Sunday, December 23, 2012

Fom the New York Times Today

News

After the 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech, part of Norris Hall on the campus was transformed into a peace center.

Varied Paths Toward Healing for Sites of Terrorized Schools

By WINNIE HU
Officials in Newtown, Conn., are not ready to think about the future of Sandy Hook Elementary, but some lessons may come from what has happened to other terror scenes.
AnnMarie Willis and her husband, Bob, have decided to rebuild in Breezy Point, Queens.

On Ravaged Coastline, It's Rebuild Deliberately vs. Rebuild Now

By DAVID M. HALBFINGER, CHARLES V. BAGLI and SARAH MASLIN NIR
While officials debate whether storm-battered communities should be rebuilt and to what standards, some homeowners are forging ahead.
Carlton Franklin in 1979.

Man, 52, Is Convicted as a Juvenile in a 1976 Murder, Creating a Legal Tangle

By KATE ZERNIKE
Carlton Franklin was tried this year for a murder committed when he was 15, and even the lawyers in the case are unsure of how he will be sentenced.
Linda Kahler with customers at Kahler's Gun Shop in Helfenstein, Pa., where the business has been crowded the past few days.

Shop Owners Report Rise in Firearm Sales as Buyers Fear Possible New Laws

By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD
With gun-control legislation getting more serious discussion after the mass shooting in Connecticut, some dealers report they've run out of some models as consumers stock up on weapons and ammunition.
 

Sports

The Giants' offense would receive a huge lift if Ahmad Bradshaw, 44, the team's leading rusher with 196 carries for 869 yards, could return after missing a week with a sprained knee.

Giants Offensive Line Hopes to Be Intact for Ravens, Despite Injuries

By TOM PEDULLA
Along with running back Ahmad Bradshaw, guard Chris Snee and center David Baas are banged up heading into a game critical to the postseason chances of the reigning N.F.L. champions.
Trevor Pryce with Rex Ryan as the Jets ended the 2010-11 regular season at 11-5.
The Fifth Down

Nice-Guy Ryan Gets in the Way of Coach Ryan

By TREVOR PRYCE
Rex Ryan is a brilliant strategist and can be loyal to the point of defiance, but sometimes his propensity to be caring can impede his ability to act in the greater good of the Jets.
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Saturday, December 22, 2012

https://sites.google.com/site/firearmsseized

State of California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General Kamala D. Harris
News Release
December 18, 2012
For Immediate Release
(415) 703-5837

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Announces More Than 2,000 Firearms Seized from Prohibited Persons in 2012

SACRAMENTO -- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced 2,000 firearms were seized from individuals legally barred from possessing them, including persons determined to be mentally unstable and those with active restraining orders.
“California has clear laws determining who can possess firearms based on their threat to public safety,” said Attorney General Harris. “Enforcing those laws is crucial because we have seen the terrible tragedies that occur when guns are in the wrong hands. This program is an important part of our law enforcement work and I thank all of the agents who work so hard every day to keep our communities safe.”
In 2012, 33 Department of Justice agents used the Armed Prohibited Persons System (APPS) database to identify individuals prohibited from owning guns, including convicted felons, individuals with active restraining orders, and those determined to be mentally unstable. In total, DOJ agents seized 2,033 firearms, 117,000 rounds of ammunition, and 11,072 illegal high capacity magazines. These numbers include seizures conducted from January 1 to November 30, 2012.
The majority of firearms were seized during two 6-week sweeps. The first statewide sweep targeted individuals prohibited because of mental health issues and the second focused on people with legally registered assault weapons who were later prohibited from owning them.
In 2011, Attorney General Harris sponsored legislation to increase funding for the Department of Justice’s APPS program through the use of existing regulatory fees collected by gun dealers. Senate Bill 819 passed in June 2011 and became law on January 1, 2012.
The APPS database cross-references five databases to find people who legally purchased handguns and registered assault weapons since 1996 with people who are prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. The database was completed in November 2006, and the first statewide sweep was conducted in 2007.
Since Attorney General Harris took office, there have been three statewide APPS sweeps. The Department of Justice leads these efforts with the support of local law enforcement agencies.
California is the first and only state in the nation to establish an automated system for tracking handgun and assault weapon owners who might fall into a prohibited status.
Photos of weapons seized during this past year’s APPS sweeps are attached to the electronic version of this release at: http://oag.ca.gov/news

Thursday, December 20, 2012

COMMENTARY ON CT SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENTS

Home

THE HEAVENS MOURN THE SENSELESS SLAUGHTER IN CT. SPEAK OUT WITH SENATOR MENENDEZ TO END THIS TYPE OF HORRIFIC ACTIONS. BE HEARD NOW!!!!!
 
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The senseless, horrific tragedy that took place in Newtown, Connecticut last Friday has shaken us all to our cores. We ask ourselves, why? Today, I spoke on the Senate floor to join with every American in expressing our deep and abiding grief as a nation and our deepest -- most heartfelt -- condolences to the families of the victims.
As the father of two, this strikes painfully close to my heart, painfully close to the heart of every parent. There is no greater sorrow -- no deeper pain -- than the enormous grief that these families are suffering: 20 innocent children, 6 teachers and school employees and their families. No parent should ever have to bear the unspeakable pain of losing a child, especially to this type of tragedy.
Enough is enough.
We must ensure the Newtown tragedy marks a turning point when we are all willing to come together and do what’s right. As we pray for the victims, I believe we must commit ourselves -- as a nation -- to a long-overdue debate about gun violence and how we help those who suffer mental illnesses in our society.
We must finally pass common sense gun laws. No more politics. No more excuses.
Sincerely,

Robert Menendez
United States Senator

Please do not reply to this e-mail as this address is not monitored. To contact my office, please use the contact form found on my website at http://menendez.senate.gov/contact.


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