The Mass Shootings Thread

[Gunpowder]

So can Delta take the government to court over this? I'm unfamiliar with how state law works, but I saw lots of folks on Twitter talking about how this is extortion.

I think it's a very clear First Amendment violation, now that Citizens United gave corporations First Amendment rights. I guess Delta would have to prove the tax break was voted down because of Delta's policy change. Georgia's Lt. Governor flat out said he was going to make sure the tax break didn't go through, but it may not have anyways, so Delta wouldn't have any damages there. In the end, it's probably not worth it for Delta to bring a lawsuit, but it's really fucked up that a Lt Governor would make that threat. Not only does it violate the First Amend, but it violates the Conservative ideal of Free Markets, and it accused Conservative Oppression when a Conservative group was treated the same as everyone else, which drives me nuts.

To be fair, so does a tax break given out as corporate welfare, so I'm torn a bit.

[The Sybian]

So can Delta take the government to court over this? I'm unfamiliar with how state law works, but I saw lots of folks on Twitter talking about how this is extortion.

I think it's a very clear First Amendment violation, now that Citizens United gave corporations First Amendment rights. I guess Delta would have to prove the tax break was voted down because of Delta's policy change. Georgia's Lt. Governor flat out said he was going to make sure the tax break didn't go through, but it may not have anyways, so Delta wouldn't have any damages there. In the end, it's probably not worth it for Delta to bring a lawsuit, but it's really fucked up that a Lt Governor would make that threat. Not only does it violate the First Amend, but it violates the Conservative ideal of Free Markets, and it accused Conservative Oppression when a Conservative group was treated the same as everyone else, which drives me nuts.

To be fair, so does a tax break given out as corporate welfare, so I'm torn a bit.

Oh, I don't give a fuck about the tax break failing. It's the principle of what the Lt Gov said, and the asshole who embarrassed himself on CNN claiming Delta continues to give discounts to Planned Parenthood "members."

[rass]

Swamp spawn?

ETA: just noticed brian retweeted that, so I'm assuming yeah

[A_B]

100 percent.

[rass]

100 percent.

Yeah, and just saw TB's quote/retweet.

[degenerasian]

I think if Delta cared enough to press the issue, instead of suing, they could simply threaten to move their headquarters to a different state, say one that is more friendly to their "values". It would certainly cause a flash point in the state and force Georgians to back either the LG or Delta.

Yeah the could really up the bidding like the Amazon HQ2

And it's really crazy that issues such as abortion and guns have surpassed free markets and democracy in importance for Republicans. It's true brainwashing.

[Steve of phpBB]

And it's really crazy that issues such as abortion and guns have surpassed free markets and democracy in importance for Republicans.

Heh.

[tennbengal]

Ayup. Hugely proud of the boy. About 1000 Hs students on the march - public and independent school kids - all student organized. Mayor and police chief have apparently moved their schedules to address the marchers.

[Steve of phpBB]

Swamp spawn?

ETA: just noticed brian retweeted that, so I'm assuming yeah

Fantastic.

[degenerasian]

Ayup. Hugely proud of the boy. About 1000 Hs students on the march - public and independent school kids - all student organized. Mayor and police chief have apparently moved their schedules to address the marchers.

Awesome!

[sancarlos]

Ayup. Hugely proud of the boy. About 1000 Hs students on the march - public and independent school kids - all student organized. Mayor and police chief have apparently moved their schedules to address the marchers.

Awesome!

[tennbengal]

When I say no parental/adult involvement or planning etc., I mean absolutely none. No word on it, until his school sent an email on Friday with a heads up on procedures on what to do if your child was planning on leaving school to march (as the student organizers had given them a heads up they were marching). So I checked with Q on the deal and he confirmed he was marching. Today's youth isn't fucking around politically.

The Sun article:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryla ... story.html

[brian]

Once baby boomers start dying en masse, things are going to change very quickly in this country.

[A_B]

Once baby boomers start dying en masse, things are going to change very quickly in this country.

En Masse Shooting?

[P.D.X.]

When I say no parental/adult involvement or planning etc., I mean absolutely none.

(Except George Soros)

[tennbengal]

When I say no parental/adult involvement or planning etc., I mean absolutely none.

(Except George Soros)

Fair. I am helping Quinn count the hundreds tonight.

[mister d]

That's awesome.

[Avram]

congratulations. Love those kids.

[The Sybian]

Today's youth isn't fucking around politically.

This makes me very happy, and give me hope. The positive side of social media is it gives kids a voice. Without life experience to crush their soles and make them jaded, maybe they can actually make a difference.

[A_B]

Today's youth isn't fucking around politically.

