The legacy of Amendment T

A measure to remove a portion in Colorado’s state constitution that legalizes slavery for people who have been convicted of crimes was struck down during the last election. This means that a reference to slavery is still in that state’s constitution but a recount is possible.

A vote for Hillary is a vote against the blood-gargling NRA

Need proof? Even though NO, Hillary is not coming for your guns (just as Obama did not come for your guns), the blood-gargling National Rifle Association has pumped $6.5 million into anti-Clinton ads. You can read more about that nasty’s organization’s efforts in Colorado here. Here’s the candidate’s proposed policies on gun legislation.

Why is a Colorado school district buying semiautomatic rifles?

Because they can. Rural districts are concerned about school safety. But is this really necessary?

If her sister had been armed at Newtown

Jane Dougherty, of Colorado, writes a guest editorial for the Denver Post on what might have happened had her sister, Mary Sherlach [pictured], the school psychologist killed in the Newtown massacre, been armed that day. You can learn more about the Colorado bill in question, HB 1168, here.

Some good after some very bad

There were reports that some victims in the Aurora, Colo., movie theater shooting were facing insurmountable medical bills, but Colorado hospitals decided to waive some of the bills, and Warner Bros. (the studio responsible for “The Dark Knight Rises,” which was showing at the time of the shooting) kicked in some more. If you feel moved …

Can we talk about mental health now?

Lucy Steigerwald at Reason suggests the Aurora shooting might be our opportunity to talk about mental health in America. She writes: Maybe the problem isn’t Hollywood, a lack of Christian ethics, guns, Occupy Wall Street, nerds, or the Tea Party. Maybe the problem is crazy people sometimes shoot other people. And maybe what is most surprising …

The homicide rate dropped, mass killings continue, and other Dark Knight news

This Washington Post article explores the strange juxtaposition of a homicide rate that has dropped in the last 20 years, while the number of mass killings (like the one last week in that Aurora, Colo., movie theater) have pretty much stayed steady. From the article: The United States experienced 645 mass-murder events — killings with …

And another thing…

Oddly, the New York Times reported today that the Colorado theater shooting suspect, James E. Holmes, bought much of his arsenal online — “It was pretty much as easy as ordering a book from Amazon,” the story said. Twelve people were killed and dozens more were injured in the shooting. Holmes goes to court today. …

Fewer Americans own guns, yet there are more guns out there

Paul Waldman, of The American Prospect, writes (linked at ThinkProgress:) There is no question that Americans own more guns, and use them more often to kill each other, than citizens of any other advanced Western democracy. As of 2007, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms reported that there were approximately 294 million guns in …

Prayers for Colorado

This is senseless. It makes no sense. Prayers for the survivors, and prayers for the families. UPDATE: They’ve just identified the shooter.