Just over a month ago, this was official NRA policy: "Everyone gets a gun." We warned of the dangerous folly of this policy. But of course, the NRA and its "TEA" powered allies refused to listen.
Charles Vacca was a firearms instructor at Last Stop, a gun range in White Hills, Arizona. Bullets And Burgers is Last Stop's tourist promotion that brings tourists from Las Vegas and up Highway 93 to the gun range with promises of "exotic" automatic weapons, "Desert Storm atmosphere", and lunch included. Earlier this week, Charles Vacca gave a nine year old girl an Uzi military grade submachine gun to fire. This was the result of that fateful decision.
Charles Vacca was brought to Las Vegas for medical attention, but it was too late. He died. He had been shot by the Uzi he had given to the nine year old girl to use at the range.
And now, we must all endure the painful aftermath. We must all confront the haunting questions left behind at Bullets And Burgers.
Of course, the usual suspects don't want to confront anything seen as challenging their "conventional wisdom". Under its "@NRAWomen account, the NRA actually tweeted "7 Ways Children Can Have Fun at the Shooting Range". And yes, the NRA actually tweeted this out yesterday.
When interviewed by Chris Hayes on MSNBC yesterday, Last Stop operator Sam Scarmardo said he plans to seek guidance from the NRA and other gun groups going forward. Perhaps he should rethink seeking any kind of guidance from the NRA.
On average, seven American children are shot dead every day. This nine year old girl could have killed herself along with Charles Vacca. Why on earth are children shooting Uzis at ranges like Last Stop?
On MSNBC last night, Sam Scarmardo defended Last Stop's decision to allow that nine year old child to shoot that Uzi by claiming "this was a big -- something that was high on her bucket list to do and her parents took her out to do what she was gonna do." Bucket list? Really? Is the "Children's Death Wish Bucket List" supposed to be the new "killer Las Vegas tourist attraction"?
"High on her bucket list"? Really, NRA? And really, LVCVA? If this is truly our new pitch to tourists, then perhaps we should become accustomed to seeing more numbers like these.
Showing posts with label assault weapons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label assault weapons. Show all posts
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
From Brady to Bundy
March 30, 1981, seemed to be just another day in DC. Then President Ronald Reagan and his staff were leaving the Washington Hilton after the President delivered a midday speech. Just as Reagan was heading towards his presidential limousine, John Hinckley, Jr., opened fire. Hinckley fired his "Saturday Night Special" Rohm AG-15 at Reagan in hopes of convincing Jodie Foster to date him.
Reagan was shot in the chest and the lower right arm. And even though his lung was punctured, the President was able to fully recover from his injuries.
Then White House Press Secretary James Brady was also shot. A bullet hit his head. He was also rushed to the hospital. And while he survived the assassination attempt, he did suffer permanent injuries.
On Monday, Jim Brady passed away.
After surviving the shooting, Jim & Sarah (his wife) founded the Brady Campaign. They decided to dedicate their lives to preventing future tragedies like the one they experienced. They committed themselves to stopping rampant gun violence.
And they weren't alone. Even though he had fostered a political legacy suggesting otherwise, Ronald Reagan also took action to curb gun violence. He signed a law banning fully automatic weapons in 1986, penned a New York Times op-ed in support of the Brady Bill (which first established the national background checks system in 1991, and even endorsed the first Assault Weapons Ban in 1994.
Remember, John Hinckley, Jr., used a "Saturday Night Special" he obtained under a false identity in his assassination attempt. And when he was Governor of California in 1967, Reagan teamed with the NRA (??!!) to pass the Mulford Act to prevent the carrying of any loaded firearms at any public location in California. (Back then, both Reagan & the NRA feared the message of armed resistance preached by the Black Panthers.)
Why is it so easy to forget our history? Armed militia movements aren't new. And neither are government regulations of the firearms industry. And neither are regulations meant to prevent criminals from obtaining lethal firearms.
While this isn't new, we haven't seen in a while this brazen call to arms against the rule of law. He may not have invented the American militia movement, but Cliven Bundy has breathed some new life into the extreme anti-government Patriot Movement by declaring a "Range War" against state & federal law. Even now, the Bundy Bunch continue their call to arms in the age old battle between good and evil", a call to arms that Jerad & Amanda Miller, Brent Douglas Cole, and others have been all too willing to take heed.
