[Go for the low hanging fruit]on gun control. UBC, safe storage requirements and accountability to the owner for misuse of guns. Most of this is in place and widely supported. Note, the second someone says AWB or magazine limits or for a start, the proposal is DOA. The first two have debatable benefit but much less support and the last reveals that there is a icy slope just ahead.

Gun use is a valid early target. MADD has shown the way to success. Have a focused, teen & YA targeted ad campaign to change the attitude that guns make you tough and solve problems. That demographic thinks of immediate gratification and needs to be repeatedly reminded that actions have consequences.

Another educational/ad campaign targeted at a step younger audience teaching that violence is the worst solution to conflicts. Equality is a better route to empowerment than domination.

Invest money into youth programs and community activities. These have shown past successes in bringing groups together to compete and bond in athletics rather that posture and fight out of boredom.

Last, most expensive and most difficult is investiture in the social safety net. We need to limit how far people can fall to a level higher than despair. When people pass that level those who would prefer to be law abiding will turn to crime.

To bring it home, Democratic losses at the top, gun control level, where they have the least effect cascade down, preventing success at promoting the lower level polices. It is the base policies where we will have the greatest success at the reduction of violence and helping the most people.

These are just sample ideas. I'm sure more savvy people can come up with far better than my simple brainstorm.

By Charly Haley
Forum News Service
POSTED: 08/16/2014 12:01:00 AM CDT | UPDATED: 2 DAYS AGO

WARROAD, Minn. -- A national organization is threatening to sue the Warroad school district over its use of an American Indian mascot, the Warriors.

The National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media sent a letter to Warroad Public Schools on Thursday, asking the district to begin transitioning away from using the Warriors logo, which is an American Indian head.

If the school district doesn't contact the coalition and start that process in 30 days, the coalition may pursue legal action, according to the letter, which cites the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 as making the logo discriminatory and illegal.

***

Warroad, which is in northwest Minnesota near the Canadian border, has a significant Ojibwe population, many of whom do not agree with the coalition's attempt at getting rid of the Warrior logo, said Henry Boucha, a former NHL player and U.S. Olympian who is an Ojibwe from Warroad.

FERGUSON, Mo. — Gov. Jay Nixon announced early Monday that he would deploy the Missouri National Guard to this St. Louis suburb, ratcheting up efforts to quell unrest that has paralyzed the city since an unarmed black teenager was killed by a white police officer.

Mr. Nixon said in a statement that he chose to activate the National Guard because of “deliberate, coordinated and intensifying violent acts.”

“Tonight, a day of hope, prayers and peaceful protests was marred by the violent criminal acts of an organized and growing number of individuals, many from outside the community and state, whose actions are putting the residents and businesses of Ferguson at risk,” Mr. Nixon said.

The governor’s decision came after the worst night of violence since the unrest began.

Gun group snubbed at signing of law it helped to pass

BOSTON -- A gun owners group that worked alongside gun control advocates to pass gun violence prevention legislation expressed anger Wednesday over not being invited to the bill-signing.

Gov. Deval Patrick said he hadn’t noticed representatives from the Gun Owners Action League of Massachusetts were not at the ceremony, but he said he was upset to learn they were not invited.

“Somebody somewhere dropped the ball,” he said. “And I know that the team has issued an apology, and I apologize. They were part of getting a good bill.”

Such ceremonies are often an opportunity for bill supporters with different interests to come together in a show of unity around a particular matter.

(CNN) -- Sometimes the hardest thing is to say "no" to a friend. All the more reason to applaud the bravery of Lee Saunders and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

A few months ago, the United Negro College Fund accepted a $25 million grant from Charles and David Koch to support scholarships for minority students. It raised more than a few eyebrows. After all, everyone -- including me -- reveres the college fund. Its contribution to the cause of equal opportunity is legendary.

But few people still alive have done more to promote policies that hurt African-Americans than the Koch brothers.

The Koch brothers are one of the most prominent funders of organizations that work to restrict early voting and registration and effectively disenfranchise African-Americans. They oppose the minimum wage, which would disproportionately help black workers. They are spending millions to lie to the public about climate disruption, which hurts the most vulnerable communities first.

Boy fatally stabbed by 12-year-old at playground
Associated Press
3 hours ago



KENTWOOD, Mich. (AP) — A 9-year-old boy who was repeatedly stabbed by a 12-year-old boy at a playground in western Michigan has died, police said Tuesday.

Michael Conner Verkerke ran home and collapsed on the porch around 6 p.m. Monday after he was stabbed at a mobile home park in Kentwood, near Grand Rapids, according to police. He died after being rushed to a hospital.

Witnesses told investigators that four children were playing when one of them pulled a knife and stabbed the boy. The motive in the attack was still being investigated, said Kentwood Police Chief Thomas Killen.

Police said the older boy left the playground after the stabbing and called police from a nearby home to turn himself in.