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September 2, 2020
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Thousands turned out this weekend for the first gun show in Richmond since a new universal background checks laws took effect earlier this summer. It was also the first event of its kind since the coronavirus pandemic began back in March, according to the Virginia Citizens Defense League.
Some have speculated that anxiety surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, months of civil unrest and a slew of new gun control laws in Virginia are contributing to above average sales for the gun industry. According to data collected by Virginia State Police, 64,350 background checks were requested by federally licensed gun dealers in July 2020. That’s more than double the amount requested in July 2019.
The increase follows a record-setting month for estimated sales. June 2020 saw the highest total since VSP started recording this data in 1990 with 81,204 transactions. Before the event started Saturday, the Showmaster’s website advised customers to come later in the day to avoid wait times and accommodate occupancy limits amid the pandemic.
Showmasters President Annette Elliott said it has been difficult to keep up with high demand and slowed production. “The dealers are running out of guns. They’re running out of ammo. Even the manufacturers are backed up,” Elliott said.
Firearms Vendor Higinio Jimenez said he sold out before the first day of the show wrapped up. “That’s way above average,” Jimenez said Asked why he thinks sales are up, Jimenez said, “Easy answer–just turn on your TV. Just look around and see what’s going on.”
(excerpt)
First Richmond gun show since new gun control laws took effect sees 'record demand'
https://www.wric.com/business/first-gun-show-in-richmond-since-new-gun-control-laws/RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Thousands turned out this weekend for the first gun show in Richmond since a new universal background checks laws took effect earlier this summer. It was also the first event of its kind since the coronavirus pandemic began back in March, according to the Virginia Citizens Defense League.
Some have speculated that anxiety surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, months of civil unrest and a slew of new gun control laws in Virginia are contributing to above average sales for the gun industry. According to data collected by Virginia State Police, 64,350 background checks were requested by federally licensed gun dealers in July 2020. That’s more than double the amount requested in July 2019.
The increase follows a record-setting month for estimated sales. June 2020 saw the highest total since VSP started recording this data in 1990 with 81,204 transactions. Before the event started Saturday, the Showmaster’s website advised customers to come later in the day to avoid wait times and accommodate occupancy limits amid the pandemic.
Showmasters President Annette Elliott said it has been difficult to keep up with high demand and slowed production. “The dealers are running out of guns. They’re running out of ammo. Even the manufacturers are backed up,” Elliott said.
Firearms Vendor Higinio Jimenez said he sold out before the first day of the show wrapped up. “That’s way above average,” Jimenez said Asked why he thinks sales are up, Jimenez said, “Easy answer–just turn on your TV. Just look around and see what’s going on.”
(excerpt)
August 31, 2020
MINNEAPOLIS — Abe Demaag drove through downtown, watching people break windows and loot businesses, and he felt the sear of anguish all over again. His own furniture business had been burned down during the unrest that exploded after George Floyd died in police custody.
Floyd’s death on May 25 sparked protests around the country and a national reckoning on racial inequality and police brutality, but the city where it all began remains a powder keg of tension as traumatized residents still reeling from this summer's events look toward an uncertain future.
“It’s just going to keep going. People have a lot of anger with the police. People are frustrated with the system,” Demaag, 45, said, standing outside the charred remains of his former furniture store. “The minute we have this anger, people are going to hijack it and do other stuff again, the same thing. It’s a very scary situation.”
That anger reignited Wednesday when a homicide suspect being pursued by police fatally shot himself outside Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, sparking false rumors amid mistrust in police that the man had been gunned down by law enforcement.
(excerpt)
Marred by trauma after George Floyd's death, Minneapolis hit with second wave of looting
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/marred-trauma-after-george-floyd-s-death-minneapolis-hit-second-n1238796MINNEAPOLIS — Abe Demaag drove through downtown, watching people break windows and loot businesses, and he felt the sear of anguish all over again. His own furniture business had been burned down during the unrest that exploded after George Floyd died in police custody.
Floyd’s death on May 25 sparked protests around the country and a national reckoning on racial inequality and police brutality, but the city where it all began remains a powder keg of tension as traumatized residents still reeling from this summer's events look toward an uncertain future.
“It’s just going to keep going. People have a lot of anger with the police. People are frustrated with the system,” Demaag, 45, said, standing outside the charred remains of his former furniture store. “The minute we have this anger, people are going to hijack it and do other stuff again, the same thing. It’s a very scary situation.”
That anger reignited Wednesday when a homicide suspect being pursued by police fatally shot himself outside Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, sparking false rumors amid mistrust in police that the man had been gunned down by law enforcement.
(excerpt)
August 30, 2020
KENOSHA — About a 10-minute drive from Downtown Kenosha, two men stood this week with AR-15 firearms protecting their subdivision.