What is relatively new is the NRA's full embrace of this armed extremism. Once upon a time, the NRA supported a number of gun safety regulations. Only when a slate of radicals took over the NRA board in the late 1970s did the NRA begin to turn around and reflexively oppose any and all gun safety standards... But even this has been a gradual process. Even as recent as 1999, the NRA endorsed expansion of background checks for gun purchases. It wasn't until 2013 when the NRA killed a very modest background checks bill in Congress.
Once upon a time, Republicans like Ronald Reagan championed gun safety laws and the NRA didn't object. After Reagan himself was nearly assassinated and Jim Brady was seriously injured, Congress passed bipartisan legislation to curb gun violence. But now, the NRA encourages "armed resistance" and enables the kind of violence that changed the Brady family's lives forever and nearly killed our 40th President.
Reagan was shot in the chest and the lower right arm. And even though his lung was punctured, the President was able to fully recover from his injuries.
Then White House Press Secretary James Brady was also shot. A bullet hit his head. He was also rushed to the hospital. And while he survived the assassination attempt, he did suffer permanent injuries.
On Monday, Jim Brady passed away.
After surviving the shooting, Jim & Sarah (his wife) founded the Brady Campaign. They decided to dedicate their lives to preventing future tragedies like the one they experienced. They committed themselves to stopping rampant gun violence.
And they weren't alone. Even though he had fostered a political legacy suggesting otherwise, Ronald Reagan also took action to curb gun violence. He signed a law banning fully automatic weapons in 1986, penned a New York Times op-ed in support of the Brady Bill (which first established the national background checks system in 1991, and even endorsed the first Assault Weapons Ban in 1994.
Remember, John Hinckley, Jr., used a "Saturday Night Special" he obtained under a false identity in his assassination attempt. And when he was Governor of California in 1967, Reagan teamed with the NRA (??!!) to pass the Mulford Act to prevent the carrying of any loaded firearms at any public location in California. (Back then, both Reagan & the NRA feared the message of armed resistance preached by the Black Panthers.)
Why is it so easy to forget our history? Armed militia movements aren't new. And neither are government regulations of the firearms industry. And neither are regulations meant to prevent criminals from obtaining lethal firearms.
While this isn't new, we haven't seen in a while this brazen call to arms against the rule of law. He may not have invented the American militia movement, but Cliven Bundy has breathed some new life into the extreme anti-government Patriot Movement by declaring a "Range War" against state & federal law. Even now, the Bundy Bunch continue their call to arms in the age old battle between good and evil", a call to arms that Jerad & Amanda Miller, Brent Douglas Cole, and others have been all too willing to take heed.
What is relatively new is the NRA's full embrace of this armed extremism. Once upon a time, the NRA supported a number of gun safety regulations. Only when a slate of radicals took over the NRA board in the late 1970s did the NRA begin to turn around and reflexively oppose any and all gun safety standards... But even this has been a gradual process. Even as recent as 1999, the NRA endorsed expansion of background checks for gun purchases. It wasn't until 2013 when the NRA killed a very modest background checks bill in Congress.
Once upon a time, Republicans like Ronald Reagan championed gun safety laws and the NRA didn't object. After Reagan himself was nearly assassinated and Jim Brady was seriously injured, Congress passed bipartisan legislation to curb gun violence. But now, the NRA encourages "armed resistance" and enables the kind of violence that changed the Brady family's lives forever and nearly killed our 40th President.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Why Do We Let Them Call the Shots?
Are they serious? Or is this clickbait? Or has everyone at the NRA stopped caring about even attempting to sound sane & rational?
Fresh off going Godwin in Washington State, the NRA decided today is a terrific day to release this new video from "official ammosexual man candy" Dom Raso celebrating the "right" of blind people to fire guns.
Sure, eye sight isn't necessary to fire a gun. It's just necessary to properly aim a gun.
And no, that's not "discriminatory". That's common sense. There's a reason why blind people don't drive. (Hell, it may be the same reason why we don't drive!)
