The GOP Just Now on Guns, Voting and America

God help us, folks.

The only thing this doesn't also show is their racism. Oh, and their love of power. Over all else.

Republican Party Priorities

There's only one political party in the nation that is so patently, provenly bad and unpopular that they have to--and do--actively disenfranchise fellow American citizens.

End vote and voter suppression.

Require background checks for all weapons purchases, coast to coast, for mental stability and criminal history.

Put back into effect the Assault Weapons Ban.Require a waiting period for weapons purchases. Simple, important things we need to do as a nation. Oh, and vote out Republicans. For sure.

Quote of the Day -- On America, Americans and Assault Weapons

"After Bill Clinton banned assault weapons in 1994, mass shooting deaths dropped by 43%.

After the Republican Congress let the ban expire in 2004, they shot up by 239%. This isn't rocket science: we need to ban assault weapons again." --Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, Pennsylvania Democratic Party candidate for the US Senate.

What to do About Guns in America?

What do we do about weapons in the United States? 3 things, at minimum---all common sense and not complicated. These won't solve all our problems, no, certainly not but they'll go a long way to curing some of our nation's ills and keeping people from getting shot and/or killed.

1) Require background checks, coast to coast, for ALL weapons purchases, for mental stability and criminal history, 2) Put into law a waiting period for receiving a gun after purchase and 3) Ban assault weapons. Again. Period.

On Guns -- and Shootings and Killings -- In America

There aren't two sides to this issue of guns in America.

There's sensible people who know we need solutions and then there are the weapons supporters, putting guns and gun ownership over human life. That's it. That's all there is.

Quote of the Day -- On Guns In America

"Today it's a tragedy in Boulder, Colorado. This past weekend it was a house party in Philadelphia. And last week it was an armed attack on Asian American women in the Atlanta area.

It doesn't have to be this way. It’s beyond time for our leaders to take action." --Gabrielle Giffords @GabbyGiffords

America Needs Common Sense Gun Reform Legislation

Yes, as the slaughter of 8 innocent Americans in Atlanta, Georgia this week shows, we, America need just that, common sense gun reform legislation. And Republicans need to get on board or get out of the way.

Republican Party Policies

38,000 gun deaths a year in US: who needs gun control?

2 cases of voter fraud in 2020: let’s pass 253 new voter suppression laws --Ari Berman @AriBerman

Republicans Reached a New Low Yesterday

On the same day 7 women and 1 man were gunned down by a 21 year old madman in Atlanta, Georgia after purchasing a 9mm handgun EARLIER THAT DAY at a local gun shop, 172 Republicans voted against the Violence Against Women Act. The very same day. Unconscionable.

Republicans are NOT for Americans or America. They are for themselves and their own political party and money and power, period. That's it. Know this, America. Then let's vote them out.

After the Atlanta Murders Today

"Every Republican official who has ever called it the 'Chinavirus' or 'Kung-Flu' has played a part in the violence being directed towards the Asian American community right now. #StopAsianHate" --Kaivan Shroff @KaivanShroff

Thanks Mr. Trump. Thanks, NRA. Thanks, Republicans.

Quote of the Day -- Insane Guns Edition

"The big increase in the murder rate in 2020 has carried over to 2021. Early data shows murder 18% in first 3 months of 2021.

Meanwhile, last week, 203 members of Congress voted to make it 'easier' for prohibited purchasers to purchase guns & traffic firearms." --igorvolsky @igorvolsky Doesn't portend well for the nation. Certainly doesn't bode well for the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Kansans! Do You Know What Your (Republican) Representatives Did Last Week in Topeka?

Seriously, Kansans, do you know what your state government representatives did last week in Topeka? Especially the Republican Party Represntatives? Davis Hammet, once again, gives an exellent, factual recap of just what went on over there.

