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May 20, 2022
How this case could affect gun laws across the nation: The Supreme Court hasn’t weighed in recently on whether the Second Amendment protects carrying guns outside the home. In 2008’s District of Columbia v. Heller, the court said the Second Amendment protects the right to own a gun for self-defense in the home, and in McDonald v. Chicago in 2010, it made clear that state and local gun control measures (and not just federal ones) also must respect that right.
If they rule that New York’s restrictions on carrying a gun in public are unconstitutional, then “across the country, there will be lots of laws that will be invalidated right away,” said Jerold Levine, a New York City lawyer who focuses on gun cases and supports the challenge to this law.
He said it’s likely the court will still allow states and municipalities to deny people licenses to carry guns — “there’s no need to worry that murderers will be getting licenses,” he said — but people won’t have to provide a justification for their application.
Levine called this potential change the “holy grail” of gun rights: “This has been the greatest limitation for gun owners now for over 100 years.”
(Excerpt)
How the Supreme Court could soon drastically expand the right to carry guns
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/how-the-supreme-court-could-soon-drastically-expand-the-right-to-carry-guns/ar-AAXtSfp?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=77477cec864d4a4295fd441a5cefe698How this case could affect gun laws across the nation: The Supreme Court hasn’t weighed in recently on whether the Second Amendment protects carrying guns outside the home. In 2008’s District of Columbia v. Heller, the court said the Second Amendment protects the right to own a gun for self-defense in the home, and in McDonald v. Chicago in 2010, it made clear that state and local gun control measures (and not just federal ones) also must respect that right.
If they rule that New York’s restrictions on carrying a gun in public are unconstitutional, then “across the country, there will be lots of laws that will be invalidated right away,” said Jerold Levine, a New York City lawyer who focuses on gun cases and supports the challenge to this law.
He said it’s likely the court will still allow states and municipalities to deny people licenses to carry guns — “there’s no need to worry that murderers will be getting licenses,” he said — but people won’t have to provide a justification for their application.
Levine called this potential change the “holy grail” of gun rights: “This has been the greatest limitation for gun owners now for over 100 years.”
(Excerpt)
May 18, 2022
WASHINGTON — The United States is in the middle of a great gun-buying boom that shows no sign of letting up as the annual number of firearms manufactured has nearly tripled since 2000 and spiked sharply in the past three years, according to the first comprehensive federal tally of gun commerce in two decades.
The report, released by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on Tuesday — three days after a mass shooting in Buffalo left 10 dead — painted a vivid statistical portrait of a nation arming itself to the teeth. Buyers capitalized on the loosening of gun restrictions by the Supreme Court, Congress and Republican-controlled state legislatures.
The data documented a drastic shift in consumer demand among gun owners that has had profound commercial, cultural and political implications: Starting in 2009, Glock-type semiautomatic handguns, purchased for personal protection, began to outsell rifles, which have been typically used in hunting.
Embedded in the 306-page document was another statistic that law enforcement officials find especially troubling. The police recovered 19,344 privately manufactured firearms, untraceable homemade weapons known as “ghost guns,” in 2021, a tenfold increase since 2016. Law enforcement officials say that has contributed to the surge in gun-related killings, especially in California, where ghost guns make up as many as half of weapons recovered at crime scenes.
(Excerpt)
U.S. Gun Production Triples Since 2000, Fueled by Handgun Purchases
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/17/us/politics/gun-manufacturing-atf.htmlWASHINGTON — The United States is in the middle of a great gun-buying boom that shows no sign of letting up as the annual number of firearms manufactured has nearly tripled since 2000 and spiked sharply in the past three years, according to the first comprehensive federal tally of gun commerce in two decades.
The report, released by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on Tuesday — three days after a mass shooting in Buffalo left 10 dead — painted a vivid statistical portrait of a nation arming itself to the teeth. Buyers capitalized on the loosening of gun restrictions by the Supreme Court, Congress and Republican-controlled state legislatures.
