Blog Status

For the time being the blog will be closed. What happened is I went back to work after being retired for four years and have found it a bit overwhelming. I suppose I might adjust and get back in the saddle, but I'm not sure.  One reason I hesitate is that I've enjoyed the break too much.

I would like to thank all who've participated.  Even my most antagonistic commenters have earned a warm place in my heart, believe it or not.

For now, I wish you all the best.

Mike

Carnage and Cravenness: Gun Violence In America

Link

"These tragedies occur because, despite the wishes of the vast majority, our efforts to control the flow of weapons are among the most feeble in the world. So there is something else which must be said, out of respect to Carlos Miller and the countless others who have died for no good reason."

Safety

David Bowie - I'm Afraid of Americans

Meet the Dooley Family

Local news link

Genius Gun Owners

U.S. Shootings Since 1963 Have Killed More Americans Than All Wars Ever

Huffington Post

Here's what PolitiFact discovered:

• From the Revolutionary War through December 2014, 1.2 million Americans have died in military conflicts, according to the Congressional Research Service.
• A 2012 report by a Binghamton University historian estimated a 20 percent higher death toll from the Civil War, which would push total deaths in military conflicts to 1.4 million.
• By contrast, domestic gun deaths from 1968 to 2014 add up to nearly 1.5 million. 
• Some 63 percent of those gun deaths were suicides, and 33 percent were homicides. 
• PolitiFact could not find data for gun deaths before 1968. Add in the missing years, and the total number of firearm fatalities since JFK's death would surely be higher than 1.5 million.