Notations From the Grid: On the Aftermath of #UCCShooting in Oregon

Chris Mintz

This morning, leaders gathered at the site of the carnage yesterday to remember the fallen and to underscore the need to heel.  Congressman Peter DeFazio was ever so eloquent in underscoring that there will be time to discuss solutions although the debate has begun already.

Our team was in full agreement as we worked on the Daily Social Media Curation and the editorial plan with this from the Daily Beast' Michael Daly  as he paid tribute to Chris Mintz who with his heroic action saved countless lives: 

FORGET OREGON’S GUNMAN. REMEMBER A HERO BY MICHAEL DALY

No amount of murder seems likely to result in gun control any time soon. So let’s do what we can to stop the lunacy—by reserving the limelight for the vet who rushed Thursday’s shooter. In line with the President's Call to Action, one of the multitude of Media Outlets who worked on publishing the statistics on the number of the fallen due to Gun Violence was done by The Nooner in Sacramento which we hereby note here for reference--The commentary is in and of itself telling as he is ever so evident of the hundreds of thousands of responsible Gun Owners: In the last ten years, 313 people have been killed by terrorists in the U.S. Meanwhile, 316,545 have been killed by gun violence in the United States, and unfortunately far more often in schools. As I have stated, I grew up around guns, love spending time with my dad and family members on our family ranch in Texas with responsible gun use and hunting. While there are plentiful deer on the ranch, we use a very responsible wildlife preservation program. And, now with great Longhorns on the ranch, it's just a wildlife Mecca. Before you think of this a glamarous place, it is very rustic! Of course, the wild hogs are a different story since they have 10-15 piglets per year! Feel free to take as many you like! (Sorry Jennifer Fearing.) We were taught early on about very safe gun use. I have no problem with hunting shotguns and rifles. But, 9 deaths and 7 injuries at a community college in my home state of Oregon is just horrifying. #BROKENHEARTED Fourteen guns "legally purchased" have been recovered at both the school and the shooter's residence. WTF? "Are you Christian? Okay, you're going to die--shot to the head." (Fortunately, I am Buddhist.) Folks, we have to address this. Our team could not agree with him more:  We have to and "MUST" address this.     Jeb Bush, though, noted that, "Stuff Happens" as others also weighed in which was just reported out by +The Guardian within the past hour as we went to press here.   (Update: President Obama was asked about it at his news conference that is still going on as we went to press.   He said he had no reaction and would leave it up to the voters.     This depiction on the Guardian was also quite telling as the horrific tragedy in Syria continues with no end in sight:

Notations On Our World: On The #UCCShooting in Oregon

It has been a tragic day in Oregon.    As we have gone to press, the local Sherrif held a conference with a brief note before he headed out to a candlelight vigil with the President of the Local College--the 45th Shooting this year.

We here @ #Outsiders join all in extending our condoloscnes to the Community of Douglas County and are with the Sheriff in noting that the name of the shooter must never be mentioned although some media have mentioned the name.   Although we have seen reports that the same Sheriff wrote a letter to Vice President Biden stating that Federal Gun Safety regulations will not be enforced by his deputies due to their own obligations.     It is ironic as this happened in his own community.

The story continued to develop in a major way throughout the day as the Governor of Oregon spoke earlier on this tragedy: 





The President's statement was simply powerful: 

THE WHITE HOUSE

The President just delivered a statement on today's shooting in Oregon. And one thing he said is certainly ringing in the minds of Americans across the country right now, no matter their politics: "We are the only advanced country in the world that sees these shootings every few months." As the details surrounding today's tragedy continue to unfold, this is something every American should watch. Watch now.

Bill O"Reilly of Fox News took exception with the President's Statement by noting the current spike in Violence in Chicago and interestingly how gun violence is "framed' as the price of Freedom--and as the aftereffects of the Supreme Court's Heller decision becomes even more evident.    Prayers are fine--but prayers will not bring all who have fallen back.     There are 30,000 who lose their lives every year--with 10,000 a year just in homicides.   The idea of having a "license" for a gun should not be a big deal.

The team @Vox worked on putting together 17 telling charts that a clearly visible Vox Editor in Chief, @Ezra Klein, underscored on his own Facebook page--here is one of them:

America has 4.4 percent of the world's population, but almost half of the civilian-owned guns around the world

Image credit: Javier Zarracina/Vox

 Charles P. Pierce of Esquire was even more blunt during an appearance on +The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell  when he noted that one of the parties in the United States is simply run by "Crazies" as it blocks infrastructure investment and blocks mine safety all in the name of "Freedom". 

Will the courage actually exist to transform this as Mrs. Clinton shared her thoughts as well:    
  

Notations From the Grid: On the Virtual Road @ #UNGA70

It has been a rather busy 24 hours as the United Nations General Assembly continues.  Yesterday saw the raising of the flag of the State of Palestine.    Mahmoud Abbas spoke and noted that he did find himself bound by the Oslo Accords.

Today was also a day that the Israeli Prime Minister spoke.    He spent the majority of his speech blasting the Iran Deal.     The analysis from +Haaretz הארץ is noted below:

Netanyahu's UN moment of Silence is the ultimate expression of his policy, @BarakRavid says http://t.co/8QF03ek0En pic.twitter.com/NhMS8lL4Yk

— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) October 2, 2015

This from the Electronic Intifada was even more blunt:

Video remixes of Netanyahu's long, awkward UN stare-down of world leaders.
Posted by The Electronic Intifada on Thursday, October 1, 2015