This makes me very happy, and give me hope. The positive side of social media is it gives kids a voice. Without life experience to crush their soles and make them jaded, maybe they can actually make a difference.

I, for one, rarely feel like doing anything when my feet hurt.

[tennbengal]

They added a quote from Quinn in the Sun piece. He did a nice job amplifying the local issue in Baltimore - the proximity to gun violence that a lot of city kids live with. He’s sharper than his dad.

[The Sybian]

The principal of my son's middle school sent this letter the other day, curious to hear your take on this. I had an initial reaction, and brought it up as part of a conversation about the different mindset across generations, and my boss had a completely different take. For context, we were discussing the sexual harassment/discrimination seminar we teach, and how different age groups and clients in different industries respond to the material.

Hello folks, the following note regards a conversation that began in the 7th and 8th classrooms, but please read to the end regarding sixth grade as well.

To our 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade families,

As you may be aware, school children across the nation are responding to the February 15th tragedy in Florida in a way that is unique to this event. It did not take long for the students here in Berkeley Heights to take notice of the call for a National Walk-Out to promote school safety.

On the Thursday after the day that 17 persons lost their lives in the Parkland, Florida school, our own students attended the Board of Education meeting to express not only their concern but their solidarity towards the growing movement for a walk-out.

I have since been charged with providing a safe place for those youngsters who wish to "walk out" and have their voices heard. I am using an original group of 7th and 8th peer leaders (many of whom brought this to us) to assist me in planning the moment, which will be for 17 minutes beginning at 10 A.M. on March 14th.

I want to emphasize that this moment out-of-class will still be a learning experience and will include:
- A common conversation about school safety, and how (from a child's perspective) we can make CMS an even more safe environment.
- Students will have the ability to sign off on a resolution that we will share with our leaders in Trenton that CMS students are in favor of any legislation that improves school safety.
- A supervised, indoor space to house the "walkout" so that weather and student safety need not be a concern.
- Parent permission. No student will be permitted to attend the "walk out" without prior parent approval.
- Approved time out of class. Students who participate will be allowed to leave class and return 17 minutes later without it impacting their grades or work.
- A focus on school safety from a student's perspective such as door security and school drills. The dialogue will not include politics of any kind, nor will the conversation include any talk regarding weapons.

This note is NOT a request to allow your child to attend. This is simply information about the conversation either overheard or brought to me by the 7th and 8th grade.

I need to add that I did NOT speak to the sixth grade about this. I heard nothing from them and so wanted to respect a family's consideration on discussing such topics with our younger students.

Regarding parent permission, I am still in the planning phase of how best to do that. I am considering a Google form that you will find in your mailbox before the end of the week, so please look for that.

Thank you.

[Steve of phpBB]

I guess I can see the need for doing something to ensure that kids who walk out are "safe", i.e., not marching down a highway or something.

But the rest, I'd prefer the authorities to just let the kids do what they're going to do. This business about requiring parental permission seems counterproductive. The point of the walkout is that they are engaging in civil disobedience. So even if the school says "You can't go," kids are going to do. As well they should.

And if the kids get punished for missing a class or whatever, so be it. That is also part of civil disobedience.

[Shirley]

I get why a principal felt he/she needed to try to take control and put measures in place for this, but ... yeah, that's no longer a protest of any sort. Maybe it's better than nothing? On the other hand, it may turn kids off or confuse them about what civil unrest or political protest is. It certainly isn't signing some school-provided form to approve "any" changes that claim to improve safety.

[mister d]

Ignoring this exact situation for a second, if a 7th-grader-slash-12-year-old snuck out of his or her school and got hit by a car, is the school liable?

[Ryan]

It reads like the principal having been told to do something by busybody parents and/or schoolboard members and throwing something out there to cover his ass. Our new superintendent is already publically all for whatever happens, but I could see him being sorta-forced to deliver a similar message.

[mister d]

Why do you assume the principal is male, Ryan?

[Ryan]

..."considering a Google form..."

[Steve of phpBB]

Ignoring this exact situation for a second, if a 7th-grader-slash-12-year-old snuck out of his or her school and got hit by a car, is the school liable?

If the kid snuck out, probably not. There has to be negligence on the school's part.

But you never know, because a jury would probably get to make that decision. That's why I can see having guards or cops posted for safety, but that's it.

[duff]

I read it as CYA. Keeping himself safe from any unhappy parents or litigation for promoting this behavior.

[Pruitt]

I read it as CYA. Keeping himself safe from any unhappy parents or litigation for promoting this behavior.

You deal with parents on a regular basis, you learn to cover your ass.

[sancarlos]

This is the letter we got from my daughter's high school. I don't have any problem with how they're handling it.

