Tag: gun shooting

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Parkland High School Shooting Activists Cover TIME Magazine “ENOUGH.”

Photograph by Peter Hapak for TIME

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students Jaclyn Corin, Alex Wind, Emma Gonzalez, Cameron Kasky and David Hogg cover the latest issue of TIME Magazine standing behind the headline, “ENOUGH.”

The article, titled “The School Shooting Generation Has Had Enough,” chronicles how the students’ lives have changed since the February 14 shooting that killed 17 classmates and faculty members.

An excerpt from TIME:

How a movement catches fire is always a mystery, but the Parkland kids seem matched for this moment. They’re young enough to be victimized by a school shooting, but old enough to shape the aftermath. Like many teenagers, they’re at a peculiar stage in their lives where they feel at once vulnerable and invincible, highly social yet impervious to the etiquette expected from adults. Their bombastic style mirrors President Trump’s: they call their enemies names and hurl sick burns at politicians and lobbyists as if they’re shouting across the locker room.

[snip]

They envision a youth political movement that will address many of the other issues affecting the youngest Americans. Hogg says he would like to have a youth demonstration every year on March 24, harnessing the power of teenage anger to demand action on everything from campaign-finance reform to net neutrality to climate change. But even if none of this works—even if they never pass comprehensive gun reform, and net neutrality fails, and Citizens United endures, and climate-change legislation stalls—today’s teenage rebels will become tomorrow’s establishment leaders, informed by the experience that may already be shaping the gun debate.

And that, says Hogg, is the bottom line for politicians who side with the NRA. “You’re gonna be smeared in the textbooks. Your legacy is gone,” he says. “If you don’t stand up with us now, you’ll be standing against us.”

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If You Would Like To Help The Victims Of The Las Vegas Shooting

It’s very rare that I reach out and ask readers to consider donating to this or that charity or fund raiser.

But this recent shooting massacre in Las Vegas, my hometown, literally hits home.

I mentioned in another post, but for those who might be inclined to donate to help those affected by the hideous attack by Stephen Paddock on Sunday night, please consider this GoFundMe campaign.

The campaign has raised, at this writing, $3.7 million with a current goal of $4.5 million.

The money will go directly to help victims and victims families regarding hospital bills, funeral bills, flying in family members to take care of loved ones and more.

There were almost 600 people killed or injured, so even with $4.5 million divided by 600, that’s only $7,500 per victim to cope with hospital bills, travel costs for families and funeral costs.

Thank you for reading and considering anything to help folks here in my city.

#VegasStrong #Forward

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59 Dead & 527 Injured Still Won’t Move Lawmakers To Do Anything About Gun Violence

Being here in Las Vegas, it’s been a mixed bag of emotions as we’ve all watched the news throughout the day regarding the horrific mass shooting at singer Jason Aldean’s performance at the Route 91 Harvest Festival that left 59 dead and 527 injured.

On one hand, there’s a numb sadness hanging in the air.

But the incredible acts of kindness by folks across the city are deeply inspiring as we see folks donating blood, blankets, water and more.

Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commission Chair from Las Vegas, set up a GoFundMe campaign to assist the victims of the tragic Las Vegas shooting.

Funds will be used to provide relief and financial support to the victims and families of the horrific Las Vegas mass shooting.

At this writing over $1.6 million has been raised in only 10 hours.

Earlier today, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that this isn’t the time to address any kind of gun control policy.

But, if not now, when?

After past mass shooting incidents, we’ve seen up to 90% agreement by the American people that there should be at the very least commonsense background checks for folks buying guns.

Sen. Chris Murphy called on Congress to “get off it’s ass and do something.”

“My heart goes out to the victims, their families, the first responders, and the entire Las Vegas community. Nowhere but America do horrific large-scale mass shootings happen with this degree of regularity. Last night’s massacre may go down as the deadliest in our nation’s history, but already this year there have been more mass shootings than days in the year.