But as of late, the NRA and its "TEA" fueled allies have declared war on common sense and rational thought. The Open Carry crowd decided to release a new children's book celebrating mommy & daddy packing heat at the grocery store. They're also rallying behind Peter Nathan Steinhetz, the Arizona medical researcher who thought it was a great idea and a cogent "political statement" to carry a loaded AR-15 assault weapon into Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport... And point it at a woman & her daughter.
But then again, why are we suprised by any of this? We're talking about the same "gun rights movement" that celebrates the lawlessness of Cliven Bundy and his Patriot Movement cohorts, defends the "right" of Jerad Miller to get his hands on lethal firearms (so he can "start the revolution"), and demands more "Stand Your Ground" laws so that Darren Mack and George Zimmerman can keep shooting whenever they feel "threatened" by such things as court orders and hoodies.
Why do we let them call the shots? Why do we let the NRA and gun industry dictate to us how (not) to regulate firearms? If we have basic safety standards in place for our cars, our homes, and our places of work, why can't we have basic safety standards in place for items that are literally built to kill? Think about that.
Fresh off going Godwin in Washington State, the NRA decided today is a terrific day to release this new video from "official ammosexual man candy" Dom Raso celebrating the "right" of blind people to fire guns.
Sure, eye sight isn't necessary to fire a gun. It's just necessary to properly aim a gun.
And no, that's not "discriminatory". That's common sense. There's a reason why blind people don't drive. (Hell, it may be the same reason why we don't drive!)
But as of late, the NRA and its "TEA" fueled allies have declared war on common sense and rational thought. The Open Carry crowd decided to release a new children's book celebrating mommy & daddy packing heat at the grocery store. They're also rallying behind Peter Nathan Steinhetz, the Arizona medical researcher who thought it was a great idea and a cogent "political statement" to carry a loaded AR-15 assault weapon into Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport... And point it at a woman & her daughter.
But then again, why are we suprised by any of this? We're talking about the same "gun rights movement" that celebrates the lawlessness of Cliven Bundy and his Patriot Movement cohorts, defends the "right" of Jerad Miller to get his hands on lethal firearms (so he can "start the revolution"), and demands more "Stand Your Ground" laws so that Darren Mack and George Zimmerman can keep shooting whenever they feel "threatened" by such things as court orders and hoodies.
Why do we let them call the shots? Why do we let the NRA and gun industry dictate to us how (not) to regulate firearms? If we have basic safety standards in place for our cars, our homes, and our places of work, why can't we have basic safety standards in place for items that are literally built to kill? Think about that.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Consider This
Another one? There was actually another one. Sadly, there was.
This time, it happened at Fashion Show Tuesday night. Oh, yes. That's right. There was another Las Vegas Strip shooting this week.
So far, the wounded victim has declined to speak to Metro Police about what occurred. After initial speculation about gang involvement, Metro Police now say this shooting was likely not gang motivated. They're still asking the public for help as they investigate.
Last year, we witnessed several Las Vegas Strip shootings. Earlier this year, we saw an alarming near miss at "Thunder Down Under". And now, there's this.
Oh, and there's this. In Stockton, California, 3 bank robbery suspects shot at police officers with AK-47 style assault weapons. A shootout then broke out with both sides trading fire. And ultimately, an innocent hostage and 2 of the suspects were shot dead. 2 more hostages were also shot, and they remain in critical condition.
Consider this: Where did these individuals (in Las Vegas and Stockton) obtain these firearms? And how did they do so? Could it be that they took advantage of the same loophole that Jerad Miller exploited to kick off his bloody "revolution"?
Now consider this: What stood in the way of even modest efforts to strengthen background checks to keep dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands? Who stood in the way? And why did they do do?
Perhaps it's finally time for us to rethink our haphazard approach to all this #gunfail?
This time, it happened at Fashion Show Tuesday night. Oh, yes. That's right. There was another Las Vegas Strip shooting this week.
So far, the wounded victim has declined to speak to Metro Police about what occurred. After initial speculation about gang involvement, Metro Police now say this shooting was likely not gang motivated. They're still asking the public for help as they investigate.
