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Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. editor@thestranger.com (The Stranger Editor) webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Sat, 25 May 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Sat, 25 May 2013 04:15:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/23/10-year-old-girl-accidentally-shot-dead-by-14-year-old-boy http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/23/10-year-old-girl-accidentally-shot-dead-by-14-year-old-boy Goldy <p><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2329670/Maggie-Hollifield-Pastor-s-daughter-10-shot-killed-outside-home-horrific-accident-14-year-old-boy.html">Ten-year-old Maggie Hollifield</a> was shot and killed by a 14-year-old boy outside her Virginia home, a horrific accident that should not be confused with <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2013/05/20/5432723/10-year-old-north-highlands-girl.html">10-year-old Elvira Campos</a> who was shot dead in her Sacramento County living while watching TV, or <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/14-year-old-girl-shot-killed-riding-bus-queens-article-1.1348236">14-year-old Daja Robinson</a> who was shot and killed on a bus in Queens. Can't tell the players without a scorecard.</p> <p>FYI, <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/kids-shoot-the-darndest-things/Content?oid=16837331">my recent gun rant here</a>.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/23/10-year-old-girl-accidentally-shot-dead-by-14-year-old-boy#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16858344&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/23/10-year-old-girl-accidentally-shot-dead-by-14-year-old-boy?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16858344&id=comments 31 Thu, 23 May 2013 16:37:16 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/22/yet-another-2-year-old-accidentally-shot-in-the-head http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/22/yet-another-2-year-old-accidentally-shot-in-the-head Goldy <p>But it was only <a href="http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/home/ticker/Trigg-County-toddler-hospitalized-after-accidental-shooting-208465361.html">"accidental,"</a> so I guess that's okay then:</p> <blockquote><p>An accidental shooting sent a Trigg County toddler to Vanderbilt Medical Center overnight.</p> <p>Kentucky State Police were called to a residence in Trigg County just after 9 p.m. Tuesday in reference to <strong>a 2-year-old suffering a gunshot wound to the head.</strong></p> <p>The child was initially taken to Trigg County Hospital, then transferred to Vanderbilt with non-life threatening injuries.</p></blockquote> <p>That makes three 2-year-olds and a 3-year-old shot in the head, just over the past two weeks. Rather than repeat myself, I'll throw you a link to my recent rant on <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/kids-shoot-the-darndest-things/Content?oid=16837331">America's epidemic of toddler gun violence</a> in this week's print edition of <em>The Stranger</em>.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/22/yet-another-2-year-old-accidentally-shot-in-the-head#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16846501&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/22/yet-another-2-year-old-accidentally-shot-in-the-head?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16846501&id=comments 13 Wed, 22 May 2013 16:02:53 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/21/well-regulated-beaverton-militia-accidentally-fires-shot-into-neighbors-bedroom http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/21/well-regulated-beaverton-militia-accidentally-fires-shot-into-neighbors-bedroom Goldy <p>Like me, I'm guessing a lot of you don't keep a gun in the house because you know that guns don't make you safer. <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/beaverton/index.ssf/2013/05/beaverton_man_accused_of_disch.html">But what about your neighbor?</a></p> <blockquote><p>A 33-year-old Beaverton man was arrested Monday night after he discharged his gun and <strong>sent a bullet through his home and into his neighbor's residence</strong>, according to the Beaverton Police Department.</p></blockquote> <p>I have been advised in the past that if I don't want to carry a gun or keep a gun in my house I should just make that choice and then <strong>shut the fuck up about it</strong>. Because, I'm told, it's none of my business whether other people choose to exercise their Second Amendment right.</p> <p>But of course, it <em><strong>is</strong></em> my business. I don't want to live in some mythical Dodge City, filled with Starbucks-swilling gunslingers (<a href="http://backstoryradio.org/straight-shot-show-segments-2/">the <em>real</em> Dodge City enforced strict gun control</a> within city limits). And I sure don't want to worry about some idiot neighbor accidentally firing a round into my house. I wouldn't just feel much safer if fewer people were armed, statistically I would be much safer. And so would you.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/21/well-regulated-beaverton-militia-accidentally-fires-shot-into-neighbors-bedroom#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16834312&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/21/well-regulated-beaverton-militia-accidentally-fires-shot-into-neighbors-bedroom?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16834312&id=comments 41 Tue, 21 May 2013 14:03:36 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/20/americas-epidemic-of-toddler-on-toddler-gun-violence-continues http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/20/americas-epidemic-of-toddler-on-toddler-gun-violence-continues Goldy <p><a href="http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/2-year-old-boy-accidentally-shot-in-nc?ref=fpb">Another martyr to our freedom</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>A 2-year-old boy in Asheboro, N.C. was shot Saturday after locating an unsecured gun in his family's home, the Courier-Tribune reported.</p> <p>The boy reportedly found the gun in his parents' bedroom and put it in his mouth.</p></blockquote> <p>Either the US has the most suicidal toddlers in the world, or something else.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/20/americas-epidemic-of-toddler-on-toddler-gun-violence-continues#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16821005&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/20/americas-epidemic-of-toddler-on-toddler-gun-violence-continues?