"As usual, the opportunists waited not one second to exploit tragedy for political gain," said Mr LaPierre, who is head of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
"They hate the NRA. They hate the second amendment. They hate individual freedom," he said, referring to the second amendment in the US constitution, which governs the "right to keep and bear arms".
[...]
On the first day of CPAC, the NRA had an uninterrupted hour to offer its response to Parkland - and respond it did. In a one-two punch, Dana Loesch and Wayne LaPierre launched a blistering attack again the mainstream media, the FBI and pro-gun-control Democratic politicians.
The media "love mass shootings" because of the ratings, Ms Loesch said. The FBI rank-and-file should rise up against a "corrupt" senior staff that has failed to stop mass shooters, Mr LaPierre railed. Democrats, he said, "hate individual freedom".
Absentia wrote:I've got a possibly unpopular opinion here. Not that I would shed a tear if private citizens weren't allowed to carry around assault weapons anymore, but...
I can't help but wonder why people get so up in arms (har har) about gun control when high school students die in an attack like this, but there aren't any impassioned CNN town halls about, say, suicide prevention, when suicide kills far more young people in any given year than the combined total of every school attack ever recorded. The leading cause of death in the Americans aged 15-24 demographic is car accidents, but nobody is demanding instant action from lawmakers to raise the driving age or calling Toyota a bunch of evil bastards for making such a dangerous product.
It seems like society is willing to accept some small risk of death in most things, but this one particular brand of gun violence that accounts for an infinitesimal fraction of the death rate has everyone wringing their hands. What am I missing?
Edgar Cabrera wrote:HOLY SHIT GUYS, IT'S DOGLOVINGJIM!!! HE'S HERE!!!
skoobadive wrote:It's the legendary DoglovingJim! Ohboy, this must be the greatest day of my life!
Cracked.com wrote:Initially, his interest in animals was "primarily a sexual attraction," but as he grew older, he also "developed the emotional attraction." We guess we could call what Jim does ... dog-lovin'
Absentia wrote:It seems like society is willing to accept some small risk of death in most things, but this one particular brand of gun violence that accounts for an infinitesimal fraction of the death rate has everyone wringing their hands. What am I missing?
Crimson847 wrote:In other words, transgender-friendly privacy laws don't molest people, people molest people.
(Presumably, the only way to stop a bad guy with a transgender-friendly privacy law is a good guy with a transgender-friendly privacy law, and thus transgender-friendly privacy law rights need to be enshrined in the Constitution as well)
Absentia wrote:I've got a possibly unpopular opinion here. Not that I would shed a tear if private citizens weren't allowed to carry around assault weapons anymore, but...
I can't help but wonder why people get so up in arms (har har) about gun control when high school students die in an attack like this, but there aren't any impassioned CNN town halls about, say, suicide prevention, when suicide kills far more young people in any given year than the combined total of every school attack ever recorded. The leading cause of death in the Americans aged 15-24 demographic is car accidents, but nobody is demanding instant action from lawmakers to raise the driving age or calling Toyota a bunch of evil bastards for making such a dangerous product.
It seems like society is willing to accept some small risk of death in most things, but this one particular brand of gun violence that accounts for an infinitesimal fraction of the death rate has everyone wringing their hands. What am I missing?
Absentia wrote:I've got a possibly unpopular opinion here. Not that I would shed a tear if private citizens weren't allowed to carry around assault weapons anymore, but...
I can't help but wonder why people get so up in arms (har har) about gun control when high school students die in an attack like this, but there aren't any impassioned CNN town halls about, say, suicide prevention, when suicide kills far more young people in any given year than the combined total of every school attack ever recorded. The leading cause of death in the Americans aged 15-24 demographic is car accidents, but nobody is demanding instant action from lawmakers to raise the driving age or calling Toyota a bunch of evil bastards for making such a dangerous product.
It seems like society is willing to accept some small risk of death in most things, but this one particular brand of gun violence that accounts for an infinitesimal fraction of the death rate has everyone wringing their hands. What am I missing?
As gun fire erupted within Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the armed deputy who was tasked with protecting the children of the Parkland community is accused of taking cover to protect himself instead of doing what he had been paid and trained to do.