Hello Sequoia Community,

As many of you know, a 17-minute nationwide school walkout is scheduled for March 14 at 10:00AM. The walkout is being organized by the Women’s March Youth Empower Movement and is a response to the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The walkout is intended to spotlight the need for legislative action at the federal level to address gun violence in America’s schools.

Although neither the school nor the district sanction the walkout, we know that many Sequoia students are eager to participate. We can also anticipate that many other students, while perhaps not so eager, would follow them out the door. Likewise, we are aware that many members of our staff wish to stand in solidarity with our students. This close bond between our students and staff is one of the many things that makes our community special. It is a priority that we strengthen rather than mitigate that bond during times like these.

For the past few weeks, I have been discussing our plans for March 14 with a variety of stakeholders in order to ensure ALL students feel safe, have access to learning without disruption, and are able to express themselves appropriately.

March 14 is a B-Day. Rather than have the final 10 minutes of 2nd period be chaotic and confusing, 2nd period will end at 10:00am (10 minutes early). Students and staff who wish to participate in the walkout will do so and those who don’t will proceed to brunch as usual. We will provide supervision for all students as we do every day during brunch. We will discourage student demonstrators from leaving campus. Brunch will conclude at 10:25 and 4th period will commence after a 5-minute passing period. It is our desire to finish the school day without further disruption.

No student will be compelled to participate in any walkout or other form of direct action. By adjusting our schedule under these extraordinary circumstances, we are preparing as best we can for the safest and least disruptive scenario under which our community members can express their views. For students who do not wish to participate in any of these activities, we are encouraging them to smile, greet, or introduce themselves to 17 of their classmates with whom they've never spoken before as a way to acknowledge the lives lost in Florida. Please have a conversation with your student about looking out for their peers and the important part they play in making Sequoia a place of friends.

Although we are not sanctioning any student walkout at Sequoia, we have elected as a school to embrace this unique moment as an opportunity to educate and empower our country's future leaders by maintaining a safe space and modeling civic engagement. In addition our supervision of any peaceful demonstration, we are working with county agencies to provide voter registration materials for students, stations where students can write letters to the MSHS community or their local elected officials, and quiet spaces where students can reflect on the moment. Our desire is that March 14 will unite, empower, inspire, and strengthen our own community so we may be even more impactful in addressing the urgent needs of our own kids.

[Johnnie]

Seeing this is rage inducing.

[Steve of phpBB]

Seeing this is rage inducing.

Men really are horrible. The sooner women figure out asexual reproduction and kill us all, the better off the world will be.

[A_B]

Seeing this is rage inducing.

Men really are horrible. The sooner women figure out asexual reproduction and kill us all, the better off the world will be.

I mean....you're making an assumption there.

[Steve of phpBB]

Seeing this is rage inducing.

Men really are horrible. The sooner women figure out asexual reproduction and kill us all, the better off the world will be.

I mean....you're making an assumption there.

True. But even if it turns out that the note was written by a woman, I think my point still stands.

[The Sybian]

This is the letter we got from my daughter's high school. I don't have any problem with how they're handling it.

Hello Sequoia Community,

Sounds good to me.

When I first read the letter from my son's school, I laughed, thinking that this generation is so lame at protesting and incapable of taking action, they went to the Principal to ask how they should protest, and the Principal coddled them by organizing it for them. My manager's take was that they aren't protesting their school or the administration, and they realize the administration and teachers are on their side. They want to walk out in solidarity of the national movement. I like the way the Principal handled it, he showed support to the kids, and is openly discussing their concerns, and working with the kids to address safety issues. In a lot of ways, this is a more mature way of handling it, as they are working with the administration to address the issue, rather than petulantly skipping class. When I was in junior high, kids would try to get protests going. There was a walkout protesting something stupid, but it was about the organizers trying to be cool and get people to follow them, and it was about getting the thrill of rebelling against the teachers and the risk of getting in trouble. My manager discussed a book she read that described this generation has having blurred lines of tribal communities. Previous generations saw an "Us vs. Them" between generations, races, or whatever, but this generation has looser and fluid tribal lines. They have an easier time seeing their tribe as including teachers and the school administration, whereas Baby Boomers didn't trust anyone over 30.

[TT2.0]

proceed to BRUNCH?? WTF kinda school do they go to? christ...no wonder kids are soft when they have to choose between a walkout or brunch

[brian]

Are kids soft? I think we're pretty much seeing the opposite.

[TT2.0]

Are kids soft? I think we're pretty much seeing the opposite.

its a generation of people demanding safe spaces....maybe im cynical but asking for a safe space when i was a kid would have gotten you called a pussy. soft was the nicest adjective i had available