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16821005&id=comments 45 Mon, 20 May 2013 08:24:14 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/20/gay-man-shot-dead-near-stonewall-inn http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/20/gay-man-shot-dead-near-stonewall-inn Eli Sanders <p>It happened <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/nyregion/killing-in-greenwich-village-looks-like-hate-crime-police-say.html">on Friday night</a> in New York, and now the police are calling it <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/20/nyregion/greenwich-village-alleged-antigay-killing.html?pagewanted=all">an apparent hate crime</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>The police say that Elliot Morales, 33, trailed and taunted two men, yelling antigay slurs and asking one of them, &#8220;You want to die tonight?&#8221;</p> <p>The police say it was the other man, Mark Carson, 32, who died after Mr. Morales fired a single bullet from a revolver.</p> <p>On Sunday, the police filed murder and weapons charges against Mr. Morales, and several lesbian and gay groups made plans for a march on Monday to the scene of the shooting.</p></blockquote> <p>According to <em>The New York Times</em>, Morales's sister says "he was under the influence" on Friday. According to police, in addition to the revolver, a Serbian-made assault weapon was found in the home Morales had been staying in.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/20/gay-man-shot-dead-near-stonewall-inn#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16818457&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/20/gay-man-shot-dead-near-stonewall-inn?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16818457&id=comments 24 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:00:00 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/17/america-doesnt-care-about-black-people http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/17/america-doesnt-care-about-black-people Charles Mudede <p>Saying <a href="http://portside.org/2013-05-15/why-isnt-new-orleans-mothers-day-parade-shooting-national-tragedy">it like it is</a>...<br /><blockquote>On Sunday, shots were fired into a crowd during a parade in the New Orleans 7th ward. Police said they saw three suspects running from the scene.</p> <p>This is the largest mass shooting in the United States where the shooters were still at large after the crime was committed. Think about that for a minute. From Columbine to Virginia Tech to Fort Hill to Aurora, all the shooters were either killed or apprehended on site. But the person or people responsible for shooting 19 Americans are still free.</p> <p>So why am I allowed to go outside? Where's the city quarantine or FBI and Homeland Security presence for this act of "terrorism"?</p> <p>Because this is an act of domestic terrorism right? Just because the alleged shooter was wearing a white tee and jeans does that suddenly make the shooting a gang-related affair? And we all know how irrelevant gang-related shootings are in America. The Mother's Day shooting is so irrelevant that politicians haven't even bothered to mention it to further their anti-gun agendas. If the shootings aren't even important enough for politicians to spin, then it's truly reached a black hole of irrelevance.</blockquote>That black hole is black skin.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/17/america-doesnt-care-about-black-people#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16791379&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/17/america-doesnt-care-about-black-people?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16791379&id=comments 81 Fri, 17 May 2013 09:30:05 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/17/new-gun-enthusiast http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/17/new-gun-enthusiast Dan Savage <p>...<a href="http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/front-range/federal-heights/witnesses-anastasia-adair-was-handing-assault-rifle-to-husband-when-it-fired-striking-her-in-head">wasn't an enthusiast for long</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>Witnesses tell police a Federal Heights woman was killed when the new assault rifle she was showing to friends accidentally fired on Tuesday night. Witnesses and the husband told police the group had been drinking in the garage of the couple's home at 10024 Elliot St. when 22-year-old Anastasia Adair, a new gun enthusiast, went upstairs to a bedroom to get her recently purchased assault rifle at about 10:40 p.m. Anastasia was walking back down the stairs into the garage when she reached out to hand the rifle to her husband, Shane Adair, who was below her on the stairs. The gun fired, striking her in the head.</p></blockquote> <p>Via <a href="http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/22-year-old-woman-killed-in-assault-rifle">TPM</a>.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/17/new-gun-enthusiast#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16790953&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/17/new-gun-enthusiast?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16790953&id=comments 97 Fri, 17 May 2013 08:29:05 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/14/if-it-goes-one-inch-further-im-going-to-start-killing-people http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/14/if-it-goes-one-inch-further-im-going-to-start-killing-people Charles Mudede <p>The gun nut show...<br /><div style="text-align:center;"><iframe width="460" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7jeBiYYt_04" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br />"1776 will commence again!, if you try to take our firearms!"</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/14/if-it-goes-one-inch-further-im-going-to-start-killing-people#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16761302&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/14/if-it-goes-one-inch-further-im-going-to-start-killing-people?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16761302&id=comments 51 Tue, 14 May 2013 08:26:10 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/13/thats-how-come-they-got-to-be-managers-at-a-movie-theater-in-missouri http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/13/thats-how-come-they-got-to-be-managers-at-a-movie-theater-in-missouri Grant Brissey <p>This one has been getting run over by the Information Superhighway for a day or two now, but I could not let the tasty schadenfreude disappear into the ether. In an effort to promote <em>Iron Man 3</em>, which clearly does not need additional promotion, managers at Goodrich Capital 8 Theatres in Jefferson City, invited actors who "appeared at the theater in the Missouri state capital during the weekend opening of <em>Iron Man 3</em> dressed as officers and one as Iron Man." <a href="http://www.abc17news.com/news/movie-theater-publicity-stunt-triggers-officers-to-respond-to-active-shooter-situation/-/18421100/20089958/-/66o97fz/-/index.html">Another actor</a> was dressed in "all-dark clothes" and carrying "what appeared to be a modified M-4 and 9 mm on his side."