All Too Real

Anyone who knows us well knows our origins. Yes, "Home Means Nevada" today. However, this is not where we originally came from.

We'll admit, we migrated here from Orange County. Yes, that Orange County... No, scratch that. We actually grew up in the part of the county where people tend not to throw wine at each other at "classy parties".

Sadly, most people in OC have far more "real" lives in that. And unfortunately in Santa Ana, sh-t got very real in a not-funny-at-all way.



Long story short, concerned citizens showed up at a Santa Ana City Council meeting. And one individual showed up with a portable camera and a hat that made a very bold fashion statement. The Mayor then summoned the police to clear out the building, even though there was no violence present.

Actually, those Santa Ana residents were irritated over a growing pattern of police brutality in Orange County's seat of government. In June, immigrant resident Edgar Vargas was brutally beaten by Santa Ana Police. The FBI is now investigating the case. And while the Orange County District Attorney's Office is still pursuing an attempted burglary charge against Edgar Vargas, it's dropped all other charges while ICE has dropped its deportation case against him.



This is not even the only police brutality case in our original homeland. We actually grew up in Tustin, a usually quiet middle-class suburb just to the east of Santa Ana. But when Robert Villa was shot dead by Tustin Police this past February, the city was anything but quiet.



And both these cases come less than three years after another Orange County city, Fullerton, was ripped apart over the police shooting Kelly Thomas dead. See, Ferguson isn't the only place in America where this is happening.

In fact, it's also happened here. But so far, both candidates for Clark County Sheriff seem to be ignoring this matter. Never mind that Metro Police is being sued over its trigger happy ways. And never mind that we may still not know the full scope of this not-so-little problem at Metro.

For us, "Home Means Nevada" today. Here is where we call home. It would just be nice to know we can actually trust those who swear to protect & serve our community. It would be nice to know we won't be at risk of arrest or serious injury just for wearing a hat that makes a very bold fashion statement. We probably won't ever actually do it, but we want to make sure the constitutional rights of those who do it are respected.

Fully Loaded Danger

Ready to learn? Isn't that how we want our children to feel when they go to school?

Try explaining that to Leonard Embody... Or maybe not. The Tennessee open carry activist says people who are offended by his carrying of an assault weapon just outside a Nashville school should "see a psychologist".

WSMV Channel 4

Actually, he may force some of the kids at that school to seek counseling. After all, wouldn't you be at least a little scared if you saw someone like Leonard Embody pack heat right outside your school?

There have been at least 79 school shootings since Newtown. One of those school shootings was right here in Nevada, at Sparks Middle School. Contrary to what open carry radicals like Leonard Embody say, this is no laughing matter.

Just so far this year, there have been 98 homicides in Las Vegas Metro Police's area of jurisdiction. Our homicide rate is the highest it's been since 2006.



Even Metro itself has been affected by this. In June, Las Vegas Metro Officers Alyn Beck & Igor Soldo were shot dead by extreme right-wing Patriot Movement figures Amanda & Jerad Miller. They also shot dead Joseph Robert Wilcox before they killed themselves.



Jerad Miller may have obtained a gun via Facebook. Even though he was not legally permitted to own any firearms (due to past felony convictions), Miller was able to evade this because of the lack of universal background checks for gun purchases.

All too often, the NRA and its favorite G-O-TEA politicians have been all too willing to play silly games with the serious issue of gun violence. They think it's cute to grandstand with a bunch of "outlaw cowboys" pointing guns at federal agents. They think it's great to see people open carry in front of schools. They think it's more important to discuss the "philosophy of gun rights" and explore theoretical language than to actually make any real policy changes that could save lives.

This is why Leonard Embody is allowed to roam outside a Nashville school packing heat. This is why Las Vegas' homicide rate continues to inch upward. This is why Alyn Beck, Igor Soldo, and Joseph Robert Wilcox are no longer on this earth. This is why Sparks Middle School will never be the same. And this is why we can't afford to ignore the fully loaded danger around us.

Hands Up. Don't Shoot.

It's been said repeatedly this month. Protesters have chanted it all across the nation. It seems like such a simple message to understand. So why do so many police officers and G-O-TEA media pundits act as if it's incomprehensible?

"Hands up. Don't shoot!"

That message came here to Southern Nevada last night as protesters gathered on Martin Luther King Blvd. in North Las Vegas for the 51st anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, "I Have a Dream" speech... And to remember the life and legacy of Michael Brown.



"Hands up. Don't shoot!"

Las Vegas Metro Police still seem to have a tough time understanding this. And they're not alone. In St. Paul, Minnesota, Christopher Lollie was tased and arrested for simply sitting in a park as he was waiting for his kids to be released from preschool. In Beverly Hills, California, film producer Charles Belk was arrested and detained because he "matched the profile of a suspected bank robber". And in Hartford, Connecticut, outrage over the stunning and arrest of Luis Anglero, Jr., has grown so strong that Hartford Police Chief James Rovella actually joined protesters demonstrating against his arrest.

"Hands up. Don't shoot!"

In North Las Vegas, police weren't just at peace with demonstrators. They were hugging, engagung in conversation, and posing for photos last night. For a moment, it looked like a real breakthrough.