The data documented a drastic shift in consumer demand among gun owners that has had profound commercial, cultural and political implications: Starting in 2009, Glock-type semiautomatic handguns, purchased for personal protection, began to outsell rifles, which have been typically used in hunting.
Embedded in the 306-page document was another statistic that law enforcement officials find especially troubling. The police recovered 19,344 privately manufactured firearms, untraceable homemade weapons known as “ghost guns,” in 2021, a tenfold increase since 2016. Law enforcement officials say that has contributed to the surge in gun-related killings, especially in California, where ghost guns make up as many as half of weapons recovered at crime scenes.
(Excerpt)
May 18, 2022
The defamation trial between actors and former spouses Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has quickly amassed more online attention than some of the country'sy biggest and most pressing news stories, including the leaked Supreme Court decision and Russia's war in Ukraine.
Why it matters: While political America hangs on an impending Supreme Court verdict on abortion, many more eyeballs are focused on developments in the Depp-Heard trial.
Driving the news: News articles about the trial, which began April 12, have generated more total social media interactions (likes, comments, shares) than coverage about abortion and the Supreme Court or inflation, according to exclusive data from NewsWhip.
On a per-article basis, the trial has dwarfed all other major topics in the news (see chart above).
(Excerpt)
Regarding the trial, this is the first I’ve heard of it.
America more interested in Depp-Heard trial than abortion
https://www.axios.com/2022/05/17/amber-heard-johnny-depp-trial-social-mediaThe defamation trial between actors and former spouses Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has quickly amassed more online attention than some of the country'sy biggest and most pressing news stories, including the leaked Supreme Court decision and Russia's war in Ukraine.
Why it matters: While political America hangs on an impending Supreme Court verdict on abortion, many more eyeballs are focused on developments in the Depp-Heard trial.
Driving the news: News articles about the trial, which began April 12, have generated more total social media interactions (likes, comments, shares) than coverage about abortion and the Supreme Court or inflation, according to exclusive data from NewsWhip.
On a per-article basis, the trial has dwarfed all other major topics in the news (see chart above).
(Excerpt)
Regarding the trial, this is the first I’ve heard of it.
May 17, 2022
AUBURN, Ind. (WANE) — An Auburn homeowner shot two suspected armed intruders dead and held two more at gunpoint early Sunday.
It was just before 6 a.m. when four people reportedly broke into a home at 1650 S.R. 8, near the Walmart Distribution Center on Auburn’s far west side.
Indiana State Police said investigators believe the four burglars entered the home with a gun and confronted the homeowner, who produced his own firearm and fired at the suspects.
Two were shot dead by the homeowner and the other two were held at gunpoint until the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Auburn Police Department arrived, according to Indiana State Police.
(Excerpt)
(IN) Homeowner kills 2 intruders, holds 2 more at gunpoint for police
https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/2-dead-2-arrested-after-dekalb-home-burglary/AUBURN, Ind. (WANE) — An Auburn homeowner shot two suspected armed intruders dead and held two more at gunpoint early Sunday.
It was just before 6 a.m. when four people reportedly broke into a home at 1650 S.R. 8, near the Walmart Distribution Center on Auburn’s far west side.
Indiana State Police said investigators believe the four burglars entered the home with a gun and confronted the homeowner, who produced his own firearm and fired at the suspects.
Two were shot dead by the homeowner and the other two were held at gunpoint until the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Auburn Police Department arrived, according to Indiana State Police.
(Excerpt)
May 17, 2022
The suspected Buffalo shooter reportedly saw New York's strict gun laws as an advantage in the recent attack that left 10 people dead.
According to the Buffalo News, law enforcement officials said that they believe an online manifesto was written by the suspected shooter, identified as 18-year-old Payton Gendron. In the manifesto, Gendron allegedly wrote about how he planned to "kill as many Blacks as possible" in the attack and decided to carry it out in New York due to its strict open carry gun laws, which would make it harder for someone to stop him, the Buffalo News reported.
