly applaud the decision to bring up NPD veteran Lt Dave Kullgren to the top leadership post. His presence and history with the local force should ease the effort as the department takes on its next major task of filling the second in command Captain’s position.

We could not tender a “Standing O” for Chief Kullgren without also remaining on our feet in recognition of departing Captain Chris Vanghele, who leaves NPD this week to become Chief of Plainville Police Department. While one of Vanghele’s last and highest profile achievements was producing the Newtown department’s 50th anniversary celebration, he has over the years made important inroads related to the way Newtown’s officers interact with developmentally disabled individuals and has been a longtime advocate on behalf of children, women, and families facing domestic violence. He represented Newtown on the statewide Narcotics Task Force and Fairfield County Police Training Officers Association, acted as our department’s grant writer, created Newtown’s Citizen Police Academy, and was among the very first responders on 12/14. Capt Vanghele, your home town is proud of you and appreciates all you have done.

Oh No! If you have not heard, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled unanimously this week that women-only exercise areas in gyms and fitness clubs violate a state law banning discrimination based on gender. We normally stand in defense of practical, beneficial state statutes, but agree with advocates who argued separate workout areas are important for women whose religious beliefs bar them from exercising in front of men, and others who say such gender exemptions can lead to unintended consequences and have been used to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. It appears the justices had no choice but to rule as they did because of a technicality tied to the state’s Public Accommodation Act, and urge lawmakers to examine and address this issue sooner than later.

Oh No! While we believe the most responsible gun owners are raised to be so from childhood, we agree with Newtown Action Alliance and its criticism of an Illinois gun manufacturer that just debuted a child-sized assault rifle that is described as an 80% scaled-down version of the AR-15, weighing only 2.2 pounds, holding a 10- or 15-round magazine, and retailing for under $400. The weapon, dubbed the “JR-15,” was recently unveiled at the Newtown-based National Shooting Sports Foundation’s sponsored SHOT Show, and promises the children’s rifle “looks, feels, and operates just like Mom and Dad’s gun.” We see no good coming from this marketing tack, nor do we think putting another weapon of this nature out on the street and into the homes — and likely the bedroom gun racks — of America’s children as serving to nurture responsible gun ownership. Especially if these weapons fall into the hands of other children who may not be raised and trained by equally responsible gun owning parents, or become a more lightweight and concealable weapon of choice for criminals and others who seek to do harm.