NRA Hostages: Americans Now Fear Guns More Than Terrorism
As much as our frenemies on the Right would like us to believe that “Islamic terrorism” is the main threat to our nation, a majority of Americans recognize that the true threat is gun violence at the hands of their own countrymen. Between 2001 and 2013, 403,496 people died by firearms on United States soil. When compared to the 350 U.S. citizens killed overseas at the hands of terrorists and the 3,030 killed in domestic acts of terrorism (a total of 3,380) during the same period, it is clear what the problem is.
The NRA and its acolytes live in a fantasy world where everyone with a gun magically becomes a superhero when danger threatens, but most of the time they end up dead or shoot the victim in the head and allow the “bad guy” to escape, et cetera, et cetera. Most of the country, it turns out, questions exactly how “good” the “good guys with guns” and “responsible gun owners” of America are.
According to a McClatchy-Marist poll released Tuesday, the majority of Americans — 63 percent, to be exact — said that they more fear that they or someone they know will fall victim to gun violence. By comparison, only 29 percent said they worry more about terrorist attacks. Democrats overwhelmingly say they fear guns over terrorism by 77 to 15 percent, and Independents by 64 to 28 percent, but Republicans and Tea Partiers (in other words, the people who think Breitbart is a legitimate source of news), fear terrorism more than gun violence — unsurprising, given the extreme focus by right-wing media and politicians on what Trump supporters would call the “Muslim problem” and the NRA’s stranglehold on the conservative population.
However, when one considers the anti-Islam and pro-gun propaganda on the Right, the numbers are surprising, even among the Tea Party. Republicans view terrorism as a larger threat by 55-45 percent, while the Tea Party expresses a slightly higher fear of terrorism at 57 to 37 percent.
Recently, President Obama called for tougher laws to help curb gun violence — an issue that is of some import to both parties — something that the Right nigh-universally decried. Unfortunately, the first step to solving the issue of gun violence is changing the culture that permeates many facets of our society.
Overall, voters are expected to care more about domestic issues over foreign policy matters like ISIS and terrorism in 2016, the poll reveals, with 69 percent favoring domestic issues. Democrats want to focus on income inequality, followed by jobs and economic growth. Republicans care about the federal deficit followed by economic growth and jobs. Ultimately, Republicans are going to need to drop the fear-mongering about terrorism (and Muslims in general) and begin, like Democrats, to focus on issues that are important to most Americans if they want to have any hope of putting Trump or Carson in the White House — but we all know that they won’t give up their Benghazi, Clinton email, and Planned Parenthood scandals long enough to even think about doing something to make America a more prosperous nation. http://www.occupydemocrats.com/nra-hostages-americans-now-fear-guns-more-than-terrorism/
Online Threats Heighten Tensions at University of Missouri
By summer ballentine, associated press
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Nov 11, 2015, 4:01 AM ET
A woman passes a tent encampment set up by student protesters following an announcement that University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe is resigning Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, at the university in Columbia, Mo. Wolfe resigned Monday with the football team and others on campus in open revolt over his handling of racial tensions at the school. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
The University of Missouri said it is has increased security and is investigating online threats, an announcement that again heightened tensions on the campus after days of turmoil.
A post Tuesday night on the college's website said campus police were "aware of social media threats" and were investigating. The university's statement didn't offer further detail, but it came after at least two users posted threats on the anonymous location-based messaging app Yik Yak.
One user threatened to "shoot every black person I see."
Another said: "Some of you are alright. Don't go to campus tomorrow." The message seemed to echo one that appeared on the website 4chan — a forum where racist and misogynistic comments are frequent — ahead of the deadly campus shooting at an Oregon community college last month.
The posts were widely disseminated across the Internet and local media.
Campus police Capt. Brian Weimer told The Associated Press additional officers were already on campus before the university learned of the threats. University police were working with other state and local agencies to ensure the campus was secure, he said.
A university spokesman couldn't immediately be reached for further comment, but the school's online emergency information center tweeted, "There is no immediate threat to campus," and asked that student not spread rumors.
The development was the latest in a tumultuous week for the flagship campus of the University of Missouri system.
The student government president's accounts of having racial slurs shouted at him from a passing pickup truck helped spark a weekslong protest movement. A graduate student's hunger strike then led to a two-day walkout by more than 30 members of the Missouri football team. Those developments came to a head Monday with the resignation of university system President Tim Wolfe, who had become the target of many of the protests. Hours later, the top administrator of the Columbia campus, Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin, was forced out.
A plaza that had been the site of a sit-in by protesters was entirely empty Tuesday night and only a handful of students were seen walking around campus. Police officers from the campus department and city of Columbia were on patrol.
David Wallace, a spokesman for the student government group Missouri Students Association, said the group asked university officials to cancel classes Wednesday in light of the threats.
Gaby Rodriguez, a senior, said she was at work when she heard about the threats.
"It's really disheartening and proves the point of why these protests and boycotts were necessary," Rodriguez said. "I don't think I've ever felt this unsafe at Mizzou," she said, referring to the college by its nickname.
Some students, faculty and alumni have said the protests and top leaders' resignations are the culmination of years of racial tension.
Among other recent events, members of the Legions of Black Collegians, whose founders include a recently retired deputy chancellor, said slurs were hurled at them by an apparently drunken white student while practicing for a homecoming performance.
The university has promised changes.
Chuck Henson, a black law professor and associate dean, was been appointed Tuesday he university's first-ever interim vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity.
The university system's governing body, the Board of Curators, also announced a number of other initiatives, including more support for the hiring and retention of diverse faculty and staff and a full review of all policies related to staff and student conduct.
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