The armed men were Jason Ottum and Gilbert Rosales, part of a group of about 10 residents of the Kenosha subdivision that have been out nights since Tuesday protecting their neighborhood in light of the unrest in Kenosha.
Despite the we-mean-business message the group conveys to passing motorists, Ottum and Rosales were anything but threatening Thursday night. They were sincere in their concern for their neighbors and city.
“All we’re doing is making sure the community here is able to go asleep, sleep fine and are not worried about anything,” said Rosales.
(Excerpt)
Armed neighborhood watch group forms to protect Kenosha subdivision
https://madison.com/news/local/armed-neighborhood-watch-group-forms-to-protect-kenosha-subdivision/article_03d52b37-aac6-5e6b-b000-3e0cf16ecbc1.htmlKENOSHA — About a 10-minute drive from Downtown Kenosha, two men stood this week with AR-15 firearms protecting their subdivision.
The armed men were Jason Ottum and Gilbert Rosales, part of a group of about 10 residents of the Kenosha subdivision that have been out nights since Tuesday protecting their neighborhood in light of the unrest in Kenosha.
Despite the we-mean-business message the group conveys to passing motorists, Ottum and Rosales were anything but threatening Thursday night. They were sincere in their concern for their neighbors and city.
“All we’re doing is making sure the community here is able to go asleep, sleep fine and are not worried about anything,” said Rosales.
(Excerpt)
August 30, 2020
Over three days in late July, a three-bedroom house in East Orange, N.J., was listed for sale for $285,000, had 97 showings, received 24 offers and went under contract for 21 percent over that price.
On Long Island, six people made offers on a $499,000 house in Valley Stream without seeing it in person after it was shown on a Facebook Live video. In the Hudson Valley, a nearly three-acre property with a pool listed for $985,000 received four all-cash bids within a day of having 14 showings.
Since the pandemic began, the suburbs around New York City, from New Jersey to Westchester County to Connecticut to Long Island, have been experiencing enormous demand for homes of all prices, a surge that is unlike any in recent memory, according to officials, real estate agents and residents.
In July, there was a 44 percent increase in home sales for the suburban counties surrounding the city when compared with the previous year, according to Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants. The increase was 112 percent in Westchester, just north of New York City, and 73 percent in Fairfield County, Conn., just over the state border.
At the same time, the number of properties sold in Manhattan plummeted 56 percent, according to Miller Samuel.
(excerpt)
New Yorkers Are Fleeing to the Suburbs: 'The Demand Is Insane'
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/30/nyregion/nyc-suburbs-housing-demand.html#click=https://t.co/5oLLZJ8UO2Over three days in late July, a three-bedroom house in East Orange, N.J., was listed for sale for $285,000, had 97 showings, received 24 offers and went under contract for 21 percent over that price.
On Long Island, six people made offers on a $499,000 house in Valley Stream without seeing it in person after it was shown on a Facebook Live video. In the Hudson Valley, a nearly three-acre property with a pool listed for $985,000 received four all-cash bids within a day of having 14 showings.
Since the pandemic began, the suburbs around New York City, from New Jersey to Westchester County to Connecticut to Long Island, have been experiencing enormous demand for homes of all prices, a surge that is unlike any in recent memory, according to officials, real estate agents and residents.
In July, there was a 44 percent increase in home sales for the suburban counties surrounding the city when compared with the previous year, according to Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants. The increase was 112 percent in Westchester, just north of New York City, and 73 percent in Fairfield County, Conn., just over the state border.
At the same time, the number of properties sold in Manhattan plummeted 56 percent, according to Miller Samuel.
(excerpt)
August 27, 2020
New Zealand's Christchurch mosque terrorist sentenced to life in prison with no parole
Source: CNN
Christchurch, New Zealand (CNN)A far-right terrorist who killed 51 Muslim worshipers in New Zealand's worst mass shooting in modern history will spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole, the first time such a sentence has been handed down in the country's courts.
Brenton Tarrant, 29, was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty earlier this year to murdering 51 men, women and children at two Christchurch mosques on March 15, 2019. The youngest victim was just three years old.
The Australian citizen also pleaded guilty to 40 counts of attempted murder and one charge of terrorism -- he is the first person in New Zealand to be convicted of that crime.
Tarrant represented himself at the hearing and chose not to address the court, but instructed lawyer Pip Hall to speak on his behalf. "Mr Tarrant does not oppose the application. He should be sentenced to life in prison without parole."
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/asia/christchurch-mosque-sentencing-intl-hnk/index.html
August 26, 2020
Several videos showing Black Lives Matter protesters confronting and harassing people eating outside restaurants in Washington, D.C., went viral Tuesday as demonstrations were held nationwide over the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
One video reportedly filmed in the Adams Morgan neighborhood Monday night shows protesters demanding a woman seated outside a restaurant raise her fist to show her solidarity for their cause.