</strong></p> <p>Officers thought they were responding to a real shooter when they received multiple 911 calls. Later the theater would issue an apology:</p> <blockquote><p>We apologize and are sympathetic to those who felt they were in harm&#8217;s way with our character promotion for Iron Man 3. This was not a publicity stunt. We have worked with the Cosplacon group on many movies to dress up and help entertain our customers. We have had many complaints about the members dressed specifically as S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives carrying fake guns. We didn&#8217;t clearly tell our customers and some people didn&#8217;t realize it was for entertainment purposes only. We apologize that police were called to come out to our theater. We have a wonderful working relationship with the Jefferson City Police Department. Going forward we will take the necessary steps to make sure this doesn&#8217;t happen again. Security and safety for our customers is our number one priority.</p></blockquote> <p>Good job, everybody!</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/13/thats-how-come-they-got-to-be-managers-at-a-movie-theater-in-missouri#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16756870&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns Film http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/13/thats-how-come-they-got-to-be-managers-at-a-movie-theater-in-missouri?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16756870&id=comments 16 Mon, 13 May 2013 17:11:42 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/12/just-another-day-in-gun-crazy-usa-19-wounded-by-bullets-in-mothers-day-parade http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/12/just-another-day-in-gun-crazy-usa-19-wounded-by-bullets-in-mothers-day-parade Charles Mudede <p>At this point <a href="http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/12/18213691-at-least-19-injured-in-new-orleans-mothers-day-shooting">one just wants to</a>...<br /><blockquote>At least nineteen people in New Orleans, including two children, were injured on Sunday when multiple gunmen opened fire on a Mother&#8217;s Day parade, police said.</p> <p><br />A 10-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl were grazed by bullets but are in good condition, New Orleans Police spokesman Garry Flot said in a statement. A woman and a man were in surgery Sunday evening, but there were no fatalities and most wounds were not life threatening, police said. According to police, most victims were grazed by bullets.</p></blockquote> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/12/just-another-day-in-gun-crazy-usa-19-wounded-by-bullets-in-mothers-day-parade#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16749484&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/12/just-another-day-in-gun-crazy-usa-19-wounded-by-bullets-in-mothers-day-parade?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16749484&id=comments 20 Sun, 12 May 2013 21:04:28 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/11/the-tree-of-liberty-must-be-refreshed-from-time-to-time-with-the-blood-of-tyrants http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/11/the-tree-of-liberty-must-be-refreshed-from-time-to-time-with-the-blood-of-tyrants Dan Savage <p>And any parent will tell you that there's no tyrant <a href="http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2013/05/5-year-old-boy-accidentally-shot-in-the-head-saturday-morning-by-another-child-in-a-denton-home.html/">like a five-year-old tyrant</a>.</p> <blockquote><p>A 5-year-old boy was accidentally shot in the head in his Denton home Saturday morning, police say. The boy and an 8-year-old boy were playing alone in a bedroom when the older boy shot the other child with a .22 caliber rifle, according to police. Denton police responded to the home in the 2700 block of Stockton Street at about 11:40 a.m.</p></blockquote> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/11/the-tree-of-liberty-must-be-refreshed-from-time-to-time-with-the-blood-of-tyrants#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16741499&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/11/the-tree-of-liberty-must-be-refreshed-from-time-to-time-with-the-blood-of-tyrants?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16741499&id=comments 68 Sat, 11 May 2013 18:48:07 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/10/another-day-another-child-shooting-another-child-in-the-face http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/10/another-day-another-child-shooting-another-child-in-the-face Goldy <p><a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=9097535">Just as our founding fathers intended</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>CAMDEN - May 10, 2013 (WPVI) &#8212; Investigators say a 12-year-old child was <strong>shot in the face by an 11-year-old boy</strong> in Camden on Friday morning.</p></blockquote> <p>God bless America!</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/10/another-day-another-child-shooting-another-child-in-the-face#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16731100&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/10/another-day-another-child-shooting-another-child-in-the-face?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16731100&id=comments 34 Fri, 10 May 2013 11:42:13 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/08/more-advice-for-kids-from-the-nra http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/08/more-advice-for-kids-from-the-nra Dan Savage <p><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/05/08/1978921/nra-youth-magazine-home-shooting-ranges/">Think Progress</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>The National Rifle Association (NRA)&#8217;s overtures to children have come under fire after its annual conference last week, which advertised weapons for children and advocated storing firearms in kids&#8217; rooms just on the heels of the fatal shooting of a two year old by her five year old brother. A ThinkProgress review of the NRA children&#8217;s magazine, InSights, found another piece of disturbing advice: kids should build target ranges inside their homes.</p></blockquote> <p>Build a target range in your home today, kid. Because at some point you're going to run out of siblings.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/08/more-advice-for-kids-from-the-nra#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16709496&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/08/more-advice-for-kids-from-the-nra?