Now It's Really Scary...

And now, it gets worse. Certainly, the current manufactured crisis has led to anger across America. But now, it's getting bloody... Literally.

Just two and half weeks after the Navy Yard Shooting, another shooting has occurred in the Nation's Capital. And this time, it happened on Capitol Hill.

The United States Capitol was placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon after shots were fired in the vicinity of the chamber. At least one Capitol Police officer was injured, officials said

The FBI was responding to the scene, and a helicopter landed in front of the Capitol. A message from the Capitol Police ordered anyone in a House office to "shelter in place."

"Close, lock and stay away from external doors and windows," the message said. [...]

“We’ve locked the doors. We closed the window shades. And we are awaiting further instructions,” Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) told MSNBC. “We’re more or less cut off here. We’re watching TV and just trying to figure out what happened.”

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I guess it was only a matter of time before this erupted. People across America are angry. And they're without work. And a raging manufactured crisis has become a real source of pain.

Apparently, this began with an attempt to breach White House security. When that didn't work, the suspect then attempted to flee from police in a high speed chase along Pennsylvania Avenue.

But shortly after reaching the US Capitol, a shootout with the suspect occurred. And she was then shot by police. A Capitol Police officer was also shot and is now in critical condition.


It's terrible enough that we don't have a functioning government. But now, we also have to worry about violence tearing down what's left. What are we coming to? What's about to become of this nation?

Endless Cycle of Tragedy

Yesterday, the US Senate went to recess. While a decision like this would usually be met with criticism, this happened for a very understandable reason. Keep in mind that the US Capitol is less than two miles from the Navy Yard.

Here's what Senator Harry Reid (D) had to say when he announced the recess.



And that's not the only local aspect of this story. Don Andres is on Rep. Steven Horsford's (D-North Las Vegas) DC staff. He also lives near the Navy Yard, so he was eyewitness to the terror that fell upon his neighborhood. He spoke with MSNBC's Chris Hayes about what he experienced yesterday morning.

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What happened yesterday was horrific. And it was quite saddening. However, it wasn't all that shocking.

Six of the twelve deadliest mass shootings in US history have occurred in just the past six years. Think about it. Oh, and three of those mass shootings have occurred just in the last fourteen months: the Aurora, Colorado, theater massacre; the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut; and yesterday's Navy Yard massacre in Washington, D.C.

We're now staring down an endless cycle of tragedy, yet all we hear from the gun lobby is ruthless spin. When will the madness end? When will more elected "leaders" actually develop the courage to lead?

In so many other ways, we take precautionary measures to prevent horrific tragedies like the one that happened yesterday in DC. Yet when it comes to the most basic precautionary measures, "we can't go there" because they're "too controversial". And the endless cycle of tragedy continues... (Until we can finally agree to do something to stop it. When will that happen?)

Update on Navy Yard Shooting

This morning, many of us were awaken to the horrific news of the Navy Yard Shooting in Washington, D.C. At least seven have died today. And law enforcement in the nation's capital are now on a manhunt for the two surviving shooters. (Police now suspect three shooters committed the massacre.)

“The big concern for us right now is that we have potentially two other shooters that we have not located at this point,” Lanier said.

Lanier described one of the possible shooters as a white male wearing what appeared to be a khaki tan military uniform and a beret, and carrying a handgun. She said police also are looking for a black man, about 50, wearing an olive military-style uniform, and possessing a “long gun.”

Police are asking anyone with information on these two people to call 202-727-9099.

Authorities have confirmed at least seven fatalities, including the shooter.

At least two police officers were among those shot. Police on the scene said one is a D.C. Metropolitan Police officer who was shot twice in the leg and was evacuated to a hospital. Lanier said he was in stable condition after engaging the shooter with gunfire. The other was a base officer. The D.C. officer, a male, was conscious at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and his chances for survival were good, hospital officials said.

Three victims are in critial condition and are being treated at Washington Hospital Center. Two are civilians, and one is a Washington Metropolitan police officer. All were likely shot using a semi-automatic assault weapon.

Before President Obama was set to deliver his scheduled speech on the state of the economy, he commented on the shootings.



The shootings occurred less than two miles from the US Capitol and just east of the Washington Nationals Stadium. So far today, this has led to closed schools, closed roads, and plenty of fear throughout The Beltway as two of the three suspects are still on the loose.

