I've been following the Bob Levinson story since I know one of his sons. I really hope the show does a segment on this important story.

I've been on demandaplan.org's website to see how I can get engaged in the issue.

I've been reading about the line of handbags by the Olsen twins; one of which sells for $55,000 and is decorated with prescription pills.

Last night, Steve Schmidt said that the NRA is dug in for the long haul, with resources allocated to last beyond each wave of sentiment arising from whatever massacre most recently shocked us. Citizens United supercharged the NRA and its resources. Confirmation of Sotomeyor and Kagan, over NRA opposition, is a good sign, but zealots are, if nothing else, tenacious. Advocates of reasonable gun control have to get their message across to the many reasonable gun owners, so that they don't see slippery slopes in reasonable measures. Otherwise, long haul resources will work on local politicians and local judicial nominees, and in the long haul, our governemts will be crawling with NRA servants disguised as public servants.

It's not too terribly uncommon for small rural towns to have a high percentage of homes with guns. In some of these towns, you're more likely to be visited by a bear, rattlesnake, or rabid coyote than you are by another person. For us progressives who live in cities and the burbs, who are endlessly stuck in rush hour traffic, that can be difficult concept to wrap your head around. Consider, in New Jersey there are an average of over 1,000 people per square mile. In Washington, DC (a proper city) that number jumps all the way up to 10,000 people per square mile. In the state of Utah that number is as low as 30 people per square mile.

Given the ceremonies taking place in the National Cathedral, it might also be interesting to focus on the rising debate among GOP members in the Indiana Legislature. Apparently there are some Rs who have already said they will not vote for the proposed gay marriage ban (the same one that they backed, and most voted for the first time around when they passed DOMA).

Note to self: Stay the f#ck out of Utah!

Enjoyed your piece on Hagel last night. I get the impression that you want to support him because the President is sure to select him. I feel the same but am having trouble with his record of remarks about various groups of people in the past. His decisions will have long-lasting implications and I'm not sure we can consider him a futurist thinker. Keep bringing us this information.

It is important for progressives to accept the Hagel nomination in the spirit of moderation and consensus building. Nothing Hagel has done or said in the past reaches the level of disqualification for any office and like many of us views can moderate or change over the years. The recent pro Israel sentiment of the GOP runs contrary to 40 years of fights over foreign aid and the influence of the American Jewish community in political decisions. The current GOP support began through the strong support of wacky Christian Fundamentalists who want to bring on their End Times for which they think a Jewish state in the Holy Land is a requirement in the triggering of their Armageddon fantasy. Hagel's evolving position on the acceptance of homosexuality as part of a new normal reflects the same progression as millions of Americans. The whole spectrum of advances by the LGBT community in realizing equity under law were viewed for decades as radical and things to be feared and like many things bringing things out of hiding and into the light has been helpful in changing the views of many.

Acceptance also further isolates the radicals of the Rightwing further exposing just how far from the mainstream they have become.

jkh

Rachel, I read an article concerning Lance Armstrong's attempt to donate a large sum to the main anti-doping agency. This quote:

' "I was stunned," Travis Tygart, the head of the anti-doping agency told "60 Minutes Sports'' about the alleged 2004 offer. ''It was a clear conflict of interest for USADA. We had no hesitation in rejecting that offer.'''

Now I have a question about this. Why don't members of congress, who get offers for large donations to their campaigns, respond in similar fashion? They face conflicts of interest, as well as difficulties in being objective. How is their situation different from that of the USADA?

Washington's National Cathedral will perform same-sex weddings.--GOOD FOR THEM!!

Call me cynical (I've been called that and worse), but I believe that the GOP largely blames Chris Christie foir their 2012 electoral losses on three counts: 1) He did not run for president as many of them wished, 2) His praise for President Obama's handling of Hueeicane Sandy aftermath, and 3) He didn't leave New Jersey to Campaign with Romnry the weekend before the election (with his state in tatters).

Before the 2012 election and after Gov. Christie obviously was not in the race the GOP was all about Christie in 2016. However, after Hurricane SandyJrb Bush's name was thrown about more often fotr the probable GOP presidential front runner.

The GOP really believe that Gov. Christie lost the election for them and are dealing him, and more importantly his constituants, a political serback. But it's all about the money..."bull-pucky"!!!

