US Politics - Trump cancels summit having to do with North Korea

Memento Mori » Fri Apr 25, 2014 11:12 am wrote:

PCCD » Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:50 am wrote:It'll be funny watching right wingers having to back track in their praise of him though.

Rand "My dad sent out newsletters claiming 95% of black men in Washington DC are criminals" Paul was the first one I've seen.

Following the recent Hobby Lobby ruling, a group of religious leaders wrote a letter to President Obama on Tuesday asking to be exempt from a pending executive order that would prohibit federal contractors from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in hiring practices, reported The Atlantic.
“We are asking that an extension of protection for one group not come at the expense of faith communities whose religious identity and beliefs motivate them to serve those in need,” the letter says, according to The Atlantic.

Danger sign: The Supreme Court has already expanded Hobby Lobby decision

The Becket Fund, the religious law firm that represented Hobby Lobby in its legal case, lists 49 pending federal cases in which for-profit companies have brought purportedly religious objections to the ACA. An additional 51 cases involve nonprofit organizations. The floodgates aren't about to open--they're already open. 
 
[...]
 
For example, the Korte family, which owns an Illinois construction company, refuses to pay for or support not only "contraceptives, sterilization, abortion, (or) abortion-inducing drugs," but "related education and counseling." (Emphasis added.) In other words, if a woman asks her doctor for advice on reproductive options, the consultation may not be covered. 
 
In a case involving the Gilardi family, owners of an Ohio produce firm, Judge Janice Rogers Brown of the Washington, D.C., circuit appeals court wrote in a 2-1 decision overturning the mandate that "this case is not about the sincerity of the Gilardis’ religious beliefs, nor does it concern the theology behind Catholic precepts on contraception. The former is unchallenged, while the latter is unchallengeable."
 
But why should that be? If the only requisite for an exemption from this important mandate is a religious claim, why should it not be subject to challenge? Otherwise, how do we limit the exemption only to those with genuinely religious scruples?

[...]

Allowing exemptions to a federal law based on "unchallenged" and "unchallengeable" claims of subjective belief is the antithesis of secular law. That may be why religious exemptions have been handed out very carefully, until now.

The minimal rule should be, if you want one, prove you deserve it. In the past, courts have been loath to conduct such inquiries, because they can lead down a bottomless, subjective rabbit hole. But the Supreme Court has now turned claims of subjective belief into an enormous loophole. Somewhere, a court may try to narrow that loophole so not just anyone can fit through it. That's bad for the law, and it may be bad for religion, too.

[iup=3499130]Winckle[/iup] wrote:I think shows what a dumb idea not having socialised universal healthcare is.

Channel 4 wrote:'Guns in bars' law comes into force in Georgia

From Tuesday, Georgian gun owners can take their firearms into public places including bars. But in a country where more children die from gun deaths than cancer, the new law is proving controversial.

Having a shot in a bar might take on a whole new meaning on Wednesday, after a change to gun laws come into effect in the American state of Georgia, writes Washington intern Anja Popp.

The Safe Carry Protection Act, commonly referred to as the "guns everywhere" bill, means Georgians with a license can now carry firearms into bars, libraries, schools, churches, government buildings and unsecured areas of airports.

For a country where it is estimated gun fatalities amounted to almost 33,000 last year, many are shocked that some laws are going in favour of more relaxed gun control.

Reverend Raphael Warnock from Ebenezer Baptist Church in Georgia is one of them. "When I say pass the peace, I don't mean pass the piece". He also points out that Georgia's gun laws were already very loose: "the answer to America's gun violence isn't to encourage masses of people to carry guns".

The bill, which was passed in March, was altered so both schools and churches have to opt-in rather than out of the law. The onus on keeping guns out of bars however, is left to individual bar owners to state "no guns" or to remove those carrying a weapon.

Under the new law, local governments cannot block guns from unrestricted areas of airports or government buildings, including libraries.

Many will be familiar with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport for passenger traffic. As it is in Georgia, from today guns are permitted in areas that aren't behind security checkpoints. This, some fear, could lead to people testing the system to try and smuggle guns through security.

Gun laws and homicides: the stats

In America, 60 per cent of homicides occur using a firearm; the 26th-highest rate in the world. It is estimated that there are 89 guns in America to every 100 residents.

Since Sandy Hook, where 20 children and six adults were shot dead by 20-year-old Adam Lanza, there has been a change in gun laws in many states. But not always in favour of those calling for tighter gun control. According to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, 64 gun laws have strengthened state gun regulations, but an alarming 70 changes have weakened laws meant to protect citizens.

Statistics show that America's gun problems are affecting 15-24 year olds the most. If current trends continue, gun deaths will surpass car accident fatalities among young people in 2015. It already kills more children than cancer.

Just over a month ago, Elliot Rodger killed six people and injured 13 others near the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara. Channel 4 News spoke with the father of Chris Martinez, one of Rodger's victims, who blamed pro-gun lobbyists and "spineless" politicians for their lack of action in gun reform.

Those supporting the new gun law in Georgia argue that by allowing guns in more places, more innocent people will be protected.

Others disagree. Reverend Warnock says this view of more good people with guns to stop bad people with guns is over-simplified: "Sometimes life's circumstances make you feel like you have nothing to lose. We are all capable of becoming that person."

[iup=3499751]ianf[/iup] wrote::dread:

Surely that's not real. Couldn't find the post on her Fb feed after a quick look.

The Texas governor Rick Perry has been indicted for abuse of power after carrying out a threat to veto funding for state public corruption prosecutors.

The potential Republican candidate for president in 2016 is accused of abusing his official powers by publicly promising to veto $7.5m for the state public integrity unit at the Travis County district attorney’s office.

He was indicted by an Austin grand jury on Friday on felony counts of abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant. Maximum punishment on the first charge is five to 99 years in prison. The second is two to 10 years.

[iup=3534176]ianf[/iup] wrote:Sounds like parts of America are becoming ever more like police states

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/a ... n-shooting

[iup=3542756]Lagamorph[/iup] wrote:Someone asked me an interesting question regarding all that's happening in Ferguson recently.

Would anywhere near as many people have cared anywhere near as much if the guy had been white and was shot by a Black officer?

GRs thoughts?