Last year, we witnessed several Las Vegas Strip shootings. Earlier this year, we saw an alarming near miss at "Thunder Down Under". And now, there's this.
Oh, and there's this. In Stockton, California, 3 bank robbery suspects shot at police officers with AK-47 style assault weapons. A shootout then broke out with both sides trading fire. And ultimately, an innocent hostage and 2 of the suspects were shot dead. 2 more hostages were also shot, and they remain in critical condition.
Consider this: Where did these individuals (in Las Vegas and Stockton) obtain these firearms? And how did they do so? Could it be that they took advantage of the same loophole that Jerad Miller exploited to kick off his bloody "revolution"?
Now consider this: What stood in the way of even modest efforts to strengthen background checks to keep dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands? Who stood in the way? And why did they do do?
Perhaps it's finally time for us to rethink our haphazard approach to all this #gunfail?
Monday, June 9, 2014
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Redefining?
Here we go again. Once more, the NRA is trying to spin away the reality of gun violence. Apparently, it's not enough for the NRA to have its own online TV network. It also wants to dictate the terms of use for the English language.
No really, the NRA recently posted this video on the definition of "shooting".
How helpful. We were just thinking about this. What does the NRA think about the definition of "shooting"?
Still, we can't help but wonder who advised the NRA on the definition of "shooting". Did they talk with the family of Kenneth Brown? Did they consult with the family of Michael Landsberry? Or did they only speak with Wayne Burgarello?
But then again, this isn't new for the NRA. Last year, the NRA fought hard against modest background checks... Even though the NRA had previously endorsed universal background checks. Just as the NRA has tried to rewrite its own history, it's now trying to redefine the English language.
Has the NRA been consulting with Cliven Bundy? Has the NRA lost track of where it currently stands on Open Carry Texas? Or is the NRA so afraid of confronting the brutal reality of gun violence that it has to try to convince us that certain words don't actually mean what we think they mean?
So the NRA has shifted from merely "rebranding" its image to redefining words. But try as it might, the NRA can't redefine gun violence.
No really, the NRA recently posted this video on the definition of "shooting".
How helpful. We were just thinking about this. What does the NRA think about the definition of "shooting"?
Still, we can't help but wonder who advised the NRA on the definition of "shooting". Did they talk with the family of Kenneth Brown? Did they consult with the family of Michael Landsberry? Or did they only speak with Wayne Burgarello?
But then again, this isn't new for the NRA. Last year, the NRA fought hard against modest background checks... Even though the NRA had previously endorsed universal background checks. Just as the NRA has tried to rewrite its own history, it's now trying to redefine the English language.
Has the NRA been consulting with Cliven Bundy? Has the NRA lost track of where it currently stands on Open Carry Texas? Or is the NRA so afraid of confronting the brutal reality of gun violence that it has to try to convince us that certain words don't actually mean what we think they mean?
So the NRA has shifted from merely "rebranding" its image to redefining words. But try as it might, the NRA can't redefine gun violence.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
What Happens in Vegas...
Las Vegas: "What happens here stays here." Yeah, right! Actually, what happens here often ends up taking the world by storm!
Case in point: Last week's Consumer Electronics Show. Everyone is still talking about all the hot new gadgets coming soon to a store near you. And that's not all. Las Vegas has become a major destination for business conventions highlighting trends of the future. In fact, we have another headline grabbing convention in town this week...
It's the SHOT Show. It's at Sands Expo this week. And it will showcase all the hot new firearms, ammunition, "outdoor living accessories" (Quack), and even military grade survival kits coming onto the market. The latter should make a great gift for all the doomsday preppers in your life.
But wait, there's more. Freedom Group is upping the ante this week with its militaristic campaign to sell its military grade assault weapons and accompanying accessories. Freedom Group promises ease in "killin' zombies", as its products are "built to be tough as the job", "made to run, not collect dust in the gun safe", and "giv[ing] you the confidence and firepower to get the job done". Oh, and let's not forget that these are the same military grade assault weapons that have been used by the likes of Adam Lanza (Newtown), James Holmes (Aurora), Christopher Dorner (Orange County/Los Angeles), and other perpetrators of mass shootings to "get the job done".