When faced with the realization Thursday that he was going to be suspended without pay, Sheriff Scott Israel allowed Broward Sheriff's Office Deputy Scot Ralph Peterson to resigned/retire, which would make him eligible for whatever benefits and pay he might be entitled to.
While Nikolas Cruz used an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle to kill 17 people, Peterson was armed and in uniform. Israel said he was seen "take up a position" outside of the west side of building 12 during the massacre, "and he never went in."
According to a Coral Springs police officer, Peterson hid behind a concrete column near the stairs. Israel said Cruz began shooting at 2:21 p.m., and exited the building about 2:27 p.m. Peterson, who towers over 6 feet tall, was outside the building for four minutes, according to Israel.
His actions appeared to contradict what his superiors expected of him. They were also inconsistent with his most recent employee evaluation stating that he took "pride in protecting the students, faculty and staff" and "was dependable and reliable."
Sgt. Greg Molamphy nominated him as the Parkland Deputy of the Year in 2017. In a memo Molamphy sent to Lt. Michael DeVita, he wrote Peterson handled "issues that arise with tact and solid judgment."
BSO hired Peterson in 1985 after studying at Miami Beach Senior High School, Miami-Dade College and Florida International University. Records show he was transferred to the school resource officer program in 1991. Three years later, the Florida Association of School Resource Officers recognized him with the Most Outstanding School Resource Officer in the State award.
The 54-year-old veteran had been working at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School since 2009, according to Parkland records. Israel said that he "resigned/retired" from his position as school resource officer Thursday, after learning from Lt. Barry Lindquist that he was under investigation.
He received numerous awards during his tenure. In 2013, Parkland officials named him Broward County Sheriff's Office Parkland employee of the year. The department recognized Peterson as SRO of the Year for proving "to be reliable in handling issues with tact and judgment" in 2014.
Records show his base pay was over $100,000 a year in 2013 and 2014, but dropped to about $75,800 in 2015. His overtime pay remained about the same during those three years.
In 2015, the Sun Sentinel reported he was among the police officers who were living for free on school property in exchange for after-hours campus security. Records show he had been living at Atlantic Technical College in Margate since 2000.
After recognizing his 30 years of service in 2015, Israel wrote that Peterson's "dedication and allegiance" were "the best illustrations of the service BSO provides."
Records show he lives in Boynton Beach. Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputies were guarding his home Thursday night.
Israel said the investigation will continue, and two other unidentified BSO deputies were placed on administrative duties over their handling of tips reported about Cruz's prior threats.
Edgar Cabrera wrote:HOLY SHIT GUYS, IT'S DOGLOVINGJIM!!! HE'S HERE!!!
skoobadive wrote:It's the legendary DoglovingJim! Ohboy, this must be the greatest day of my life!
Cracked.com wrote:Initially, his interest in animals was "primarily a sexual attraction," but as he grew older, he also "developed the emotional attraction." We guess we could call what Jim does ... dog-lovin'
LaoWai wrote:blehblah posted a picture, and
I sort of feel like that's a fake photograph, by which I mean, that's a blatantly fake photograph. Every time he cries "FAKE NEWS" another photo-shopper earns his wings by putting together this sort of image.
This sort of patently manufactured stuff is exactly why Trump is still considered a person who cares about people whose names don't end in "-ump" and begin with "Tr-."
Absentia wrote: The leading cause of death in the Americans aged 15-24 demographic is car accidents, but nobody is demanding instant action from lawmakers to raise the driving age or calling Toyota a bunch of evil bastards for making such a dangerous product.
Aquila89 wrote:What, the photo about his notes? What do you base that upon? It was published by the Associated Press, and the Trump administration didn't call it fake. Snopes fact-checked it.
iMURDAu wrote:A state employee tasked with protecting and policing the building is going to draw a pension after hiding during a massacre.
People including the POTUS are talking about arming teachers.
Not everyone has it in them. The capacity to rush into danger. Teachers are paid like shit and now to ask them to put their lives on the line and carry a lethal weapon is just wrong. I don't know where the sentiment of "hand 'em a gun and they're instantly a soldier" comes from but real life doesn't work like that.
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