And frankly, this is what we need more of. As we've said before, this problem isn't just limited to Ferguson and other areas of Missouri. It's happened here, and it's happened elsewhere in America. It's part of the legacy of institutionalized racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and all other forms of xenophobia America has struggled with since the first European settlers arrived on this continent. While we've seen much progress in building bridges in the last 51 years, there's still so much more to be done.

"Hands up. Don't shoot." Hopefully one day, we won't have to say that any more. Hopefully one day, we can all join hands and put the guns away.

Turn the Page

Yesterday, a body of a slain young adult was laid to rest. A family mourned this painful loss. And a reeling community began to pick up the pieces and hoped for eventual healing.

Michael Brown's funeral wasn't just for his family. It wasn't even just for Ferguson. It was for the nation.

Yesterday, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-North Las Vegas) said this after the funeral: “This tragic event of Michael Brown — while as horrible as it is, and he should have never lost his life as an unarmed boy who had just graduated high school — it is providing the opportunity for us now to have a national discussion on what policies, laws and practice we need to change so we can improve going forward.” He's not alone in demanding change after this horrific tragedy.

This week, we've gained more insight into how and why St. Louis County, Missouri, has sparked this nationwide conversation on the state of American police. And none other than St. Louis County Police Officer Dan Page has helped explain everything.



Ah, where do we start? How about "warning the ladies" about "domestic violence stuff"? "Just shoot each other and get it done"? Did Las Vegas Metro Police actually take his advice earlier this month? Christy Mack's neighbors have been wondering why it took so damned long for Metro to respond to their 911 call. While they took their time, War Machine escaped to Simi Valley, California, while leaving Mack and Corey Thomas near death at her Las Vegas home.



Hold on, there's more. Dan Page also went into a tirade against "homosexual sodomites". According to Page, ICE should keep Marichuy Gamino in solitary confinement in a men's prison for daring to report her rape. According to him, Monica Jones deserved to be arrested for "walking while trans*". And perhaps he also doesn't mind Mia Henderson being taken from this earth way before her time.

He didn't even stop there. No, Dan Page also claimed President Obama wasn't born in America. He actually called himself "a killer". He repeated even more bizarre conspiracy theories.

Oh, and he gave this speech to the Oath Keepers earlier this year. Remember the Oath Keepers?



They're the Patriot Movement friendly militia who occupied Bunkerville and Mesquite during the height of Cliven Bundy's "Range War". They only left when sh-t became too real and they suddenly were under attack by fellow pro-Bundy militia groups.

Dan Page was one of the St. Louis County officers patrolling Ferguson during the height of the protests. He was the one who roughed up CNN reporter Don Lemon in front of a global audience. And even now, St. Louis County Police still won't fire him!

W. T. F?! And they're still wondering why so many in the St. Louis region have a hard time trusting the police? Perhaps they need to start looking in the mirror more often.

It's also important to keep in mind that this problem isn't limited to Missouri. We've seen shades of this here in Nevada as well. After all, Metro Police have often used excessive force on valley civilians (especially those living in inner city communities) while giving the Bundy Gang kid glove treatment and giving War Machine just enough time to escape the crime scene.



In so many ways, the Dan Page saga in St. Louis County illustrates why so many minority communities have trouble trusting the police. If police forces there, here in Southern Nevada, and elsewhere want to turn the page, they need to clean house. If they want to regain our trust, they must prove themselves trustworthy. We can't truly turn the page on this sorrowful chapter in American history until we see no more Michael Browns being shot, Monica Jones' being arrested, and Christy Macks left for dead.

Ugliest of Double Standards

This really says it all. This pretty much explains everything. This is why Ferguson, Missouri, has come to resemble the type of war zone we thought could only emerge in some far away land like Syria or Ukraine.



ACLU has already called for the removal of "Officer Go Fuck Yourself". After all, it's anything but appropriate for a "peace officer" to point his rifle at unarmed civilians and yell, "I will fucking kill you".

Ironically, Kansas City, Missouri, police officer Marc Catron had taken to social media to castigate the late Michael Brown along with the mostly African-American demonstrators in Ferguson protesting his murder. The Kansas City Police Department has placed Marc Catron under review for his Facebook rants.

Here's the problem. We expect demonstrators to remain peaceful. We expect them to refrain from violence. Yet when police officers turn violent on unarmed civilians, we hear constant excuses and endless attempts at blaming the victims.

Already, Ferguson Police have been working overtime to demonize Mike Brown. They seem to think he's the one who should be standing trial instead of Darren Wilson. But last time we checked, Darren Wilson shot Mike Brown dead.



This is nothing new. In fact, Metro Police does it all the time here in Southern Nevada.

But this must end. Now. This is the ugliest and bloodiest of double standards. Darren Wilson had the privilege to shoot first and ask questions later. He now has all the rights of due process that (Missouri taxpayers') money (and white privilege) can buy. But what does the Brown family have? A dead son. And now, these scurrilous attempts at blaming the victim.