Regarding the Utah town which is encouraging homeowners to buy guns:

""We are kind of tired of people breaking in and taking stuff," said Mickel, explaining why he voted to urge every house to have a gun."

Good idea! Then people will break in and take guns! More bang for the buck! More criminals with guns!

If the citizenry has money to buy guns, it has money to hire a full-time police force (you know, someone who actually knows how and when to use a gun).

It's OK. Evolution will take care of it. Families with guns in the house won't breed as quickly as those without guns. Higher child-mortality rates.

"The NRA wants gun-rights-friendly judges."

Aw, diddums want activist judges, diddums? Cootchy-cooo!

and nifty about the National Cathedral. The conservative religious nuts will go ballistic but who cares! The space themed window with the moon rock is beautiful.

Whos been thinkng them bad things:

Utah town makes arming households a top priority, By BRADY McCOMBS, Associated Press

SPRING CITY, Utah (AP) -- Officials in a small Utah town want to make sure every head of household has a firearm and knows how to use it, and they want to give school teachers training with guns too.

Spring City is a city in Sanpete County, Utah, United States. The population was 956 at the 2000 census. Although it is still largely a farming town, Spring City is becoming increasingly known as an artist community. Many excellent examples of Mormon pioneer architecture exist throughout the town. In 2010, Forbes Magazine identified Spring City as one of the prettiest towns in America.

[First if there is a need, then by all means, but consider the threat that made this a necessity. There can be draw backs, say, town father put up signs on the highways, stating proudly, of the small town gun status as deterrent, be warned etc. Now the low life criminal says, well is that so, and make arrangements to obtain more firepower, because that town must have something in the houses dear and precious, so you should be well prepared in case you encounter resistance. More …]

Spring City Councilman Neil Sorensen first proposed an ordinance requiring a gun in every household in the town of 1,000. The rest of the council scoffed at making it a requirement, but they unanimously agreed to move forward with an ordinance "recommending" the idea.

The council also approved funding to offer concealed firearms training Friday to the 20 teachers and administrators at the local elementary school.

[The local elementary school will need some major improvements, a wall or berm to make it invisible from the street. Adding bullet proof glass on the lower stories and plan for a transition, that allows those dear and precious children to become accustomed to seeing rifle barrels from the sentry, or the armored vehicles the police or vigilante will be guarding from. The children will adjust to seeing barrels aimed and can easily be taught game, where they freeze, so that the guards can play laser tag.]

"It sends a statement that criminals better think twice," Sorensen told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "If a teacher would have had a concealed weapon in Sandy Hook, I think the death loss would have been fewer. If sane, trained people had guns, they could have shot back."

[Again the criminal will think twice, and may be three times, so that that come fully prepared, tear gas, concussion grenades, and well-practiced reloads and backup weapons to cover while they reload. Knowing the Principal, is armed, the criminal can make sure he/she is neutralized, clearing the way for murder and mayhem, what else would a criminal do?]

The measure, which will go before the full council in February for further review, seems to have the support of the council's five members and many residents in the farming community about 90 miles south of Salt Lake City.

[Similarly the farmstead could save embarrassment, having a rifle mounted on the John Deer. But remember the criminal will come to this town armed to the teeth. The farmer should also own and maintain armored vehicle. Again the criminal will aim for the house, knowing the family will be often in the kitchen, or later in the living room likely watching some violent training programs the whole family can enjoy.]

But school administrators don't think arming teachers is wise, and they are not encouraging teachers to participate in Friday's training.

"The more guns you have in the school, the more dangerous it is," said Leslie Keisel, superintendent of the North Sanpete School District.

[This more guns business can make us safer, no not by the standard of killing everyone one at time, but imagine the basketball game, with guards position in the upper corners of the gym, and pair at half court. The door will have been reinforce and automated for your protection. The hot game ensues, the rival team starts to win just once too often, the guards are from that rival team. Suddenly the doors swing shut, gun fire ensues the crowd cannot get away … the school is closes and is very safe.]

Councilman Noel Bertelson said making guns in every house mandatory was too much, but he agrees the town would be safer if everyone was armed. With only a part-time police force, he said, response time is not like it is in a big city.

"If a person is able to take care of themselves for a while, it would probably be a good thing," Bertelson said.