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16709496&id=comments 17 Wed, 08 May 2013 12:48:57 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/08/mad-parenting-skills http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/08/mad-parenting-skills Dan Savage <p><a href="http://zaysmith.com/2013/05/unfinished-business/">Zay Smith</a>:</p> <blockquote><p><strong>News Headline</strong>: &#8220;NRA speaker&#8217;s advice: Keep a gun in your child&#8217;s room.&#8221;<br /><strong>News Headline</strong>: &#8220;Deputies find meth lab in child&#8217;s room.&#8221;</p> <p>No, no, no.<br />The guns go in the child&#8217;s room.<br />The meth lab goes in the kitchen.<br />Doesn&#8217;t anyone know how to parent anymore?</p></blockquote> <p>QT, Chicago reporter Zay Smith's short items column, is a joy to read. You can read it <a href="http://zaysmith.com/">here</a>.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/08/mad-parenting-skills#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16708782&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/08/mad-parenting-skills?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16708782&id=comments 12 Wed, 08 May 2013 11:00:00 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/08/guns-across-america http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/08/guns-across-america Dan Savage <p>Another day, <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/08/florida-3-year-old-fatally-shoots-himself-with-concealed-permit-holders-gun/">another dead child</a>.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/08/guns-across-america#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16706732&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/08/guns-across-america?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16706732&id=comments 74 Wed, 08 May 2013 07:22:09 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/07/jon-stewart-on-the-big-nra-con http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/07/jon-stewart-on-the-big-nra-con Dan Savage <p><div style="background-color:#000000;width:520px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><iframe src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:cms:video:thedailyshow.com:426067" width="512" height="288" frameborder="0"></iframe><p style="text-align:left;background-color:#FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><b><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-may-6-2013/nra-convention-2013">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart</a></b><br/>Get More: <a href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/'>Daily Show Full Episodes</a>,<a href='http://www.comedycentral.com/indecision'>Indecision Political Humor</a>,<a href='http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow'>The Daily Show on Facebook</a><br /></div></div></p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/07/jon-stewart-on-the-big-nra-con#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16694230&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/07/jon-stewart-on-the-big-nra-con?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16694230&id=comments 10 Tue, 07 May 2013 07:14:32 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/dont-watch-this-video-of-well-regulate-militia-being-shot-to-death-by-the-police http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/dont-watch-this-video-of-well-regulate-militia-being-shot-to-death-by-the-police Goldy <p>Pulled over by Middlefield, Ohio police for running a stop sign on March 10, James Gilkerson emerged from his car with an AK-47 blazing, <strong>firing 37 rounds at the cruiser</strong> before being shot dead by the officers. The two officers amazingly escaped with only minor injuries.</p> <p>The recently released dash-cam video is nothing short of shocking, so be forewarned: <strong>DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO</strong> IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE VIDEO OF <strong>A MAN BEING SHOT TO DEATH!</strong> Also, do not watch this if you do not want to see video of a man unloading 37 rounds <strong>directly at the camera.</strong></p> <p>Honestly. I don't want to hear anybody yelling at me about posting this video. I've warned you. I've even put it after the jump. You don't have to watch. <strong>SO DON'T WATCH THIS!</strong></p> <p><div style="text-align:center;"><iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yid9qG30II8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></p> <p>So why post this video? Because when Second Amendment advocates talk about their right to arm themselves against an oppressive government, this is exactly the sort of scenario their paranoid fantasy imagines. Police say they found eight 40-round magazines in Gilkerson's car, along with <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/05/when_stories_collide_1.php?ref=fpblg">militia and terrorist literature</a>. This is what it means to take up arms against your government. And ironically, facing off against a couple of small-town police officers who thought they were making a routine traffic stop, it was the AK-47-toting Gilkerson who ended up dead.</p> <p>Dismiss this as the isolated act of a lone crazy, if you want. And yeah, Gilkerson's actions were certainly crazy. But his actions were also consistent with the sort of blind, anti-government rage that the NRA types are constantly stoking.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/dont-watch-this-video-of-well-regulate-militia-being-shot-to-death-by-the-police#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16688203&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns Death http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/dont-watch-this-video-of-well-regulate-militia-being-shot-to-death-by-the-police?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16688203&id=comments 70 Mon, 06 May 2013 15:52:45 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/gun-deaths-are-different http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/gun-deaths-are-different Goldy <p>We all do <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/the-monday-morning-news">The Morning News</a> a little differently. My shtick is to prepend some snarky bit of bolded commentary onto a fairly straightforward teaser. But it's a style that failed me this morning on the story about that tragic limousine fire, not because snarky comments didn't pop into my head, but because they all seemed terribly inappropriate. So I simply wrote: "Too sad for commentary."