And what do the nonviolent protesters of Ferguson have? Nonstop attacks on their character. And nonstop threats from local "law enforcement". This is the ugliest of double standards.

Missouri Burning

Why there? Why now? Why this? Why Ferguson?

On Thursday, we discussed how the history of de jure and de facto racial segregation have shaped the turmoil that's come to define Ferguson today. Desert Beacon just dove deeper into the St. Louis region's troubled past. Needless to say, it's a troubled past full of racial discrimination, municipal government turf wars, and sharp economic transitions.

Yet even as we're starting to understand how and why this is happening, we're still shocked by this. Why is this happening in America?



We've witnessed the incredibly disturbing trend of police militarization. Why are "peace officers" using weapons of war, sometimes even against unarmed civilians? Back in June, Congress had the opportunity to support bipartisan backed legislation to curtail a US Defense Department program that ships excess inventory of heavy artillery to local police departments. When it came to the House floor for a vote in that chamber, it failed by a huge margin. (And for the record, all of Nevada's House Members voted against this amendment.)



We now have a better sense of what Ferguson's and other police forces are using against civilians, but we must also address why they are using these military grade weapons against civilians. Why did Officer Darren Wilson shoot Michael Brown? It certainly wasn't because of the alleged robbery that the store never reported to police. So why did this occur?

And why have there been so many other "officer involved shootings" (and beatings) of unarmed civilians? Why are police officers allowed to commit acts they tend to arrest other people for? And why are we being told to just "submit" to this type of abuse?



And remember, we're not immune to this here in Nevada. Particularly in Southern Nevada, Las Vegas Metro Police has a disturbing record of "officer involved shootings" and excessive use of force. This is an issue that reaches far beyond Mississippi River.

But for the time being, Ferguson has become the epicenter of this horror. This corner of Missouri has become the burning reminder of something far too many of us have been far too afraid to publicly address. And it remains to be seen what else must occur (and who else must be hurt) before we finally take seriously this threat from within.

Protect & Serve

We know it's not an easy job. We know it's a very dangerous job. We know this is the kind of job that most of us are too afraid to take up.

However, none of that excuses this. None of that excuses the horrific human rights abuses we've seen at the hands of the police in Ferguson, Missouri.



Ironically, much of the very brutality we've criticized in Iraq, Syria, Russia, and other nations with rather spotty human rights records is now underway here in America. Think about that. No wonder why the rest of the world often doubts our "commitment to freedom".

The violence in Ferguson didn't erupt overnight. It's the product of decades of racist housing policies, limited economic opportunities for communities of color, and local "law enforcement" who have provided anything but.

We realize that law enforcement has come under attack in recent months. Right here in Las Vegas, 2 Metro Police Officers were murdered by 2 Patriot Movement/sovereign citizen extremists. And just this week, a sovereign citizen in Dallas attacked firefighters and police officers. With radical right domestic terrorism on the rise again, public safety officers have become moving targets for these extremists.

However, this does not condone police violence against unarmed civilians. The threats posed by extreme right militias that grew out of the racist "posse comitatus" movement do not condone extreme violence against historically oppressed minority communities. And the day to day pressure of "life on duty" does not condone the brutal slaughter of Michael Brown and other unarmed civilians.



President Obama just called for calm after multiple nights of police attacks on protesters, police violence against journalists, violent riots, and looting in Ferguson. However, this problem isn't limited to Ferguson. It's a problem that's prevalent across the nation.

We've even witnessed it here in Southern Nevada. Even today, Las Vegas Metro Police's top cops refuse to acknowledge the severity of their growing list of "officer involved shootings". Justice still hasn't been served in cases like the Adam Greene's. Police brutality is just as much of a problem here as it is in the St. Louis region.

It's time to talk. We can't ignore this any longer. And really, we also need serious action to curb this disturbing trend of police militarization and excessive force against civilians. Law enforcement will never enjoy the respect they should otherwise expect if they don't respect the citizens they're supposed to protect & serve. It's time we address this problem and prevent more of these horrifically senseless deaths.

Mack the Gun

We know 2006 may seem like an eternity ago, but please pay attention. And please do join us on this little stroll down Memory Lane.

In 2006, Darren Mack was undergoing a bitter divorce with his soon-to-be-ex-wife, Charla. He was incensed when Washoe County Family Court Judge Chuck Weller ordered Darren to pay Charla $10,000 per month in spousal support in addition to $849 per month in child support. He didn't like Judge Weller's ruling, so Darren Mack responded by "standing his ground". He stabbed Charla to death, then he shot Weller in a sniper style attack.



Even though Darren Mack ultimately plead guilty to the murder of Charla and attempted murder of Judge Weller at a Las Vegas courthouse in 2007, he later recanted his guilty plea. And even though the Nevada Supreme Court ultimately rejected his appeal, Darren Mack is trying again. And wait for this, he believed he was justified in shooting who he saw as a "corrupt judge" and exercising "self defense" against his wife.

Sound familiar yet? During the murder trial, state & national media shined a spotlight on the heinous nature of Mack's crimes. Even today, one can find shows on cable TV detailing every lurid and horrid aspect of the Mack case. Yet now, it doesn't seem that extraordinary. It doesn't seem all that far-fetched. It doesn't seem all that shocking.