The Giffords Law Center states that New York State residents are prohibited from openly carrying a loaded handgun outside of their homes without a carry license.
"The state also prohibits any person from possessing a 'loaded' short-barreled shotgun or rifle or an assault weapon outside of his or her home or place of business," the Giffords Law Center said. "New York does not issue licenses to carry handguns openly."
(Excerpt)
Buffalo Shooter Saw New York's Gun Laws As His Advantage
https://www.newsweek.com/buffalo-shooter-saw-new-yorks-gun-laws-his-advantage-1706982The suspected Buffalo shooter reportedly saw New York's strict gun laws as an advantage in the recent attack that left 10 people dead.
According to the Buffalo News, law enforcement officials said that they believe an online manifesto was written by the suspected shooter, identified as 18-year-old Payton Gendron. In the manifesto, Gendron allegedly wrote about how he planned to "kill as many Blacks as possible" in the attack and decided to carry it out in New York due to its strict open carry gun laws, which would make it harder for someone to stop him, the Buffalo News reported.
The Giffords Law Center states that New York State residents are prohibited from openly carrying a loaded handgun outside of their homes without a carry license.
"The state also prohibits any person from possessing a 'loaded' short-barreled shotgun or rifle or an assault weapon outside of his or her home or place of business," the Giffords Law Center said. "New York does not issue licenses to carry handguns openly."
(Excerpt)
May 14, 2022
Bloomberg) -- Wanted: Hundreds of people to sit in a plane for 20 hours. Must be willing to pay lots of money. Claustrophobes needn’t apply.
Conceived prior to the Covid crisis, Qantas Airways Ltd.’s plan to operate the world’s longest nonstop commercial flights from southeast Australia to New York and London is being resurrected in a much-changed aviation landscape, with global carriers reeling from the pandemic and people wary about travel.
Qantas, which lost over A$22 billion ($15 billion) in revenue due to virus-related border curbs, is banking on passengers being willing to pay a premium to avoid layovers and get gargantuan journeys over and done with in one go.
But some regular fliers are balking at potentially paying 30% extra for a direct flight compared with a two-leg journey. While fares may differ by the time the flights start, a return nonstop Sydney-New York business class ticket could cost more than A$18,000 -- enough to buy a new compact car -- based on October flights listed on Kayak for the same route with a stop in Los Angeles.
(Excerpt)
No problem in business class, but in economy? Ouch…
Willing to Endure the World's Longest Flight for $12,000? Qantas Is Banking On It
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/willing-to-endure-the-world-s-longest-flight-for-12-000-qantas-is-banking-on-it-1.1765214Bloomberg) -- Wanted: Hundreds of people to sit in a plane for 20 hours. Must be willing to pay lots of money. Claustrophobes needn’t apply.
Conceived prior to the Covid crisis, Qantas Airways Ltd.’s plan to operate the world’s longest nonstop commercial flights from southeast Australia to New York and London is being resurrected in a much-changed aviation landscape, with global carriers reeling from the pandemic and people wary about travel.
Qantas, which lost over A$22 billion ($15 billion) in revenue due to virus-related border curbs, is banking on passengers being willing to pay a premium to avoid layovers and get gargantuan journeys over and done with in one go.
But some regular fliers are balking at potentially paying 30% extra for a direct flight compared with a two-leg journey. While fares may differ by the time the flights start, a return nonstop Sydney-New York business class ticket could cost more than A$18,000 -- enough to buy a new compact car -- based on October flights listed on Kayak for the same route with a stop in Los Angeles.
(Excerpt)
No problem in business class, but in economy? Ouch…
May 4, 2022
Police and protesters clashed in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday night during an abortion rights rally over the Supreme Court's possible overturning of Roe v. Wade.
