‘A human rights crisis’: US accused of failing to protect citizens from gun violence
How about you do Venezuela, Syria, North Korea and China, then come talk to us . . .
American gun violence is “a human rights crisis” and the US government’s refusal to pass gun control laws represents a violation of its citizens’ right to life, according to a new report by Amnesty International.
“The USA is failing to protect individuals and communities most at risk of gun violence, in violation of international human rights law,” Amnesty argues. “The right to live free from violence, discrimination and fear has been superseded by a sense of entitlement to own a practically unlimited array of deadly weapons.”
To address the crisis of gun homicide, suicide and injury that leaves about 38,000 Americans dead and 116,000 wounded each year, Amnesty recommends the US pass a sweeping set of gun control measures, including universal background checks, the requirement of a valid license to buy a gun, no gun purchases for those under 21, a ban on certain military-style weapons and ammunition, and the creation of a digitized national gun registry.
If You Want To Get Into Hunting And Fishing, Start Here, Not With The Washington Post
You don’t say . . .
My father took me on my first hunting trip when I was 11 years old, and our last hunting trip was about six months before he died of cancer. When he passed away, I had to go through all the papers he had collected over the years. In a desk drawer I found an edition of The Washington Post from the 1980s. My dad kept it because there was a big, separate section on hunting.
You heard that right, the WaPo used to publish a stand-alone section in the lead up to the annual hunting season. The paper’s recent ridiculous coverage of the deer culling in one of Washington’s suburbs goes to show how much has changed in those 30 years.
Yet as I’ve argued above, hunting (and fishing) are activities that Americans of all political persuasions should not only support, but pursue. Indeed, to humor the author of the WaPo article cited above, in killing our own meat source, we in a sense can give to the poor. The poor, in this case, are ourselves, who in hunting and fishing are enriched with a deeper appreciation for nature, our heritage, and, of course, the taste of venison.
Jane Fonda to volunteers: Canvass as if your life depends on it
Hanoi Jane hearts gun control . . .
“This is the most important election in my lifetime and that is saying something,” Fonda, 80, told a packed house of Initiative 1639 and I-1631 supporters in the University District.
She was joining U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., perhaps America’s least endangered member of Congress. Jayapal copped 82 percent of the vote in Washington’s August primary, and her Seattle-centered district is one of America’s most progressive.
But Jayapal is putting her clout behind two ballot initiatives: I-1631 would impose a carbon fee on most of the state’s major polluters, and devote much of the revenue toward transitioning Washington to clean energy.
Cannabis dispensary worker uses bong to fight off bandits wielding bear spray
Bong hit! Wonder what would have happened in, say, California if the clerk has used something more ballistic . . .
Security cameras in a cannabis dispensary in Canada have captured the moment a man used a bong to fight off three would-be bandits wielding cans of bear spray.
CCTV footage showed three men with their heads covered enter the premises in Tyendinaga, Ontario, before one of the men sprayed a man and woman working behind the counter.
The staff ducked, before the man emerged clutching a bong that he used to fend off the men.
Del Mar board votes to suspend fairgrounds gun show up to a year
Another brick in the wall . . .
The family-owned company that has operated the gun shows at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for nearly 30 years failed to overcome growing public concern about gun violence nationwide and questions about its owners’ legal troubles.
The board that oversees activities at the state-owned venue voted 8-1 Tuesday to suspend the shows after Dec. 31 until a policy is developed that could include a complete ban on the possession of any firearms or ammunition.
It may be the first agency in the state to take such action, a remarkable turnaround for a hugely popular event that for decades drew little scrutiny from the board. The directors routinely approved its contracts allowing the exhibition and sale of the latest in high-tech weaponry, accessories, clothing and gear.
US gun owners are holding the country hostage – and I fear for my family’s safety
There’s an app for that . . .
Friends and family in the UK often ask me: “What do you hate most about living in America?” My answer is always the same: “Guns”. The horrific epidemic of mass shootings. The ludicrously easy access to firearms. The ridiculous power of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Here in the US, guns are everywhere. Virginia, where I live, is an “open carry” state, which means it is legally permissible to carry a firearm in public. My halal butcher is located right next door to a gun store. My commute to Washington, DC requires driving past the imposing headquarters of the NRA. The Walmart round the corner from my house sells both guns and ammo.
What disturbs me most about living in a country filled with legally acquired firearms, however, is the widespread fear and anxiety; the terrifying realisation that you could be shot and killed at any time, in any place. A cinema. A school. A college. A church. A nightclub. A video games tournament.