Robert Reich on the Progressive Movements of 2014

Kids and Guns

.@NRA Child of "open carrier" below. I was raised in gun-owning family. This would be anathema to us. #MomsDemand pic.twitter.com/uCYY3Y8rLJ

— Cornelia (@PaladinCornelia) December 29, 2014

Henry Rollins on the Bad Guys Winning the Day

Henry Rollins

LA Weekly

Of all the things that transpired last year, I want to take on the Sandy Hook shooting incident. The actual event is too awful for words but some of the conclusions that were drawn were damn dismal and I think we can do much, much better.

The NRA is comprised of an extremely small fraction of gun owners in America. Some of the more ridiculous statements of the organization's colorful CEO, Wayne LaPierre, might well represent only a fraction of its members' points of view. Where the NRA realizes its power is with the politicians they have bought and paid for.

Personally, I don't believe Mr. LaPierre is all that concerned with my right to bear arms as much as he is interested in protecting my access to purchasing guns and bullets. It's a huge industry and anything that is seen as remotely detrimental to sales has the man vigilantly patrolling the perimeter of his bottom line. The more outrageous things he says, the better it is for business. Anything less -- like rationality, for instance -- would at this point be seen as "soft" by the people who feather his nest. It's not that hard to get your head around.

What is hard to digest is that throughout all of the twists and turns this conversation has taken, it seems to be that the "bad guys" have won the day. Instead of the higher, harder, more morally upright discussion of gun control and mental health issues, many have defaulted to the knee-jerk conclusion that we need a lot more guns. Seeing it this way, we must conclude that the minority has won out over the vast majority and we must arm ourselves against our fellow Americans who would seek to do us harm. We must conclude that we are not really all that free and that we failed as a society.

More guns equaling more safety is a slippery slope, and what makes it so is human blood. Great for weapons manufacturers. Not so great for citizens who potentially find themselves in a crossfire zone with little sanctuary.

Repeal the 2nd Amendment

Wisconsin Gazette opinion

What country fetishizes, lionizes, valorizes, idolizes, and sacralizes guns as much as does our United States? OK, possibly Mozambique — the only country with an AK47 on its flag, but really, it's long past time to end this obsessive "My Precious" attachment of Americans to instruments of death.


The only logical path, given the clearly decided role of the Second Amendment, is to repeal it. American people are tired of mass shootings and police shootings and family feud shootings and sibling shootings and accidental toddler shootings and teen suicide by gun (highly popular).We are exhausted by the proliferation of death, of threats, of bloodshed, and by the NRA/gun industry moral garbage spewing forth every time someone challenges the ubiquity of guns. 

Repeal the Stupid Second Amendment. Surround it, grab it, bring it in the back room, pull down the shades, and end it. OK, petition for it, get it on the ballot, and get it done by enough of the US populace, by enough people in enough states, to get it consigned to the dustbin of history.

The "Dumbest State in the Country" Wants to Add 2nd Amendment Studies to the School Curriculum

Local news

Kids already have English,science, and history class, but South Carolina lawmakers want to add one more.

A right to bear arms, a right some South Carolina law makers don't want students to forget.

"People say that's the amendment that helps keep all others," said owner of Aiken Gun Rack Range, Chuck Scott.

A bill hitting the house floor at the first of the year, could make your kids a lot more gun savvy. The bill would designate December 15th second amendment awareness day.

"I think a second amendment day is a great thing. It's very cool," said Scott.

It's not just one day devoted to gun rights, but three weeks. The NRA will develop the curriculum.

"Kids need to know what it's about and why it's so important and that's what sets us apart from other countries," said Scott.

Mad Mike's America

1^st dumbest state is South Carolina: Well now, this is also no surprise. This state is known for having some really stupid laws on the books: a person must be 18 to play a pinball machine; horses must not be kept in bath tubs; a permit must be obtained to fire a missile; it is a capital offense to inadvertently kill someone while attempting suicide; and in case you need to know, it is illegal to give or receive oral sex in South Carolina. The point is, if the people were not so dumb, the laws would not have to be written!

Erie Pennsylvania Removes its Prohibition of Guns in Parks

Local news

A state appeals court a year ago struck down an Erie ordinance that banned guns in city parks.

The law, which had been in effect since at least 1976, is now off the books altogether.

In response to a new state law, City Council unanimously deleted the part of the ordinance that prohibited carrying and possessing handguns in parks.

The city joined a number of municipalities statewide that have repealed similar ordinances in light of Act 192, which Gov. Tom Corbett signed in November and which is effective Jan. 5.

Kentucky Man Injured in Gun Accident - No Charges Expected

Local news reports

Police responded to a call of shots fired near the Bass Pro Shop. When they arrived on scene, they found an individual with a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Police said the victim brought his gun to trade it with another person, the two met in the Bass Pro parking lot. He reportedly said he thought the gun was unloaded, and went to set the gun down when it discharged and shot him in the stomach at the far end of the parking lot of the store.

He was transported to University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries as a precaution. He is expected to recover.