</p> <p>To which Slog reader <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Comments?oid=16683925&category=slog#comment-16686363">scratchmaster joe</a> took issue in the comment thread:</p> <blockquote><p>Ok, so let me get this straight, people die in a car fire, and it is too sad for commentary, but people die in gunfire, and that is totally cool to use to support your own political position?</p></blockquote> <p>Well, yes, you do have that straight, Joe, because guns and limos are different in that limo fires are exceedingly rare compared to our nation's stunning <strong>epidemic of gun deaths.</strong> I mean, if stretch limos were constantly bursting into flames&#8212;if every morning we awoke to news of yet another wedding party or gaggle of prom dates horribly roasted to death in a burning limo&#8212;I'm guessing we might attempt to do something about it. Like make limos less flammable. And if we refused to do something obvious about it because LIBERTY! you can be sure I'd be politicizing our nation's flammable limo crisis too.</p> <p>Yeah, I know, a comparable number of Americans die each year from automobiles as die from firearms. But those numbers have been moving in opposite directions, largely because of a concerted regulatory effort to make cars (and their operation) safer. Seat belts weren't even standard equipment until the 1960s. Now mandatory seat belt laws are the norm. No, nothing will eliminate auto-related deaths altogether, but minimum federal safety standards save thousands of lives a year.</p> <p>So yeah, Joe, while they both are tragic, <strong>gun deaths are a legitimate object for politicization</strong> whereas limo fire deaths are not, because gun deaths represent exactly the sort of public health crisis that is the responsibility of government to address. And politics is the means through which we push effective public policy.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/gun-deaths-are-different#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16687591&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns Politics http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/gun-deaths-are-different?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16687591&id=comments 18 Mon, 06 May 2013 14:50:13 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/guns-under-lock-and-key-could-now-be-anywhere-police-say http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/guns-under-lock-and-key-could-now-be-anywhere-police-say Unpaid Intern <p><em>Posted by news intern Ansel Herz</em></p> <p>More than 25,000 households in King County reported storing loaded and unlocked firearms in 2009, according to <a href="http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/injury/lokitup/FirearmFacts.aspx">county statistics</a>. But what about guns stored in the attic behind a door locked with a keypad? </p> <p>If you leave something like a pair of bolt cutters lying around, that locked door <strong>isn't worth jack shit</strong>. That's the takeaway from a burglary reported last Tuesday in West Seattle.</p> <p>The burglar entered the house by smashing a sliding glass door with a garden tool, according to the police report. Officer William Dausner reports that the suspect rifled through a series of bedroom drawers and closets, including in the victim's daughter's room. Then the suspect moved to the living room, where he noticed a keypad-locked door to the attic.</p> <p>The homeowner "had left a pair of bolt cutters out," the police report says, and the suspect took full advantage, using them to "<strong>punch out the center of the [attic] door</strong>." The suspect found "a black powder revolver, single shot muzzle loaded percussion pistol, and a World War I era flare pistol," notes Officer Dausner. <strong>All of the firearms were stolen.</strong> (No word on whether the guns themselves were loaded or had locks on them at the time.)</p> <p>The victim told Officer Dausner that he might be able to locate the serial numbers for the stolen guns. The police were able to find a single fingerprint left on the keypad on the attic door, along with one other.</p> <p>That old flare pistol might be worth a pretty penny&#8212;a quick online search brings up prices ranging from $300&#8211;800. In 2011, <a href="http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/injury/lokitup/FirearmFacts.aspx">almost $3 million worth of firearms were stolen</a> in Washington State.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/guns-under-lock-and-key-could-now-be-anywhere-police-say#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16685977&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Crime Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/guns-under-lock-and-key-could-now-be-anywhere-police-say?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16685977&id=comments 20 Mon, 06 May 2013 13:18:56 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/tom-tomorrow-is-my-hero http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/tom-tomorrow-is-my-hero Chicago Fan <p>. . . because <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/06/1206662/-Threat-assessment?detail=hide">he's always funny and smart at the same time.</a></p> <p>And <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/05/when_stories_collide_1.php?ref=fpblg">some video of what can happen</a> when a gun nut gets pulled over for blowing a stop sign.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/tom-tomorrow-is-my-hero#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16684235&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/tom-tomorrow-is-my-hero?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16684235&id=comments 13 Mon, 06 May 2013 07:39:12 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/02/mother-of-the-year http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/02/mother-of-the-year Dan Savage <p><div style="text-align:center;"><iframe width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4Vi2df0ozSM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></p> <p>Watch for mom pointing a gun at her son's head. Guns never <a href="http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/a678d96123fc43488e17e366df2bbeb5/PA--Sheriffs-Deputy-Accidental-Shooting"><u>accidentally</u></a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZdeAVOiQmU"><u>discharge</u></a>, right? (Via <a href="http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2013/05/02/my-first-rifle-ctd-2/">Sullivan</a>.)</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/02/mother-of-the-year#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16658724&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/02/mother-of-the-year?