In recent years, we've witnessed massive bloodshed as the result of epic gun violence. That's why ProgressNow Nevada could not remain silent on the eve of this year's SHOT Show.
Cars are tightly regulated. So are toys. So are kitchen appliances. So are many other everyday items consumers use. So why can't we do the same with items that are specifically designed to kill?
Think about it. Gun manufacturers spend millions on eye-popping ads like what we discussed above. They also give millions to the NRA to fight even the most modest gun safety reform efforts. How on earth does this qualify as "responsible behavior"? And should we be more concerned about what's happening at Sands Expo this week?
This is happening just a few steps away from The Strip, where Kenneth Brown and Michael Boldon lost their lives to gun violence. And this is where gun manufacturers are selling the same weapons and ammo used to kill Trayvon Martin, Janay Mcfarlane, Michael Landsberry, and many others. Why are these gun manufacturers pumping so much money into the NRA in order to fight efforts to prevent their products from taking away so many innocent lives?
Like other major conventions, the SHOT Show is taking advantage of the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip to highlight its products. Yet unlike most other major conventions, the products being highlighted this week are built to kill. And unlike most other major conventions, the organizers have pumped millions of dollars into vitriolic campaigns to kill legislation meant to foster safer communities in Nevada and throughout the nation.
What happens here in Las Vegas typically doesn't stay here. One can hope what happens here this week will lead to some sober reflection on what's happening at Sands Expo... And in our communities.
Case in point: Last week's Consumer Electronics Show. Everyone is still talking about all the hot new gadgets coming soon to a store near you. And that's not all. Las Vegas has become a major destination for business conventions highlighting trends of the future. In fact, we have another headline grabbing convention in town this week...
It's the SHOT Show. It's at Sands Expo this week. And it will showcase all the hot new firearms, ammunition, "outdoor living accessories" (Quack), and even military grade survival kits coming onto the market. The latter should make a great gift for all the doomsday preppers in your life.
But wait, there's more. Freedom Group is upping the ante this week with its militaristic campaign to sell its military grade assault weapons and accompanying accessories. Freedom Group promises ease in "killin' zombies", as its products are "built to be tough as the job", "made to run, not collect dust in the gun safe", and "giv[ing] you the confidence and firepower to get the job done". Oh, and let's not forget that these are the same military grade assault weapons that have been used by the likes of Adam Lanza (Newtown), James Holmes (Aurora), Christopher Dorner (Orange County/Los Angeles), and other perpetrators of mass shootings to "get the job done".
In recent years, we've witnessed massive bloodshed as the result of epic gun violence. That's why ProgressNow Nevada could not remain silent on the eve of this year's SHOT Show.
Cars are tightly regulated. So are toys. So are kitchen appliances. So are many other everyday items consumers use. So why can't we do the same with items that are specifically designed to kill?
Think about it. Gun manufacturers spend millions on eye-popping ads like what we discussed above. They also give millions to the NRA to fight even the most modest gun safety reform efforts. How on earth does this qualify as "responsible behavior"? And should we be more concerned about what's happening at Sands Expo this week?
This is happening just a few steps away from The Strip, where Kenneth Brown and Michael Boldon lost their lives to gun violence. And this is where gun manufacturers are selling the same weapons and ammo used to kill Trayvon Martin, Janay Mcfarlane, Michael Landsberry, and many others. Why are these gun manufacturers pumping so much money into the NRA in order to fight efforts to prevent their products from taking away so many innocent lives?
Like other major conventions, the SHOT Show is taking advantage of the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip to highlight its products. Yet unlike most other major conventions, the products being highlighted this week are built to kill. And unlike most other major conventions, the organizers have pumped millions of dollars into vitriolic campaigns to kill legislation meant to foster safer communities in Nevada and throughout the nation.
What happens here in Las Vegas typically doesn't stay here. One can hope what happens here this week will lead to some sober reflection on what's happening at Sands Expo... And in our communities.
Monday, September 16, 2013
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.)
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.)
“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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Nevada Responses to Obama's Gun Safety Reform Agenda
Hot on the heels of President Obama's announcement on gun safety actions, we're now starting to get responses from Nevada's members of Congress. First off, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-North Las Vegas) was quick to release this statement.