Since Darren Mack's name and face were splashed all over the front pages in Las Vegas & Reno, we've seen the rise of the "Stand Your Ground" Doctrine that can at least theoretically be used to justify Darren Mack's crimes. Hey, Wayne Burgarello went ahead and "stood his ground" against someone who didn't even know he was trespassing. And Johnny Lee Wicks "stood his ground" against a US Marshal and a courthouse security officer who had nothing to do with his denied Social Security claim. (And even if they did, was that shooting really justified?)

We've also seen the rise of Cliven Bundy and "TEA" powered "Range War" against state & federal law. Because the Bundy Gang don't like civil society, they think they can unilaterally impose armed madness upon everyone else.



And of course, this has aided the rise of "sovereign citizen" and "Patriot Movement" violence. Up north, Brent Douglas Cole opened fire on law enforcement agents on federal land. Down south, Jerad & Amanda Miller shot dead two Metro Police Officers and a civilian at a Las Vegas strip mall. And in other parts of the nation, "sovereign citizens" have sought armed conflict with the law... Because all of them refuse to acknowledge the legitimacy of our nation of laws.

We can't help but wonder if Darren Mack has been noticing recent events. Back in 2006, and even in 2008, his crimes were almost universally condemned. But now, we have an entire "movement" of "patriots" and "sovereign citizens" who champion the kind of crimes Darren Mack committed. And we have the NRA backing them up. And we even have a number of G-O-TEA politicians standing in the way of any effort to rein in the gun violence these extremists regularly partake in.

While Darren Mack's latest appeal doesn't seem likely to succeed, it's frightening to think he even has a tiny opening today. And he has the "sovereign revolutionaries", their cheerleaders at the NRA, and their ideological soulmates to thank for this.

War Games

We witnessed yet another one yesterday. And it came right on the heels of another one in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

This time, it happened at a campground near Nevada City, California, and Lake Tahoe. Brent Douglas Cole opened fire on a BLM ranger and California Highway Patrol officer. Both the BLM ranger and Cole had to be hospitalized for their injuries.



Brent Douglas Cole considered himself a "sovereign citizen". Remember the "sovereign citizen movement"? We've been seeing it on full display here lately.



Cliven Bundy and his gang of "outlaw cowboys" may view their armed madness "Range War" as just good old fashioned "fun & games", but "revolutionaries" like Jerad & Amanda Miller took this far more seriously. They viewed it as war games.

Before he finally attained the violent showdown he desired, Jerad Miller had taken to radical conspiracy web sites to discuss important issues... Like killing police officers. Who could have guessed?

And now, we have the Nevada City incident. And we have the Kalamazoo incident. And we have the Cumming courthouse shooting. And we have a possible Portland murder. And we have this ongoing affair in Montana.



These war games may seem comical at times. They often look farcical to those of us who operate in civilized society. But when certain elected officials bestow a shroud of legitimacy upon a "movement" built on criminality, terrible consequences ensue. After all, war is hell. And these games they're playing aren't for fun.

Do the Same

Gordon Martines finished in 7th place last Tuesday. He ran for Clark County Sheriff, and he finished behind 6 other candidates. He clearly failed to advance to the November runoff.

Still, Gordon Martines netted 2,124 votes this month. Those votes came from somewhere.

Over the past week, we've learned that Gordon Martines had 2 fans who would later become infamous. One of them even wore his campaign t-shirt for a TV interview.



Jerad & Amanda Miller were attracted to Martines' radical right, "Patriot Movement" friendly campaign platform. That's also why they were drawn to David VanDerBeek and Cliven Bundy. They were all drawn to the "Patriot Movement" ideology of taking down the federal government however possible...

Except for this one thing. VanDerBeek claims he wants a "nonviolent restoration". And when Martines conducted a background check on Jerad Miller, he uncovered Miller's criminal record. He then asked the Millers to step away from his campaign.

Think about this. Gordon Martines conducted a background check on Jerad Miller before he allowed Jerad & Amanda to become further involved in his campaign. Why wasn't a background check conducted before Jerad & Amanda Miller obtained the weapons they needed for their June 8 shooting spree that ultimately left themselves and 3 innocent people dead?

Oh, yes. That's right. Governor Brian Sandoval (R-NRA) wanted to be "what stood in the way" between us and legislation that could have prevented the June 8 tragedy. Meanwhile in Washington, Senator Dean Heller (R-NRA) & Rep. Joe Heck (R-NRA) only had excuses on hand when asked why they opposed similar background checks legislation in Congress.

But now, those excuses and political calculations can't bring back the 3 innocent people who passed away earlier this month. Universal background checks, however, may help in preventing future senseless tragedies.

Gordon Martines prevented what could have been a horrific political scandal by conducting a background check before proceeding. Why can't we do the same to prevent senseless gun violence? Think about that.

Do Over

Last year, he had been considered the Democrat least likely to vote for any gun safety legislation. But then, Senator Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) eventually backed a very modest background checks package. And the NRA still conspired to kill it.