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16658724&id=comments 55 Thu, 02 May 2013 18:20:24 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/02/middle-age-americans-offing-themselves-in-record-numbers http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/02/middle-age-americans-offing-themselves-in-record-numbers Goldy <p>Well, I suppose that's <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/03/health/suicide-rate-rises-sharply-in-us.html">one way</a> to rein in the costs of Social Security and Medicare:</p> <blockquote><p><strong>Suicide rates among middle-age Americans have risen sharply</strong> in the past decade, prompting concern that a generation of baby boomers who have faced years of economic worry and <strong>easy access to prescription pain killers</strong> may be particularly vulnerable to self-inflicted harm.</p></blockquote> <p>Really, <em>NY Times?</em> That's the message you're taking away from <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6217a1.htm?s_cid=mm6217a1_w">these stats</a>: That a surge in baby boomer suicides may be linked to easy access to prescription pain killers? That's the one possible contributing factor you choose to highlight in your lede?</p> <p>In fact, year after year, <strong>about half of all suicides are committed using firearms</strong>, by far the most popular suicide method&#8212;especially among middle-age men, the group with the highest suicide rate by a long shot. True, the CDC data found that poisoning by all sources (including prescription painkillers) was up 18.5 percent for middle-age men since 1999, but the growth in firearm suicides didn't lag far behind, up 14.9 percent. Meanwhile the big winner in the suicide method sweepstakes was <strong>suffocation</strong>, up 75 percent for middle-age men since 1999, and a whopping 115 percent for middle-age women. Hanging yourself is the new eating your gun! Who knew?</p> <p>Tragically, 21,754 Americans age 35-64 committed suicide in 2010 (more than died in car accidents), 10,393 by <strong>shooting themselves with a gun</strong>. Poisoning by all means&#8212;not just prescription painkillers&#8212;came in a distant second at 4,722 middle-age suicides, suffocation third at 4,117 but gaining fast. And yet it's "easy access" to palliative care, not guns (or ropes) that our nation's paper of record chooses to warn us about.</p> <p><small>(And by the way, if there's a statistic that really jumps out from this report, it's that <strong>the suicide rate for middle-age white men</strong> jumped 39.6 percent compared to only 4.7 percent for Asian men, 1.9 percent for Hispanic men, and 1.0 percent for black men. A middle-age white man is now three times more likely to commit suicide than a middle-age black, Asian, or Hispanic man. Go figure.)</small></p> <p><div class="blogImageCenter" style="width:512px;"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/binary/ab22/1367529375-cdc.gif" alt="cdc.gif" title="" width="500" height="753" /><ul><li class="imageCredit">Centers for Disease Control</li><li class="imageCaption"></li></ul></div></p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/02/middle-age-americans-offing-themselves-in-record-numbers#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16656484&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns Death http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/02/middle-age-americans-offing-themselves-in-record-numbers?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16656484&id=comments 65 Middle-Age Americans Offing Themselves in Record Numbers Centers for Disease Control Thu, 02 May 2013 14:09:50 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/02/the-only-that-stops-a-bad-7-year-old-with-a-gun-is-a-good-7-year-old-with-a-gun http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/02/the-only-that-stops-a-bad-7-year-old-with-a-gun-is-a-good-7-year-old-with-a-gun Goldy <p><a href="http://www.klewtv.com/news/local/7-year-old-Auburn-boy-accidentally-shoots-sister-in-the-leg-205721591.html">God bless America!</a></p> <blockquote><p>AUBURN, Wash. &#8212; A 9-year-old Auburn girl is recovering in a Seattle hospital after her 7-year-old brother accidentally shot her in the leg Wednesday night.</p> <p>Auburn police say the kids were inside their home, located in the 4600 block of Auburn Way South, when the brother grabbed a .22 caliber rifle from another brother's closet.</p></blockquote> <p><small>[Slog tipper Baby Blue]</small></p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/02/the-only-that-stops-a-bad-7-year-old-with-a-gun-is-a-good-7-year-old-with-a-gun#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16655684&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/02/the-only-that-stops-a-bad-7-year-old-with-a-gun-is-a-good-7-year-old-with-a-gun?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16655684&id=comments 18 Thu, 02 May 2013 11:14:52 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/30/gun-crazy-alaska-boy-brother-kills-girl-sister http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/30/gun-crazy-alaska-boy-brother-kills-girl-sister Charles Mudede <p><a href=" http://www.adn.com/2013/04/30/2885052/mountain-village-boy-shoots-kills.html#storylink=cpy">Anchorage Daily News</a>:<br /><blockquote>JUNEAU, ALASKA &#8212; A 5-year-old girl was shot and killed by her 8-year-old brother in Western Alaska, Alaska State Troopers said Tuesday.</p> <p>The siblings were at their Mountain Village home alone when the shooting occurred Monday.</p> <p>The boy was home by himself when his sister arrived, and the shooting happened as the boy was playing with a Ruger 10/22 rifle that he had used to go hunting the previous day, troopers said.</p> <p>Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters declined to say whether the incident appeared accidental or intentional.</p> <p>"It is too soon to determine whether charges are warranted as the investigation is ongoing..."<br /></blockquote> The police do not know who to charge? An 8-year-old boy kills his 5-year-old sister and your only concern is whether it was done with intention or not. Wow. Ideology is magnificent. We will interrogate the boy, put him in a cold room, show him bad cop and good cop (she offers him a lollipop instead of a cigarette), and try determine if he intentionally killed his sister with a gun his PARENTS gave him. Fucking amazing. Fucking amazing.</p> <p><small><em>Carole Triem is the tipster.</em></small></p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/30/gun-crazy-alaska-boy-brother-kills-girl-sister#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16638186&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/30/gun-crazy-alaska-boy-brother-kills-girl-sister?