So Mr. President has at least one Nevadan on Capitol Hill who's definitely in his corner. In the mean time, Nevada's Senators both seem to be in a squishier spot.
So at least we now know Reid will bring the President's package to the Senate floor. We just don't know yet how he will vote. And we don't know yet how he will be whipping other votes.
And as for Heller, he's in a pickle (as usual). Does he want to be seen as knee-jerk against whatever the President proposes? Or will "Mr. 46%" see an opportunity to claim some middle ground?
And then, we have Nevada's other Members of Congress. Mark Amodei (R-Why Bother) will probably vote against it because he's afraid of the "tea party". Joe Heck (R-The Other Side of the 215) probably feels the same way, but also has to balance that with the much swingier nature of NV-03. I will just be surprised if Dina Titus (D-She's Back) actually opposes this, since she represents the most urban district in the state, a gun violence incident happened just last month in what's now her district, and President Obama is most popular there.
As Desert Beacon reminded us on Monday, the gun safety reforms proposed by the President have the broad support of the American people. Yes, even the assault weapons ban does. After all, why are we seeing military grade weapons in our civilian communities? That should really make no sense.
And hopefully, Nevada's Members of Congress will ponder that some more.
"I approach gun safety as a parent of three young children and the son of a father who lost his life to gun violence. My daughter is the same age as the kids whose lives were taken from them, and my heart still breaks for the victims in Newtown. It is time for us to step up: if we can prevent another mass shooting or save just one life, we have to act. [...]
"Universal background checks can help prevent those who are legally prohibited from buying a gun from obtaining what can become a dangerous weapon. Military-style assault weapons do not belong on our streets, and neither do high-capacity magazines that are designed to inflict maximum damage.
"This is not about taking guns away from law-abiding citizens. I support the Second Amendment and the right of individuals to bear arms for recreation, hunting, or self-defense. That does not mean we cannot have reasonable gun laws to keep military designed weapons out of our neighborhoods and communities. We need to come together as a country and have a serious conversation about how to make our malls, movie theaters, and schools safe again."
So Mr. President has at least one Nevadan on Capitol Hill who's definitely in his corner. In the mean time, Nevada's Senators both seem to be in a squishier spot.
“I am committed to ensuring that the Senate will consider legislation that addresses gun violence,” Reid said in a statement released Wednesday. “All options should be on the table moving forward.”
Reid did not say how he would vote on individual items in the president’s package that require congressional approval. Reid did not vote for the last assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004.
Nevada Republican Sen. Dean Heller, meanwhile, has said he supports a discussion about violence and mental health but did not mention gun control.
So at least we now know Reid will bring the President's package to the Senate floor. We just don't know yet how he will vote. And we don't know yet how he will be whipping other votes.
And as for Heller, he's in a pickle (as usual). Does he want to be seen as knee-jerk against whatever the President proposes? Or will "Mr. 46%" see an opportunity to claim some middle ground?
And then, we have Nevada's other Members of Congress. Mark Amodei (R-Why Bother) will probably vote against it because he's afraid of the "tea party". Joe Heck (R-The Other Side of the 215) probably feels the same way, but also has to balance that with the much swingier nature of NV-03. I will just be surprised if Dina Titus (D-She's Back) actually opposes this, since she represents the most urban district in the state, a gun violence incident happened just last month in what's now her district, and President Obama is most popular there.
Obama made a direct plea to constituents of places like Nevada in his announcement Wednesday.
“We’re going to need voices in those areas and those congressional districts where the tradition of gun ownership is strong to speak up and say, ‘This is important,’” Obama said. “It can’t just be the usual suspects...Ask them what’s more important? Getting the ‘A’ grade from the gun lobby...or giving parents peace of mind when they drop their child off for first grade?”
As Desert Beacon reminded us on Monday, the gun safety reforms proposed by the President have the broad support of the American people. Yes, even the assault weapons ban does. After all, why are we seeing military grade weapons in our civilian communities? That should really make no sense.
And hopefully, Nevada's Members of Congress will ponder that some more.
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