But now, he's back. He wants to try expanding background checks again. And he's not alone.

After all, Senator Manchin wasn't the only Senate Democrat who evolved on gun violence. So did Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. In fact, he went further, way beyond a mere milquetoast background checks compromise. But now, he may be ready to try for those mere milquetoast background checks again.



So what's happened since then? Sunday, for one. Jerad Miller was able to access firearms despite his felony convictions. And now, three innocent people are dead.

What's also happened since then? Well, we've just experienced 74 more school shootings since Newtown. Troutdale just happened to be #74. We don't remember which number Sparks Middle School is.

What else has happened since then? More extremism. More senseless tragedies. More family losses. And even more blood shed.

Now, the only question is: What's changed on Capitol Hill since then? Has Senator Dean Heller (R-NRA) grown a spine yet? Hell, has he sorted out his relationship with Cliven Bundy yet?

We shall find out soon. Last year, Congress put on one of the worst sh*tshows in American history (actually, one of several). Now, they have a chance at a do-over. Will they take it? Or will we have to endure 74 more unnecessary and horrifically bloody tragedies?

Another Bloody Tragedy

Another one? Already? Another one is happening? Already? How can this be so?

But alas, it's happening. Again. This time, it's at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Oregon.

Just outside Portland, Troutdale has typically been known as a quiet and peaceful suburb. But today, that's no longer the case. Today, Troutdale became the latest in a string of armed battles on what was supposed to be civilian territory. Today, Troutdale became another notorious gun violence statistic.



It probably won't be long before we see the usual tweets of condolence from the usual politicians. It probably won't be long before the usual suspects in the "mainstream media" start bloviating on whether the shooter "had enough dates" and/or video games. And it probably won't be long before the NRA tries to "redefine" this latest "unfortunate accident".

In Troutdale, the shooter killed a student before killing oneself. And when the first flurry of media reports surfaced, parents throughout Greater Portland were scrambling to figure out whether it was their kids' school. For some unfortunate parents, it was.

Less than 48 hours ago, Metro Police Officers Alyn Beck & Igor Soldo were murdered. Shortly after they shot these officers dead at CiCi's Pizza in the Northeast Las Vegas Valley, Jerad & Amanda Miller moved to the nearby Walmart, where they shot Joseph Robert Wilcox dead before killing themselves.

Jerad Miller had felony convictions on his record. He had also made it clear for some time that he wanted "the start of the revolution". Yet somehow, he was able to obtain firearms anyway. All he had to do was rant on Facebook.

Governor Brian Sandoval (R-NRA), Senator Dean Heller (R-NRA), Rep. Joe Heck, and other G-O-TEA politicians have boasted about being "what stood in the way" of better gun safety laws. Just as the NRA has allowed the likes of Open Carry Texas to call the shots at its headquarters, far too many politicians have allowed the NRA to call the shots on Capitol Hill and in state capitols across the nation (including ours).

It's only a matter of time before someone else who obtained military grade weapons under suspicious circumstances opens fire in another public place and leaves a bloody trail behind. It's only a matter of time before the next tragedy occurs.

How many more of these must occur? What else must happen before our elected "leaders" stop being cowards and start taking action? When will we finally reach the day when we wake up without experiencing yet another bloody tragedy?

How Should a Patriot Act?

Remember this? Back in April, both of Nevada's US Senators appeared on KSNV/News 3's "What's Your Point?". Both were asked about #BundyRanch. Yet while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) refused to mince words regarding the Cliven Bundy fiasco. Senator Dean Heller (R), on the other hand, celebrated the Bundy Gang as "patriots".



Senator Heller was partially correct. They're anything but real patriots, since they seek to undermine the very foundation of this nation. However, many of the Bundy Crew happen to be part of the radical right, xenophobic, anti-government "Patriot Movement". We suspect this wasn't what Senator Heller intended to say...

But he ultimately, though accidentally, gave more credence to what Senator Reid was saying. We, Senator Reid, Rachel Maddow, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and a few others tried to warn the #BundyRanch cheerleaders of what they were so eagerly jumping into. The "Patriot Movement" is anything but patriotic, and it's certainly anything but nonviolent and well-intentioned.

On Sunday, Metro Officers Alyn Beck & Igor Soldo were taking their lunch break at the CiCi's Pizza at Nellis & Stewart. It was supposed to be a normal Sunday on the beat. They didn't know this would be their last day on earth. They didn't know they were being targeted by "Patriot Movement" followers Jerad & Amanda Miller. They didn't know they were about to become bloody "sacrifices" for "the start of the revolution".



The Millers proclaimed their act of terror as "the start of the revolution". It's not as if they just thought this up on their own. It's not as if this originated from a vacuum. It's not as if no one noticed what they were saying on Facebook. And it's not as if they were the only "Patriot Movement" figures to threaten violence. (The Millers just happened to follow through on their threats.)

In April, Senator Heller proudly proclaimed all the #BundyRanch agitators to be "patriots". Even though his own staff had briefed him on the severity of what was going down in Bunkerville, he nonetheless endorsed their actions.