I personally cannot recommend enough that Kansns at least follow Mr. Hammet and his organization, Loud Light, if not also support him and the group (please). He's doing great work and giving great information on Kansas Statehouse business that literally no other source is, Kansas City Star and all local TV news stations combined and included. If you could and would support him, howver large or small, it would be money extremely well spent, I assure you.He gives these excellent, concise summaries weekly, as this suggests. For me, it's a "don't miss" video each week---and I don't eeen live in the state. Now if Steve Kraske at KCUR would have him on his program and Nick Haines at KCPT on his. If only.

It's a Great Time In America!

First, this. All this. Check out all that great news, ladies and gentlemen.

Added to this, Trump will be going through his second--second--impeachment trial in Congress this week.

And then, GO CHIEFS!!!

It's a bee--YOO--tee--full day!!

Have a great, great day, everyone!

Important Quote of the Day

Click on picture for larger picture, easier reading.

On Guns: Facts in America and What We Must Do

One More Time On the Guns

How long, America?

20 children--children, for God's sake--were slaughtered in a school, as we all know.

We did nothing.

59 people gunned down from a high rise hotel in Las Vegas.

Nothing.

Now, 30 people gunned down in two separate incidents, 13 hours apart.

Sure, we're outraged.

Saddened. Disgusted. Repelled. Revulsed. Sickened even.

Will we do anything about it?

And to the gun-lovers and NRA supporters and Right Wingers and Republicans, heck, even Libertarians who say the government should stay out of it and again, do nothing? I give you data, the following from Harvard University studies.

1. Where there are more guns there is more homicide (literature review)

Our review of the academic literature found that a broad array of evidence indicates that gun availability is a risk factor for homicide, both in the United States and across high-income countries. Case-control studies, ecological time-series and cross-sectional studies indicate that in homes, cities, states and regions in the U.S., where there are more guns, both men and women are at a higher risk for homicide, particularly firearm homicide.

Hepburn, Lisa; Hemenway, David. Firearm availability and homicide: A review of the literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior: A Review Journal. 2004; 9:417-40.

2. Across high-income nations, more guns = more homicide

We analyzed the relationship between homicide and gun availability using data from 26 developed countries from the early 1990s. We found that across developed countries, where guns are more available, there are more homicides. These results often hold even when the United States is excluded.

Hemenway, David; Miller, Matthew. Firearm availability and homicide rates across 26 high income countries. Journal of Trauma. 2000; 49:985-88.

3. Across states, more guns = more homicide

Using a validated proxy for firearm ownership, we analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and homicide across 50 states over a ten-year period (1988-1997).

After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of homicide, particularly firearm homicide.

Miller, Matthew; Azrael, Deborah; Hemenway, David. Household firearm ownership levels and homicide rates across U.S. regions and states, 1988-1997. American Journal of Public Health. 2002; 92:1988-1993.

4. Across states, more guns = more homicide (2)

Using survey data on rates of household gun ownership, we examined the association between gun availability and homicide across states, 2001-2003. We found that states with higher levels of household gun ownership had higher rates of firearm homicide and overall homicide. This relationship held for both genders and all age groups, after accounting for rates of aggravated assault, robbery, unemployment, urbanization, alcohol consumption, and resource deprivation (e.g., poverty). There was no association between gun prevalence and non-firearm homicide.

Miller, Matthew; Azrael, Deborah; Hemenway, David. State-level homicide victimization rates in the U.S. in relation to survey measures of household firearm ownership, 2001-2003. Social Science and Medicine. 2007; 64:656-64.

5. A summary of the evidence on guns and violent death

This book chapter summarizes the scientific literature on the relationship between gun prevalence (levels of household gun ownership) and suicide, homicide and unintentional firearm death and concludes that where there are higher levels of gun ownership, there are more gun suicides and more total suicides, more gun homicides and more total homicides, and more accidental gun deaths.

This is the first chapter in the book and provides and up-to-date and readable summary of the literature on the relationship between guns and death. It also adds to the literature by using the National Violent Death Reporting System data to show where (home or away) the shootings occurred. Suicides for all age groups and homicides for children and aging adults most often occurred in their own home.

Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D. Firearms and violence death in the United States. In: Webster DW, Vernick JS, eds. Reducing Gun Violence in America. Baltimore MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013.

6. More guns = more homicides of police
This article examines homicide rates of Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) from 1996 to 2010. Differences in rates of homicides of LEOs across states are best explained not by differences in crime, but by differences in household gun ownership. In high gun states, LEOs are 3 times more likely to be murdered than LEOs working in low-gun states.

This article was cited by President Obama in a speech to a police association. This article will hopefully bring police further into the camp of those pushing for sensible gun laws.

Swedler DI, Simmons MM, Dominici F, Hemenway D. Firearm prevalence and homicides of law enforcement officers in the United States. American Journal of Public Health. 2015; 105:2042-48.

And again to the weapons supporters, I say we're only asking--now demanding--3 things:

1. Required background checks, coast to coast, for mental stability
2. Required background checks, again, coast to coast, for criminal history
3. Ban on all purchases of assault style weapons. They have zero place on our streets and/or in our society.

No one who otherwise wants or feels they need weapons will be effected so please don't pull that desperate, pathetic, pitiful "They're going to take all our guns" on us. It's nonsense. Patent nonsense.

For hope today, I point out this article from Uber Right Wing, very Conservative Rupert Murdoch and his Right Wing rag, The New York Post.

Murdoch’s New York Post urges Trump to ban assault weapons

We can do this.

We must.

And it has to come from us, from the people.

Links: 

The Second Amendment has failed America

There have been more mass shootings than days in 2019

List of mass shootings in the United States

There’s No Second Amendment Right to Large-Capacity Magazines

(President) Trump Says He Wants Background Checks

It Has Been An Incredible Day Full of Revelations On and About Mr. Trump

Yes sir, it's been a big, big media day for Mr. President Donald Trump, for sure.

First, there are not one. Not two. Not three, four or five but there now 17 different formal investigations into this Trump Presidential administration. They are:

1. Russian Gov’t’s election attack
2. Wikileaks
3. Middle Eastern influence
4. Paul Manafort’s activity
5. Trump Tower Moscow project
6. Other campaign & transition contacts with Russia
7. Obstruction of justice
8. Campaign Conspiracy & the Trump Organization’s Finances
9. Inauguration funding
10. Trump Super PAC funding
11. Foreign lobbying
12. Maria Butina and the NRA
13. Elen Alekseevna Khusyaynova
14. Turkish influence
15. Tax case
16. Trump Foundation
17. Emoluments lawsuit

You can get more background here:

A Complete Guide to All 17 (Known) Trump and Russia Investigations

Here's what we know about the 17 known investigations into Trump, his campaign, and Russia

Not done there, this news and article also broke today.

American CEOs are worried about 4 things. No. 1 is Trump

"A survey of 134 American CEOs was conducted during last week's Yale CEO Summit in New York."

What they're concerned about? Check out their number one concern.

1. President Donald Trump

Naturally, Mr. Trump figures in 3 out of the four.

2. The arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou — and Trump's potential intervention.

3. A recession caused by political instability.

Some information on this one:

Half of respondents expressed fear the US could wind up in a recession by the end of the year.

Why?

Sixty-seven per cent blamed political instability in the nation and trade negotiations.

More from CEOs on Mr. Trump.

Three-quarters of CEOs say they've apologized for Trump's rhetoric

Three-quarters of CEOs said they find themselves apologizing to international partners about the president's rhetoric, according to a survey of attendees at the Yale School of Management's CEO summit. The invitation-only meeting, which took place in New York last week, claimed 134 attendees, including the CEOs of Ford, Morgan Stanley and Verizon, according to The New York Times.
The people who should, you might think, be for this man since he's for little government regulation and low corporate taxes but they have to apologize for this man's, for our leader's actions and words.

And in spite of the CEOs having to make these apologies for him, for us, Mr. Trump thinks he's doing a bangup job. Why, just ask him.

Trump Ad Claims He's Achieved 
Most As President

Here we go:

President Donald Trump's re-election campaign team appears to have issued its first ad, with a message calling on "every Trump supporter" to call an 800 number to thank the president for his leadership...