The community is still reeling from the double-murder on New Year's Eve 2011 of an elderly couple in nearby Mount Pleasant. Sorensen said what used to be a peaceful, quiet town has been sullied by increasing criminal activity.

Thefts of metal for scrap and other property also have become a problem, Councilman Boyd Mickel said.

"We are kind of tired of people breaking in and taking stuff," said Mickel, explaining why he voted to urge every house to have a gun.

Timm Thompson, a coal miner and father of four girls who lives in Spring City, backs the council's measure.

"People think small towns are a good place to live," Thompson said. "But there is more crime and drugs than you can imagine."

Thompson, who owns 78 guns he keeps locked in a safe, doesn't want teachers to act as police officers. He said some kids are "hooligans" and could overpower teachers for the guns.

[Criminals take note, there a good store of arms there, probably collectibles, but can be sold at one of those buy back campaigns, unregistered you know.]

Sisters Katy Harmer and Caroline Lott, however, say arming teachers would make them feel better about sending their children to the Spring City Elementary School. The co-owners of the town's coffee shop, Das Coffee, said most Spring City residents keep guns for hunting, leaving only a handful without weapons.

[For bad teachers, this could a boon class discipline much easier, union negations lots easier, if the kids also had guns, their reports cards would so all A's.]

Angela Johnson, owner of the Sinclair gas station, said she doesn't like guns but backs the council's proposal.

"If criminals knew they would be fired against, I think it would cause pause," Johnson said.

[However as I will again point out knowing Angelia Johnson at the Sinclair Station, will require the criminal to escalate the level of arms to assure a successful robbery.]

Because the Spring City Council is stopping short of a law requiring gun ownership, elected officials won't run afoul of state law, former Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff told KSL.com.

Shurtleff said that when the Washington County town of Virgin enacted a local law in 2000 requiring households to keep guns, he warned them against trying to enforce the measure.

Spring City leaders say they got the idea from a city in Georgia that passed a similar law. In 1982, Kennesaw, Ga., made headlines by requiring heads of households to own a gun and ammunition. On its website, Kennesaw boasts that its burglary rate declined after the law took effect.

[In this case the cause was that folks were afraid to go out and rob their neighbors, as all the money was spent on arms.]

Teachers at Spring City Elementary School won't be required to attend Friday's concealed weapons training, but can if they wish, Principal Mark Thomas said.

"I don't think there is anything wrong about being educated how to use a gun," Thomas said.

But Thomas doesn't believe having more armed teachers would necessarily prevent or mitigate the damage in mass shootings. Utah law allows teachers to have concealed weapon in classrooms, but the district doesn't advocate for that, Thomas said.

"By bringing weapons into school, are we creating more problems than we are solving?" he asked. "It could create a new problem. We don't want to deal with that problem."

The proposed ordinance will be discussed at the Feb. 7 City Council meeting. A public hearing will be held three weeks later.

[If want to create armed state, gated community, with children unable to be safe, just focus on rebuilding you town to look like a prison camp, or a fine place in Somalia or the more prosperous Syria. But do not focus in the economic prosperity need to create jobs, because that would just ruin the fear mongering in Congress.]

There's probably 993 homes in that community of 1000 with guns already anyway

Youre required to keep a FULLY AUTOMATIC sig in your house in Switzerland for like the last 50 years

Violent crime is half of what it was in 1991. During that time the AW Ban came and went and crime is still dropping. Banning specific guns has been documented to be ineffective, so why pursue another ban? There are lots of other options the country can pursue that would be far more effective and considerably less divisive than another ban.

As a lifelong democrat I completely agree with Ms Maddow on her show.

I do think that any new gun control laws will be futile. The last AWB didn't do much for gun control, however by labeling certian guns "assullt weapons" what is did was to drive sales though the roof before it took effect and after it died.

When it comes to the gun culture here in the US there are 2. one is the culture of Guns for no one but law enforcement, This one is largly in the bigger cities and other urban areas.

the other in the rural areas is the guns for all responsable people who want one.

Naturaly this one is not in the cities.

What needs to be understood is that in the latter group any laws passed that looks like

registration leading to confiscation (not allowed un the 2nd amendmet) will largely be ignored by lawabiding gun owners and many in law enforcement as well.

Military and law enforement Both take a oath to up hold the constitution and defend it against all enameys both foreign and Domestic.