And now, two Metro officers and another victim are dead. They're dead because two "Patriot Movement" fans wanted "the start of the revolution". They're dead because Jerad & Amanda Miller had a very disgusting, distorted, and disturbing definition of "patriot". And they're dead because Jerad Miller was able to obtain firearms despite his felony convictions.

In April, the usual G-O-TEA suspects lambasted Senator Reid for daring to speak the truth about the dangerous characters swirling around #BundyRanch. And they cheered Senator Heller when he called them "patriots". What a difference two months can make.

This Isn't Child's Play

Target is a big store. One can now find clothing, electronics, home appliances, fast food, a pharmacy, and even a grocery store there. For some, it's all about convenience. However, we suspect most of those shoppers wouldn't want to find a certain item lying around at Target...

Especially in the children's department, lying around with toys. Yet in March, Open Carry Texas began posting photos to its Facebook wall of members packing heat in Target. And yes, they were even carrying AR-15 assault weapons in the children's department.

Then last week, a loaded gun was found in the toy aisle of a Target in South Carolina. Think about that. What if that gun had fallen into a child's hand? Then we certainly wouldn't be talking about "child's play" any longer.

Students and faculty at Seattle Pacific University had to endure everything but "child's play" last Thursday. A gunman opened fire and shot one person dead.

The shooter wanted to kill even more people last Thursday, but he was thwarted by two things. One was the limited magazine capacity of his handgun. The other was the pepper spray that SPU student Jon Meis used to subdue the shooter.



Jerad Miller had an extensive criminal record. Both he & his wife, Amanda Miller, had openly boasted about their plan to "start a revolution", overthrow President Obama, and kill police officers. How was he then able to purchase firearms?

Joseph Robert Wilcox attempted to thwart the Millers at Walmart yesterday. He didn't realize that Amanda Miller was right behind him. Just as Wilcox was taking out his concealed pistol, Miller shot him dead from behind.

The NRA's theoretical "good guy with a gun" became a reality yesterday. He also passed away. Sometimes, just being that "good guy with a gun" isn't enough to stop the "bad guy with a gun".



This isn't child's play. Guns are not meant to be toys. And gun violence is an issue we sorely need to take seriously.

Target & Walmart are big stores. We can find many things there. We shouldn't be finding the end of our lives there. Target & Walmart may carry plenty of toys, but this isn't child's play. We can't ignore this bloody reality any longer.

Full Circle

Last Friday, a normally sleepy Georgia town on the outskirts of Greater Atlanta was rocked by shocking violence. In Cumming, Georgia, a shootout occurred when a man tried to carry an AR-15 assault weapon and explosives into the Forsyth County Courthouse.



Dennis Marx was due to appear in the Forsyth County Courthouse last Friday to answer to his marijuana and weapons charges. He also had a running law suit against Forsyth County, as he claimed the county violated his civil rights. Dennis Marx was also part of the "Sovereign Citizen/Patriot Movement".

Remember them? They're the ones who rushed to the aid of Cliven Bundy when he declared a "Range War" against the federal government. And they're the ones with a storied history of breeding terrorists who have committed some of the worst crimes this nation has ever seen.

Jerad & Amanda Miller were also part of the "Patriot Movement". White supremacist paraphernalia were found at their apartment yesterday. Jerad & Amanda Miller opened fire at the CiCi's Pizza and Walmart in the Northeast Las Vegas Valley yesterday. They shot two Metro officers dead before shooting someone else dead in Walmart and ultimately killing themselves.



Jerad & Amanda Miller had boasted to their neighbors about their involvement in #BundyRanch. Reno area NBC affiliate KRNV even interviewed Miller in Bunkerville back in April.



We can't help but wonder what Senator Dean Heller (R), Governor Brian Sandoval (R), Assembly Member & NV-04 candidate Cresent Hardy (R), Assembly Member Michele Fiore (R), and other G-O-TEA politicians who had so merrily jumped on the #BundyRanch bandwagon nearly two months ago are thinking now. Do they regret what they said then? Are they embarrassed over their endorsement of what's turned out to be a collection of fringe extremists, some of whom haven't hesitated to resort to violence?

Of course, these are also the same G-O-TEA politicians who have boasted of being "what stood in the way" of legislation that could have prevented criminals like Jerad Miller & Dennis Marx from obtaining firearms. Might they be rethinking this as well? Is that "A rating" from the NRA truly worth more than actual human lives?

Sadly, the #BundyRanch saga has come full circle. Two months ago, a ragtag group of fringe extremists threatened violence against the federal government for daring to enforce the law. A month ago, they began fighting each other and scaring an entire community. And now, some of those threats have actually materialized here in the Las Vegas Valley. Why didn't our "leaders" take these threats seriously before yesterday?

Too Close to Home

It happened. Again. And this time, it happened awfully close to home. And in fact, for those who live in the Northeast Las Vegas Valley, it did hit home.



It was supposed to be a normal Sunday at the CiCi's Pizza at Nellis & Stewart. Two Metro Police officers just happened to be eating lunch there. Then around 11:30 AM, everything changed.