In the ad, 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale makes the claim that Trump has "achieved more during his time in office than any president in history."

Next up, today, at least for now, there is his folding like a cheap suit.

Trump Just Folded On The Government Shutdown

He had promised his supporters and threatened the Democrats and Congress that he wanted his border wall on the Southern border, all 5 billion dollars of it. He said if he didn't get it, he'd shut down the government.

For whatever good reason--common sense struck?--he backed off. That's what people do who are only committed to themselves and money. He has no allegiances or commitments to anything but, again, himself, his own perceived, best self-interests and yes, money. That's it with this guy.

Finally, there is this and it is, by itself, huge.

Trump Foundation agrees to dissolve with judge to oversee dispersal to other charities

Check out that first paragraph--

“The Trump Foundation — the charitable foundation started by President Donald Trump years before he became a presidential candidate, which New York's top prosecutor said exhibited a ‘shocking pattern of illegality’ — will dissolve according to a court filing.”

But wait. There’s more:

“Our petition detailed a shocking pattern of illegality involving the Trump Foundation — including unlawful coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing, and much more… This amounted to the Trump Foundation functioning as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump’s business and political interests."

Then there’s the good news.

“It does not stop the lawsuit by AG’s office has filed against the foundation, which was formed in 1987, and that action will continue”

So who knows what's next with this man? There's no telling what he'll do or say or tweet, of course, as we've seen in these 2 bizarre first years. And with the Mueller investigation's results not even released yet, the only thing we can count on is more unpredictability.

God help us.

God help us all.

Link:

This broke 5 days ago:

Maria Butina Pleads Guilty, Agrees to Cooperate

Quote of the Day -- Police Officer Edition

"I know some have strong feelings about gun rights but I want you to know I’ve hit rock bottom and I am not interested in your views as it pertains to this issue. Please do not post anything about guns aren’t the problem and there’s little we can do. My feelings won’t be hurt if you de-friend me and I hope yours won’t be if you decide to post about your views and I de-friend you." 

"...people at the state level and the federal level in too many places in our country are not doing anything other than offering prayers. I'm grateful that I'm working a city with the mayor who is transformative, Sylvester Turner, and what we're starting to see is that local governments are starting to make a difference, and I think that the American people, gun owners, the vast majority of which are pragmatic and actually support gun sense and gun reform in terms of keeping guns in the right hands. We need to start using the ballot box and ballot initiatives to take the matters out of the hands of people that are doing nothing that are elected into the hands of the people to see that the will of the people in this country is actually carried out."

-- Art Acevedo, Chief of Police, Houston Texas

Link:

Transcript: Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo On "Face The Nation," May 20, 2018

America: We Learn Nothing

It's not remotely deniable.

Proof? 

This was first posted on Facebook in 2012.

We learn nothing.

We don't learn and we don't give a damn.

Two Headlines That Tell All About Guns In America

Yet another shooting.

Yet one more mass shooting in America.

This one in Santa Fe, Texas.

More students killed in their own grade school.

And with all we know about these and however much we don't want them to occur, there were two very telling headlines, articles in the news this week that describe the situation we're in. It tells of what we're allowing, what with all the far-too-easy-to-obtain weapons. Here they are. Here's the first:

Santa Fe school shooting is 2nd this week, 3rd this month and 16th this year

Let's face it, there are so many shootings, so many mass shootings in America, we can't even keep track of them, it's that obscene.

Here's the second headline and article.

2018 has been deadlier for schoolchildren 

than service members

It's nearly incomprehensible that even one of the above is true, let alone both.

It's unconscionable this is our situation. It's unconscionable we allow it.

What's it going to take America?

How many innocent Americans---of any age, really---have to die before we have simple, intelligent, meaningful weapons reform and controls so these at least happen less frequently?

The rest of the world does it.

We should, too.

Link:

Santa Fe school shooting: 10 dead 

and 10 wounded in Texas