According to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, police were escorting a group of about 250 demonstrators marching from the federal courthouse to Pershing Square when a segment of the crowd began to throw rocks and bottles at police. Moore said that one officer was injured.
One police vehicle was seen with its window smashed, and a citywide police tactical alert was was briefly declared.
Videos posted to social media showed a chaotic scene as an officer tackled a protester, nearly hitting a fire hydrant, while another officer struck protesters with a baton.
(Excerpt)
Police clash with protesters at abortion rights rally in Los Angeles
https://www.yahoo.com/news/lapd-police-clash-abortion-protest-supreme-court-175537208.htmlPolice and protesters clashed in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday night during an abortion rights rally over the Supreme Court's possible overturning of Roe v. Wade.
According to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, police were escorting a group of about 250 demonstrators marching from the federal courthouse to Pershing Square when a segment of the crowd began to throw rocks and bottles at police. Moore said that one officer was injured.
One police vehicle was seen with its window smashed, and a citywide police tactical alert was was briefly declared.
Videos posted to social media showed a chaotic scene as an officer tackled a protester, nearly hitting a fire hydrant, while another officer struck protesters with a baton.
(Excerpt)
May 3, 2022
Journalist Gabe Fleisher tweeted later that there were two police officers and a crowd of about 50 people on the scene. The officers told him that the barricades were put up “by order of the [Supreme] Court Marshal.”
Fleisher added that a police officer confirmed the barricades were put up on Monday night.
(Excerpt)
Police Swiftly Put Barricades Around Supreme Court
https://www.mediaite.com/news/police-swiftly-put-barricades-around-supreme-court-after-reported-leak-of-draft-opinion-overturning-roe-v-wade/Journalist Gabe Fleisher tweeted later that there were two police officers and a crowd of about 50 people on the scene. The officers told him that the barricades were put up “by order of the [Supreme] Court Marshal.”
Fleisher added that a police officer confirmed the barricades were put up on Monday night.
(Excerpt)
May 2, 2022
WASHINGTON (TND) — An elementary school principal in Washington, D.C. spurred outrage after she sent a letter to parents indicating their pre-K through third graders had been exposed to an “anti-racism” presentation, at which they were also given a “fistbook” to carry on what they had learned.
In a “Letter from the Principal,” Principal Daniellle Singh announced student involvement in an “Anti-Racism Fight Club” presentation. The letter noted each student received a “fistbook” to continue the dialogue introduced during the presentation.
“If a Black person says something mean to a white person, he has no power over him,” reads an excerpt from the “fistbook” handed out to pre-K through third graders. “It’s as if white people walk around with an invisible force field because they hold all of the power in America.”
The “fistbook” also goes into extensive explanations about “white privilege,” and asserts that asking, “Why does everything have to be about race? Can we talk about something else?” is a form of subtle racism.
(excerpt)
Pre-K students given 'Anti-Racism Fight Club' presentation at DC public school
https://katv.com/news/nation-world/pre-k-students-given-anti-racism-fight-club-presentation-at-dc-public-schoolWASHINGTON (TND) — An elementary school principal in Washington, D.C. spurred outrage after she sent a letter to parents indicating their pre-K through third graders had been exposed to an “anti-racism” presentation, at which they were also given a “fistbook” to carry on what they had learned.
In a “Letter from the Principal,” Principal Daniellle Singh announced student involvement in an “Anti-Racism Fight Club” presentation. The letter noted each student received a “fistbook” to continue the dialogue introduced during the presentation.
“If a Black person says something mean to a white person, he has no power over him,” reads an excerpt from the “fistbook” handed out to pre-K through third graders. “It’s as if white people walk around with an invisible force field because they hold all of the power in America.”
The “fistbook” also goes into extensive explanations about “white privilege,” and asserts that asking, “Why does everything have to be about race? Can we talk about something else?” is a form of subtle racism.
(excerpt)
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