When the woman refused, she was surrounded by a number of protesters with their fists raised in the air who screamed and berated her for not doing so. “I felt I was under attack,” the woman told Washington Post reporter Fredrick Kunkle, adding that she had been marching with protesters for several weeks and was “very much with them,” but didn’t feel right about being coerced by the group to display her support.
A second viral video shows a group of protesters harassing two people outside another D.C. restaurant. A woman is seen screaming in their faces without a mask after they refused to raise their fist with the group. The video shows other restaurant patrons with fists raised.
(excerpt)
Viral videos show protesters demanding DC restaurant patrons raise fists to show solidarity
https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/513646-viral-videos-show-protesters-demanding-dc-restaurant-patrons-raiseSeveral videos showing Black Lives Matter protesters confronting and harassing people eating outside restaurants in Washington, D.C., went viral Tuesday as demonstrations were held nationwide over the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
One video reportedly filmed in the Adams Morgan neighborhood Monday night shows protesters demanding a woman seated outside a restaurant raise her fist to show her solidarity for their cause.
When the woman refused, she was surrounded by a number of protesters with their fists raised in the air who screamed and berated her for not doing so. “I felt I was under attack,” the woman told Washington Post reporter Fredrick Kunkle, adding that she had been marching with protesters for several weeks and was “very much with them,” but didn’t feel right about being coerced by the group to display her support.
A second viral video shows a group of protesters harassing two people outside another D.C. restaurant. A woman is seen screaming in their faces without a mask after they refused to raise their fist with the group. The video shows other restaurant patrons with fists raised.
(excerpt)
August 26, 2020
KENOSHA — More community devastation in Kenosha following another night of civil unrest which led to businesses and institutions in the city to being destroyed in the aftermath of the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Along 60th street, near the Department of Corrections building at 13th Avenue, several businesses were destroyed.
The Department of Corrections building was set ablaze and crews worked to demolish the building on Tuesday morning. Hot spots and flames still shot out of a neighboring business, B&L Furniture, which was targeted by vandals overnight as well.
"It's just all gone," said Linda Carpenter as she cried into her son Scott's arms. She and her family have owned their furniture shop for nearly 40 years before it was reduced to a pile of burning debris. "My next job is to clean this up and then after that, I don't have a job," said Scott as he realized their livelihoods had been smashed.
On the same block, several car dealerships were destroyed and local businesses were busted into and vandalized.
(excerpt)
Local business owners find livelihoods smashed following second night of Kenosha unrest
https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/local-business-owners-find-livelihoods-smashed-following-second-night-of-kenosha-unrestKENOSHA — More community devastation in Kenosha following another night of civil unrest which led to businesses and institutions in the city to being destroyed in the aftermath of the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Along 60th street, near the Department of Corrections building at 13th Avenue, several businesses were destroyed.
The Department of Corrections building was set ablaze and crews worked to demolish the building on Tuesday morning. Hot spots and flames still shot out of a neighboring business, B&L Furniture, which was targeted by vandals overnight as well.
"It's just all gone," said Linda Carpenter as she cried into her son Scott's arms. She and her family have owned their furniture shop for nearly 40 years before it was reduced to a pile of burning debris. "My next job is to clean this up and then after that, I don't have a job," said Scott as he realized their livelihoods had been smashed.
On the same block, several car dealerships were destroyed and local businesses were busted into and vandalized.
(excerpt)
August 22, 2020
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — On Friday, the victim who was brutally attacked near a protest in downtown Portland last week spoke out. Earlier the same day, the man accused in the attack turned himself in to police after the video of the incident went viral.
“My shoulder today is kind of hurting me a little bit because of the way my neck went when I got kicked,” said Adam Haner. Images of him lying unconscious in the street, with his face covered in blood, have been seen across social media in the days since the assault was captured on video on Sunday, August 16. An ambulance took him to the hospital that night.
This week, he is left with bruises, nearly two inches thick around each eye. “Brain swelling is what they were worried about in the beginning,” said Haner. “They’re worried right now that my retina is trying to lift off of my eye.”
He said he’s still having trouble seeing out of his left eye. Doctors are hoping he doesn’t have permanent vision damage.
(excerpt)
'Hit, stabbed, kicked': Assaulted driver speaks out (Portland)
https://www.koin.com/news/crime/hit-stabbed-kicked-assaulted-driver-speaks-out/PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — On Friday, the victim who was brutally attacked near a protest in downtown Portland last week spoke out. Earlier the same day, the man accused in the attack turned himself in to police after the video of the incident went viral.