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16638186&id=comments 29 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:59:15 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/30/gun-crazy-central-district http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/30/gun-crazy-central-district Charles Mudede <p><a href="http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2013/04/29/double-shooting-in-the-central-district-suspects-at-large/">SPD Blotter</a>:<br /><blockquote>Gunfire erupted this evening in Seattle&#8217;s Central District, leaving two men with serious injuries. Just shortly before 7:00 p.m. multiple calls came into 9-1-1 reporting shots fired in the area of 400 MLK Jr. Wy.<br />Officers arrived and found two adult male victims. One victim had a gunshot wound to the buttocks and the other victim sustained a gunshot would to the scapula. Seattle Fire responded and transported both men to Harborview Medical Center.</blockquote> Was it Chris Rock who bemoaned the fact that streets named after the peace activist Martin Luther King Jr. tend be plagued with violence? Yes, black-on-black violence can not be separated from history, economics, and the lack of meaningful gun laws. But it's still so tired, so predictable, and always painful for the families connected to those who have been murdered or permanently damaged for what usually amounts to nothing more than some stupid shit. Let's end this sad post with a piece music that was made when hiphop used to have useful content for black folks...</p> <p><div style="text-align:center;"><iframe width="500" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jxyYP_bS_6s?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/30/gun-crazy-central-district#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16633216&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/30/gun-crazy-central-district?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16633216&id=comments 21 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:24:20 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/26/group-will-run-background-check-initiative http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/26/group-will-run-background-check-initiative Dominic Holden <p>First: <strong>Hooray!</strong></p> <p>Second: To be totally straight, the group of religious leaders and law enforcement isn't <em>officially</em> saying that they're running an initiative to require background checks&#8212;but they <strong>may as well say it</strong>. Today they sent a press release that says on Monday they will "will announce plans to pursue background checks in Washington State" through "both legislative efforts, and as a potential ballot initiative." And since legislative efforts have <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/03/13/universal-background-checks-bill-as-dead-as-a-person-shot-with-a-gun-purchased-without-a-background-check">failed</a>, well, that leaves a ballot initiative. I posted their press release after the jump. So hooray!</p> <p>Third: The Democrats in Olympia are worthless on gun safety. They never made an assault-weapons ban a priority <a href="http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2013/02/22/assault-weapons-ban-dead-in-state-legislature/">in their own caucuses</a>&#8212;never even made it a priority among themselves!!&#8212;because they're afraid of the NRA. Because they can wait for the public to spend the money, do the work, and the pass laws when the legislature is too timid to even <em>try,</em> even though <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/01/23/new-poll-washington-voters-overwhelmingly-support-stricter-gun-laws">87 percent of Washington State voters support background checks and 66 percent support banning semi-automatic assault weapons</a>. Hey, House Speaker Chopp and Senator Democratic leader Ed Murray, thanks for whatever it is you did down there this year!</p> <p>Fourth: <strong>This <em>will</em> pass</strong>.</p> <blockquote><p>Faith Leaders, Law Enforcement and Victims of Gun Violence Will Announce Plans to Pursue Background Checks in Washington State<br />Press Conference will reflect on stalled legislative efforts to reduce gun violence in Washington State and federally<br /> <br />SEATTLE&#8212;Dozens of regional interfaith and denominational faith leaders are uniting for a news conference Monday, April 29 at 9:30 am in Seattle&#8217;s Town Hall to make an important announcement at the official end of the State's Legislative Session. Initially formed in December following the tragedy of Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 20 students and 6 teachers lost their lives, on Monday they will be joined by victims of gun violence and by law enforcement. <br /> <br />Since that time, they have joined efforts with the newly-formed Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility to promote closing background check loopholes in Washington State through both legislative efforts, and as a potential ballot initiative. <br /> <br />Those plans will be announced at the Monday event.<br /> <br />Speakers will include (so far):<br />&#183; Rev. Dr. Sandy Brown, First United Methodist Church; Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility<br />&#183; Cheryl Stumbo, Jewish Federation Tragedy Survivor<br />&#183; Jasmit Singh, Gurudwara Singh Sabha of Washington<br />&#183; The Very Rev. Steven L. Thomason, Dean - Rector, St. Mark&#8217;s Cathedral<br />&#183; Rabbi Daniel Weiner, Temple De Hirsch Sinai<br />&#183; Rev. Paul Benz, Faith Action Network<br />&#183; The Very Reverend Michael G. Ryan, St. James Cathedral<br />&#183; Sheriff John Lovick, Snohomish County</p> <p>Other representatives from the Alliance will be on hand to address specific questions about political and electoral aspects of the issue.</p></blockquote> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/26/group-will-run-background-check-initiative#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16598316&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/26/group-will-run-background-check-initiative?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16598316&id=comments 38 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:36:56 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/24/well-regulated-militia-kills-5-including-2-children-in-illinois-mass-shooting http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/24/well-regulated-militia-kills-5-including-2-children-in-illinois-mass-shooting Goldy <p><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-illinois-shootings-20130424,0,7030923.story">Tragedies like this</a> are so routine, it almost isn't newsworthy.</p> <blockquote><p><strong>A grandmother, a young couple and their two small children, 1 and 5, were found slain</strong> in a home in the small town of Manchester, about 50 miles southwest of Springfield, according to police and relatives.