Metro officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo were shot dead execution style. The two shooters then removed the officers' weapons & badges, covered their corpses with the Gadsden Flag (the yellow flag with a coiled snake that's become a "TEA Party" icon in recent years), and moved to a nearby Walmart. They then shot a customer dead near the front of the store. After causing quite the bloody scene at that Walmart, the shooters then turned the guns on themselves.



According to neighbors, the shooters often talked about their racist & anti-government ideology. They actually claimed they wanted to commit "the next Columbine". And they claimed they spent time with Cliven Bundy's crew earlier this year.

Five people are now dead, including the shooters. And once again, we're reminded that gun violence can indeed come too close to home. And once it hits home, tragedy all too often follows.

We've often heard certain Nevada Republicans boast about Governor Brian Sandoval (R-NRA), Senator Dean Heller (R-NRA), and Rep. Joe Heck (R-NRA) being "what stood in the way" of better gun safety laws that could have prevented tragedies like this one. Are they ready to resume this boast today? Are they ready to join the NRA's fight to redefine "shooting"? Are they ready to join the NRA in singing the praises of Open Carry Texas' heat packing and Cliven Bundy's armed madness?

Already, they and other politicians are tweeting out condolences and making other somber gestures. That's what's to be expected. It would just be nice if we didn't have to constantly repeat this cycle, this perpetual "Groundhog Day" of gun violence.

We've said this before, yet we must say this again today: We need more than just words. We need more than just the usual "sympathetic" platitudes. We need more than just the usual 48 hours of somber social media messages followed by the "return to normal".

This hit too close to home. We should all take notice. And not only that, but we should take real action as well. Why must we relive this kind of tragedy yet again?

Who Will Be Metro's New Top Cop?

There may not be a dazzling "top of the ticket" this year, but that doesn't mean this election isn't important. Far from it, this election will determine the future of our state... And the future of Metro Police.

In recent years, Metro has been facing tough questions on police brutality officer involved shootings. Last August, Metro came under fire for allowing a police helicopter to be used by a Guns N Roses guitarist for his marriage proposal. More recently, Metro has been caught in a bizarre slut shaming incident where a uniformed police officer scared young girls with inaccurate information. And questions still surround Metro's handling of the Cliven Bundy "Range War" in the Bunkerville/Mesquite area. Why has a police department that's become notorious for "quick & decisive action" in the Las Vegas Valley been dragging its feet on #BundyRanch, allowing celebrities to use its equipment for publicity stunts, and engaging in counterproductive slut shaming of young girls in our community?

Last August, incumbent Sheriff Doug Gillespie dropped a political bomb when he announced he won't be running for a third term. It just so happened that his decision to retire was announced shortly after the Clark County Commission rejected the "More Cops" sales tax surcharge. The Commission rejected "More Cops" again in January. And now, Sheriff Gillespie is abandoning the tax proposal after three failed County Commission votes.

Gillespie now says Metro will have to endure painful budget cuts. Metro Police have already stopped responding to non-injury car accidents. Yet even as this is occurring, many members of the public and a few County Commissioners are still asking what Metro is doing with its current funding. And they're asking why Metro leaders are still refusing to hold anyone accountable for officer involved shootings.

Last summer, Ted Moody retired as Assistant Sheriff after Sheriff Gillespie failed to implement the recommendations of the task force he called to address officer involved shootings. He's now running for Sheriff. And in a rare display of solidarity, both Clark County Commissioner (& progressive favorite) Chris Giunchigliani (D) and the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce have endorsed Moody.

Current Assistant Sheriff Joe Lombardo is also running for the top cop position. He's been endorsed by Gillespie, and he's been raising money from The Strip's top casino players.

Former Metro executive lieutenant Larry Burns is also running for Sheriff. He's gained the endorsement of the police unions. And while he's called for better relations with the wider community, neither he nor Lombardo has promised the kind of broad accountability that Moody is now campaigning on.

Six other candidates are also running for Clark County Sheriff, so this is truly a wide open race bursting with possibilities. And this truly is a race that will determine the future of Nevada's largest local law enforcement agency. Metro's new top cop will have to make decisions on how to curb officer involved shootings, whether to pursue the "More Cops" tax again, and simply how to improve troubled relations with the greater community. And we will be the ones deciding who that new top cop will be.

So make sure to vote this month... And choose wisely.

Shame on You

It's 2014. And this is still happening? We're still witnessing epic "slut shaming" in the public square. And to make this even worse, Metro Police are now engaging in it!

Is this why Metro has been "too busy" to clean up the Cliven Bundy armed fiasco it's let fester in the Virgin Valley? Has Metro just been "too busy" slut shaming young women instead?

Girls who are not sexually abstinent, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Regina Coward reportedly said, typically wind up victims of sexual assault. Or they become members of a gang. Or they take drugs. Or they become prostitutes. [...]

The event’s program mingled its pro-abstinence message with video about women in dire circumstances. One video included interviews with a pimp and prostitutes and emphasized that women who sell sex for money are often forced into a kind of modern-day slavery. Another showed gruesome images of people who used hard drugs, including a woman who lost limbs in a meth lab explosion.