“My shoulder today is kind of hurting me a little bit because of the way my neck went when I got kicked,” said Adam Haner. Images of him lying unconscious in the street, with his face covered in blood, have been seen across social media in the days since the assault was captured on video on Sunday, August 16. An ambulance took him to the hospital that night.
This week, he is left with bruises, nearly two inches thick around each eye. “Brain swelling is what they were worried about in the beginning,” said Haner. “They’re worried right now that my retina is trying to lift off of my eye.”
He said he’s still having trouble seeing out of his left eye. Doctors are hoping he doesn’t have permanent vision damage.
(excerpt)
August 19, 2020
Parisian feathers have been ruffled by the appearance of the unlikely new darling of the hunting world, a blonde, gun-toting 23-year old French law student whose face has been plastered over metro billboards to promote a documentary streaming channel.
Johanna Clermont, who reportedly changed her surname due to threats, has become one of the biggest “influencers” in the Gallic hunting world, with 300,000 followers on social media, where she promotes a string of gun and knife brands and poses with long blond locks beside her latest kills.
Her profile reached new heights on Tuesday when she featured in a billboard campaign for Zone 300, dubbed “the hunting Netflix” channel in Paris and a string of other cities around France.
“Johanna is the dream face for hunters,” said Pierre Rigaux, anti-hunting wildlife activist. “Young and a woman very far from the reality of the hunter” in the male-dominated blood sport.
(excerpt)
France's new poster girl for hunting receives death threats at university
https://www.yahoo.com/news/frances-poster-girl-hunting-receives-150903418.htmlParisian feathers have been ruffled by the appearance of the unlikely new darling of the hunting world, a blonde, gun-toting 23-year old French law student whose face has been plastered over metro billboards to promote a documentary streaming channel.
Johanna Clermont, who reportedly changed her surname due to threats, has become one of the biggest “influencers” in the Gallic hunting world, with 300,000 followers on social media, where she promotes a string of gun and knife brands and poses with long blond locks beside her latest kills.
Her profile reached new heights on Tuesday when she featured in a billboard campaign for Zone 300, dubbed “the hunting Netflix” channel in Paris and a string of other cities around France.
“Johanna is the dream face for hunters,” said Pierre Rigaux, anti-hunting wildlife activist. “Young and a woman very far from the reality of the hunter” in the male-dominated blood sport.
(excerpt)
August 15, 2020
(CNN)An Illinois community is rallying behind two 13-year-old boys after their lemonade stand was robbed at gunpoint. Jude and Tristan were selling lemonade in Peoria on August 7 when they were approached by two men, one who was holding a gun, said Officer Amy Dotson of the Peoria Police Department. CNN is identifying the boys by their first names to protect their privacy.
The men stole their cash box, which contained around $30, and fled on foot. The incident is still under investigation and no arrests have been made, according to police. "The boys were just shocked, they couldn't process what was happening until it was over," Nathan Peterson, Jude's father, told CNN. "I got a call from police saying, ''Hey, your kids are OK, but they just got robbed.' I almost blacked out, I was just so scared I was trying to get there as fast as possible."
But when he arrived at the scene, Peterson found something he didn't expect. Police officers had surrounded the lemonade stand, buying cups of lemonade and "paying maybe $20 each for it," trying to make the kids feel safe again, he said.
"I was relieved," Peterson said. "They created a very protective environment for the boys. This situation could have ended so badly, but somehow they helped turn what could have been a horrible experience into something beautiful."
(excerpt)
Two boys selling lemonade were robbed at gunpoint. Then their community stepped in to help
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/15/us/kids-selling-lemonade-gunpoint-illinois-trnd/index.html(CNN)An Illinois community is rallying behind two 13-year-old boys after their lemonade stand was robbed at gunpoint. Jude and Tristan were selling lemonade in Peoria on August 7 when they were approached by two men, one who was holding a gun, said Officer Amy Dotson of the Peoria Police Department. CNN is identifying the boys by their first names to protect their privacy.
The men stole their cash box, which contained around $30, and fled on foot. The incident is still under investigation and no arrests have been made, according to police. "The boys were just shocked, they couldn't process what was happening until it was over," Nathan Peterson, Jude's father, told CNN. "I got a call from police saying, ''Hey, your kids are OK, but they just got robbed.' I almost blacked out, I was just so scared I was trying to get there as fast as possible."
But when he arrived at the scene, Peterson found something he didn't expect. Police officers had surrounded the lemonade stand, buying cups of lemonade and "paying maybe $20 each for it," trying to make the kids feel safe again, he said.
"I was relieved," Peterson said. "They created a very protective environment for the boys. This situation could have ended so badly, but somehow they helped turn what could have been a horrible experience into something beautiful."
(excerpt)
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