We are doing ourselves a great disservice by clinging to the false perception that these are isolated incidents (as demonstrated by repeatedly being shocked when they repeatedly happen). We have serious ongoing problems with both easy access to guns and with radical Islamists pursuing terrorism. We have much work to do on both fronts, and, if we don’t do it, the events will keep on happening and, yes, we will be partly to blame for the ones yet to come.
There have been over 1,000 mass shootings since Sandy Hook. We know of 2 of them being related to “Radical Islam.”
But yeah, that’s the problem… 8-|
I apologize if this has already been posted. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sacramento-baptist-pastor-roger-jiminez-post-orlando-anti-gay-preaching/
Another article mentioning the 49-year old woman who was there with her son. It turns out that the actor Wilson Cruz – best known for playing the character Rickie Vasquez on the TV show My So-Called Life – was a member of her family. He speaks out in general about remembering that the victims were mostly Latino/Latina/Latinx.
I hope and pray Americans don’t change their values based on hate or fear. I feel like this tragedy is different. I feel like this one is the tipping point. It gives me hope that legislators are filibustering instead of being silent. I saw, but didn’t read, an article that had a title from someone in Sandy Hook who apologized to Orlando for “not learning from their mistakes.” This, of course, is not an Orlando of Sandy Hook problem it is a global problem just like hate, repression and a lack of resources and tolerance are.
I hope and pray that something good can come out of this. A ban on assault rifles would not prevent all gun violence. But it is a start. Even something an intangible as the way the polls are trending gives me a little more hope that finally something will get done. I was talking with a few co-workers today. I’m not the kind of guy who cries often. I didn’t cry but there were tears. One of the people I was talking to has a 3-year old daughter the other is a gay person who lived in fear of telling other people she was gay when she first got to Orlando. We each different stories but we agreed we have to do more to promote change and that doesn’t mean anyone loses their amendment 2 rights.
It means we demand common sense policies and laws from our government and instead of going back to normal, this time, we will not give up until we get what we want. I’ve had similar conversations with others over Facebook. My sister emailed me a link to a website that shows how every single senator and representative has voted, in the past, on common sense assault rifle bans or limits and right next to how they voted there is a link to contact them. That is just what I was looking for. Will it help? Will it matter? Can I make any difference? Not over night. But I don’t give up easily. There is no place for weapons of war in a normal setting. That is only one issue within this incident. There are other things that need to be done. All of that is true but that doesn’t change the fact that enough is enough. We all have to speak up and speak out more. I know plenty of people on FB who don’t like to use FB for that kind of talk. They can defriend me if they want. I will be speaking out, I no longer have patience for trying to get along on some issues.
One other thing. Stephen Cobert and Conan O’Brian and I sure all the other late night talk show hosts spoke up about Orlando recently. These men are paid to be funny but sometimes being funny isn’t appropriate no matter how hard you try. They said it far better than I can. Go to YT and see what they said. It gives hope that this time is different. I know a few people that are NRA members and all that stuff that I visit with now and then. I am forced to listen to their skewed versions of reality about their gun rights. Those conversations are more than likely going to be a little loud and damned entertaining, you might want to sell tickets and grab some popcorn, the next time I see them.
Anyone notice this arrest of a suspect on the same day?
http://time.com/4365445/los-angeles-gay-pride-parade-weapons-explosives-ammo/
Charged for three felonies and one misdemeanor:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/california-west-hollywood-suspect-aresenal/
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-santa-monica-howell-charges-20160614-snap-story.html
The guy from Indiana? It was mentioned early on in this thread.
It is funny, I haven’t heard anything else about that guy (the one from Indiana)…I am sure if his name was Muhammad or Yusef it would have been topic du jour,too…
There was plenty of news about the guy that was headed to the LA gay pride parade, in this thread and elsewhere. It has nothing to do with his name. The fact that the coverage of all the sad events in Orlando took up more of the news reports has nothing to do with his name. http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/california-west-hollywood-suspect-aresenal/
We can’t talk about gun control here, but check out C-SPAN.
More information is emerging which pokes more holes in the “why didn’t they try to tackle him?” whine.
Apparently he told the people in there that there were snipers outside and that there was someone with a suicide bomb waiting to blow it if anyone tried to come near him.
They had no reason to believe either of these statements were false.
@Ynotgo oh please, oh please, oh please !!! ^:)^
[Prince William’s Historic ‘Attitude’ Cover & Call To End LGBT Bullying Is Even More Important In Light Of Orlando](Prince William's Historic 'Attitude' Cover & Call To End LGBT Bullying Is Even More Important In Light Of Orlando)
Just further evidence of what a class act Prince Williams seems to be. Saw it on the news tonight and it was heartwarming to see him use his position in that way and so timely since this was in the works predating this latest nightmare.
I think Diana would be very proud.
William and Kate signed a book of condolences at the US Embassy in London. Kate showed her usual style thoughtfulness by wearing an American designer, rare for her.
The Embassy set up an online book of condolences, signed by, among others, Charles and Camilla.
https://specialrelationship.uk/2016/06/13/condolences-for-orlando-shootings/
I went to the candlelight vigil in Portland last night. There were a lot of police around. On Saturday I play to march with my church banner in the Pride parade, as I have before. I admit to being somewhat nervous in my church after a right-wing man shot and killed several people at a kid’s play at the Knoxville UU Church. (Wonder why you’ve never heard of it? We aren’t Christians or Jews. 
) But I have never been afraid at the Pride parade before.
Thanks for the tip, @Ynotgo !
As to taking down a gunman,
However, it was the middle of the day, easy to identify the gunman, person was in the right place and got lucky that the shooter was reloading at the time.