“This must stop. It is positively infuriating that my colleagues in Congress are so afraid of the gun industry that they pretend there aren’t public policy responses to this epidemic. There are, and the thoughts and prayers of politicians are cruelly hollow if they are paired with continued legislative indifference. It’s time for Congress to get off its ass and do something.”

Bolding is mine.

But Congress won’t touch the issue.

According to reports, the NRA pumped $30 million into getting Donald Trump elected president. And tons of money goes into Congressional Republican election coffers.

And according to these figures being shared on social media, these nine Republican senators received 22 million by the NRA:

•Mitch McConnell (R-KY): $1,262,189
•Roy Blunt (R-MO): $1,433,952
•Pat Roberts (R-KS): $1,584,153
•Tom Cotton (R-AR): $1,968,714
•David Perdue (R-GA): $1,997,512
•Bill Cassidy (R-LA): $2,867,074
•Joni Ernst (R-IA): $3,124,773
•Cory Gardner (R-CO): $3,939,199
•Thom Tillis (R-NC): $4,418,833

So, even though you’ll see expressions of “thoughts and prayers” across the nation, don’t expect any gun policy changes anytime soon.

As Dan Hodges, a commentator for The Mail once wrote, “In retrospect, ​Sandy Hook marked the end of the US gun control debate. Once America decided killing children was bearable, it was over.”

Still, folks took to Twitter to express their outrage. One thing folks made note of was the White House’s clear reticence to use the term “terrorist” in describing the man who terrorized tens of thousands of people.

Nevada law states an “act of terrorism means any act that involves the use or attempted use of sabotage, coercion or violence which is intended to cause great bodily harm or death to the general population.”

In other words, the shooter in Las Vegas was a domestic terrorist.

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Rep. Steve Scalise Returns To Capitol Hill 3 Months After Being Shot

Three months after being shot at a Republican baseball practice on June 14, Rep. Steve Scalise returned to Capitol Hill receiving a standing ovation as he entered the House.

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Orlando: Pulse Nightclub Massacre One Year Ago Today

It was one year ago today that a lone gunman, Omar Mateen, pledged his loyalty to ISIS, walked into a gay nightclub in Orlando armed with an assault rifle and killed 49 people in the worst gun massacre in American history.

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Baton Rouge: Three Police Officers Killed, More Injured, In Possible Ambush Attack

Three police officers have been shot dead in the US city of Baton Rouge, and three more have been injured, officials say.

One suspect is dead and two others may still be at large.

The local sheriff’s department spokeswoman told WAFB TV the incident began shortly before 09:00 local time. The spokeswoman said officers had responded to reports of shooting. A witness said the shooting appeared to have broken out before law enforcement officers arrived at the scene.

President Obama released this statement, which reads in part:

I want to be clear: There is no justification for violence against law enforcement. None. These attacks are the work of cowards who speak for no one. They right no wrongs. They advance no causes. The officers in Baton Rouge; the officers in Dallas – they were our fellow Americans, part of our community, part of out country, with people who loved and needed then, and who need us now – all of us – to be at our best.

(Click image to enlarge)

Developing.

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Shooting In Colorado Springs Near Planned Parenthood

UPDATE:

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GoFundMe Campaign For Oregon Shooting Hero Chris Mintz Raises Over $612K

Focusing on some good news – according to reports, the student and Army veteran who witnesses say charged the shooter during the gunman’s rampage at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, is alert and awake at the hospital as he recovers.

Chris Mintz, 30, was shot seven times during the Thursday rampage, but he says his main concern is about the others who were injured.

Mintz left a short message on his Facebook page last night saying, “Hope the others injured and their families are doing well, goodnight for me.”

A GoFundMe page was set up to help Mintz with his medical bills and it’s soared past the original goal of $10,000 to over $612,000. Mintz will need extensive medical support as both legs were broken during his confrontation with the shooter.

If you’d like to make a donation, click here for the GoFundMe page for Chris.

Oregon shooting hero Chris Mintz is getting some well-deserved attention and support from the public

In recovery after surgery

Chris’ Instagram account is also getting some attention
for good reason…