This morning, many of us woke up to the news of yet another gun violence tragedy. Seven people are now dead, and another three people are still in the hospital and in critical condition. And so far, examinations of the gunshot wounds seem to confirm earlier reports of the shooters using AR-15 assault weapons.

And this tragic, horrific beat goes on...

(We'll keep updating the blog as more news breaks on the Navy Yard Shooting.)

Another Day, Another Tragedy

Today, we have another unfolding tragedy on our hands. And this time, it's happening in the nation's capital. Yes, there's been a shooting at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.

The Navy said at least three shots were fired at 8:20 am (13:20 GMT) in the headquarters building of the Naval Sea Systems Command.

About 3,000 people work at the headquarters.

Al Jazeera's Rosiland Jordan, reporting from Washington, said the shooter may have barricaded himself on Navy Yard grounds. Witnesses saw police with rifles running towards the building where they believed the attacker might be.

One of the injured was said to be a police officer, shot in both legs.

Twelve people were shot this morning. And two of them were police officers on duty. And just moments ago, four were announced dead.

There's also a local angle to this story. About an hour ago, Tim Hogan (who works communications for Rep. Steven Horsford [D-North Las Vegas]) tweeted photos from the crime scene. Another Horsford staffer, Don Andres, was near the Navy Yard at the time of the shooting.

The shooter(s) apparently used an AR-15 military grade assault weapon. And the shooter(s) used it at a US Military office to kill people there.

At this point, it's unclear if the shooter(s) was/were military staff or civilian(s). There are now even reports of potential multiple shooters. The Navy Yard ad surrounding neighborhood are still swamped with first responders, as the Navy Yard is still being treated as an active emergency.

So another day, another tragedy. Another week, another horrific incident of gun violence. And we still must wonder what it will take for us to finally stop this bloody madness.

Are the Beltway/NYC Pundits Giving up on Sharrontology?

If we're to believe the talking heads on MSNBC's often painfully obnoxious "Morning Joe", they're not holding much more hope for Sharrontology Obtuse Angle (Sharron Angle) to keep our little US Senate race exciting enough for them to keep making up shit about discussing.



Meanwhile, I hear our lovely local teabagger flavored fishwrap "newspaper" has something to say about all of this.

Bullshit, crap, more crap, blow job for Ronald Reagan, miss old Ronnie, hate Harry, [LOVE SHARRONTOLOGY OBTUSE ANGLE!!!], bullshit, more bullshit, pure unadulterated crap, derivative crap, insightful conservative hate speech, more crap, small turds, bigger turds, little rat publisher flatulence, bla, bla bla, love the governor... [Governor Who?], all lies about [Sandoval], the governor... [We mean, Sandoval!] ... didn't do any of that, apologist, [all lies about Sharrontology], flatulence, still hate Reid, both of them, Shelley Berkley, lucky she's in that gerrymandered district, more flatulence, Dina Taxes is in trouble, she won but she's in trouble, hate democrats, love the tea baggers, [jerking off for Joe Heck], love the [radical right], lovin Ronnie Reagan, George who?, [Johnny Casino who?], [Gibbons who?], [Angle who?], bullshit, crap, more crap, the only thing I like about the beltway is the name, damn people speeding, crap, bla, crap, bla, shit, bla ffffffffffftttttttt(a tribute to Mad Magazine!)

:-D

DC Gets Marriage Equality!

YAY!

Today the D.C. Council voted in favor of marriage equality. In the first of two votes held at noon today in the John A. Wilson Building, the Council voted 11 – 2 to legalize same-sex marriage.

“What a splendid moment this is for all of us,” said Council member Jim Graham (D – Ward 1). “When one of us is denied a right, we are all denied the right.”

With 10 of the 13 council members sponsoring the bill, a favorable outcome was expected. This is the first step in a long road ahead. A second vote will come in two week, and then the bill has 10 days to be approved by Mayor Fenty (D), who has pledged to sign it. The District has limited home rule, meaning Congress has 30 legislative days to reverse any law the Council passes.

“Republicans say it is unlikely they could attract enough Democrats to overturn the law,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

...D.C. has the largest percentage of same-sex couples in the nation, where 1.5 percent of all households comprise same-sex couples. This is more than double the percentage of any other state, according to Our Families Count. A favorable vote, could give more than 3,600 couples the ability to marry.

It's about damned time for this to happen. Now we can finally get married at our nation's capital... And hopefully soon, we'll also see our federal government there actually recognize our marriages.