A survey published in 2006 found that 95 percent of Americans have had premarital sex. Most of these people are not prostitutes. Most of them also have never been injured in a drug-related accident.

What. The. F**k?! So Metro is actually wasting our tax dollars on "educating" our youth on unscientific propaganda. And keep in mind that this isn't just any propaganda. It's the same propaganda being pushed by the likes of Focus on the Family and other G-O-TEA/religious right outfits that are out to criminalize anything & everything other than marital, hetero-normative, "missionary position" sex.

This propaganda has no basis in science. It degrades women. And it does absolutely nothing to secure our communities. So why on earth is Metro now engaging in slut shaming?

[... I]t's not as if "slut-shaming" works in reducing teen pregancies and/or preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections. If anything, the opposite may actually be true. Threatening young women won't stop the above from happening. Knowledge, on the other hand, will. After all, knowledge is power.

So we should know better. And the powers that be at the "newspaper" should have known better. What a shame.

And Metro should have known better. Are Metro chiefs still wondering why the Clark County Commission turned down the "More Cops Tax"? Here's a helpful hint: This is why!

We've seen armed madness take hold in the Virgin Valley. We've yet to hear straight answers from Metro on the many "officer involved shootings" of unarmed civilians. Public trust in our allegedly trustworthy law enforcement keeps dropping to new lows. And now, Metro wants to worsen its "image problem" by slut shaming our young women?

Shame on you, Metro.

Real Life Nightmare

Yep, we had spoken too soon. Cliven Bundy and his merry gang of "outlaw cowboys" have found their way back onto national media. They're still brazenly violating all sorts of laws. And now, they're threatening local residents of Bunkerville & Mesquite.

Once again, Rep. Steven Horsford is asking law enforcement to listen to his law abiding constituents in the Virgin Valley and kick out the law violating militia groups. He even went on national TV again last night to plead his constituents' case.



Even though Sean Hannity has moved on to praise a convicted murderer (??!!) and other national G-O-TEA media personalities have found something else to harp about, Mesquite & Bunkerville residents are still being annoyed & harassed by the imported #BundyRanch militia. And the Bundy Gang still refuse to let up. Instead, they're now threatening local media that are not reporting #BundyRanch stories to their liking!

Oh, and the Bundy Gang now want to stage protests at Metro Police's Downtown Las Vegas headquarters because they still want Metro to arrest BLM agents... For trying to enforce the law! Seriously, we can't make this stuff up.

Sometimes we're tempted to simply point & laugh at the insani-TEA run amok at #BundyRanch. But sadly, this insani-TEA is not some harmless political #FAIL. Yes, the politics of this has boomeranged to the point of backfiring on the very local & national G-O-TEA politicians who were hoping to play this "SCANDAL!!!" to their political advantage. However, this is no longer simply a harmless political circus.

This hot mess has come to adversely affect the day-to-day life of the Virgin Valley. People are canceling their trips to Mesquite. They're worried about their kids going to school in Bunkerville. They're even calling Metro just to make sure the 15 Freeway is safe to drive on.

This has gone way out of hand. #BundyRanch may be the NRA's wet dream come true, but it's a real life nightmare for us here in Southern Nevada. And we just want this real life nightmare to come to an end already.

Start Fixing the Problem

This week, Metro Police feels it has something to boast about. And what might that be? In the past two years, 47% of immigrants detained by Metro had criminal records. That number was 36% from 2008-2011.

Metro spokespeople spun this as evidence of a stronger focus on detaining criminals instead of intimidating immigrant communities. And to be fair, this is an improvement. However, this still means that 53% of immigrants detained by Metro had no prior criminal record. And this still means Clark County Detention Center and Henderson Detention Center are housing a number of people who simply "committed the crime" of coming to America in search of a better life.

Much attention has been focused on Metro's policing of immigrant communities and enforcement of federal immigration law. But today, let's focus on why this is happening. Here's a hint: It has to do with federal immigration law.

Last year, the US Senate passed S 744 in a bipartisan effort to reform immigration law and fix what hasn't been working. If enacted, it would relieve state and local governments of the need to step up and provide some sort(s) of policy band-aids. And that's because it would address the source of the problem that the State of Nevada and Clark County (and other state & local governments elsewhere) have been trying to alleviate with various policy band-aids.

Yet ever since S 744 passed the upper house of Congress, the G-O-TEA "leaders" of the lower house of Congress has signaled "no intention" of passing any sort of comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). Instead, they've tried various excuses for their inaction. They've even attempted to pass the buck onto the President Obama.

But ultimately, it's House Republicans' decision to drop CIR. House Republican "leaders" have let their G-O-TEA Culture Warriors lead them into killing any efforts to pass CIR in their chamber. And the G-O-TEA Culture Warriors have even succeeded in scaring supposedly pro-CIR House Republicans (cough- Joe Heck- cough) away from HR 15, the one hope left for CIR this year.

We're seeing daily the real life consequences of Congress' failure to pass CIR. Sometimes when municipal governments try to fill the void and deal with the consequences, matters become even more complicated. Just keep in mind that it doesn't have to be this way. All that's needed to start fixing this problem is a simple floor vote.