</p> <p>The suspected gunman died hours later after he exchanged gunfire with police during a chase, officials said. Police identified him as Rick Odell Smith, 43, who lived in Roodhouse about five miles from Manchester.</p> <p>The slain family members were identified by relatives as: Joanne Sinclair, 65, her granddaughter Brittany Luark, 22, her boyfriend Roy Ralston, Nolan Ralston, 5, and Brantley Ralston, 1.</p> <p>Another child, Kassidy Ralston, 6, was in serious condition, according to Brad Teeter, Sinclair's son-in-law.</p> <p>... State police would not comment on a possible motive. But a neighbor said <strong>Smith had been going through a custody battle with Sinclair's daughter</strong> over their 4-year-old child. </p></blockquote> <p>So now it looks like <strong>yet another case of domestic violence</strong> escalated to mass murder through the brutal efficiency of a gun. Too bad there is nothing we can possibly do about this other than shrug our shoulders and accept it as the price of our freedom.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/24/well-regulated-militia-kills-5-including-2-children-in-illinois-mass-shooting#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16581978&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/24/well-regulated-militia-kills-5-including-2-children-in-illinois-mass-shooting?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16581978&id=comments 59 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:36:28 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/21/over-90-of-the-american-people-support-universal-backgrounds-checks http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/21/over-90-of-the-american-people-support-universal-backgrounds-checks Dan Savage <p>Bear that in mind while you read <a href="http://www.nogy.net/bcgop/Apr_2013/index.html">this</a> from the April newsletter of the Republican Party of Benton County:</p> <blockquote><p>We need to let those who will come in the future to represent us [know] that we are serious. <strong>The 2nd amendment means nothing unless those in power believe you would have no problem simply walking up and shooting them if they got too far out of line and stopped responding as representatives.</strong> It seems that we are unable to muster that belief in any of our representatives on a state or federal level, but we have to have something, something costly, something that they will fear that we will use if they step out of line.</p></blockquote> <p>So... according to the Republican Party in Benton County, Arkansas... <strong>supporters of background checks should shoot the U.S. senators who blocked background checks</strong>. Those senators have stopped responding as representatives&#8212;they're blocking the clear will of the overwhelming majority of American people. And if we don't shoot those U.S. senators who blocked background checks, well, then the 2nd Amendment means nothing! So to protect the 2nd Amendment those of us who don't support the 2nd Amendment are going to have to shoot those U.S. senators who do support the 2nd Amendment. It makes perfect sense. (Via <a href="http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/04/21/quote_of_the_day.html?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+PoliticalWire+(Political+Wire">Political Wire</a>.)</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/21/over-90-of-the-american-people-support-universal-backgrounds-checks#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16553325&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/21/over-90-of-the-american-people-support-universal-backgrounds-checks?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16553325&id=comments 157 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:16:00 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/20/shots-fired-at-a-420-rally-in-denver http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/20/shots-fired-at-a-420-rally-in-denver Christopher Frizzelle <p>Jesus Christ. <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23070899/shots-fired-denvers-civic-center-after-pot-rally">Two people were shot in the legs,</a> reports Denver Post.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/20/shots-fired-at-a-420-rally-in-denver#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16546683&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/20/shots-fired-at-a-420-rally-in-denver?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16546683&id=comments 51 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:57:22 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/19/boston-surely-hates-gun-control-now http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/19/boston-surely-hates-gun-control-now Unpaid Intern <p><em>Posted by news intern Ben Steiner</em></p> <p><strong>Nate Bell</strong>, a Republican state representative from Arkansas, tweeted this insightful message this morning:<div style="text-align:center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I wonder how many Boston liberals spent the night cowering in their homes wishing they had an AR-15 with a hi-capacity magazine? <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%232A">#2A</a><br />&#8212; Nate Bell (@NateBell4AR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NateBell4AR/status/325238796079747072">April 19, 2013</a></blockquote><br /><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He later apologized on his Facebook page. Not for saying that Bostonians were "cowering" after the attack, not for using the terrorist attack as a launchpad for his political agenda, not even for his statement's utter irrelevance. But <a href="http://www.facebook.com/NateBell4Arkansas/posts/10151563834772859">for this</a>:<br /><blockquote>I would like to apologize to the people of Boston &amp; Massachusetts for the <strong>poor timing</strong> of my tweet earlier this morning. As a staunch and unwavering supporter of the individual right to self defense, I expressed my point of view without thinking of its effect on those still in time of crisis. In hindsight, given the ongoing tragedy that is still unfolding, I regret the poor choice of timing. Please know that my thoughts and prayers were with the people of Boston overnight and will continue as they recover from this tragedy.</blockquote>Stay classy, Nate!</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/19/boston-surely-hates-gun-control-now#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16535915&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Guns http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/19/boston-surely-hates-gun-control-now?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16535915&id=comments 41 Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:29:59 -0700 The Stranger