Friday, July 20, 2012

NOW SUBURBAN DENVER: WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME?




            Following the Tuscon shooting that killed six and seriously wounded 12 others including Representative Gabriele Giffords, members of the Brady Campaign asked to meet with House Majority Leader John Boehner to discuss ways to curb gun violence. Boehner said that “now is not the right time.” On the fifth anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting Brady Campaign officials asked for a meeting with La. Sen. Vitter to discuss a bill he had introduced making it easier for the mentally ill to buy guns. Vitter was too busy.

            Congressman Boehner isn’t too busy to visit tanning booths and Vitter found time to frequent New Orleans prostitutes.

            Now we have 12 dead and some 50 wounded in a movie theater in suburban Denver. So when is the right time to discuss ways to keep guns out of the hands of convicted felons, convicted domestic abusers, terrorists, and mentally ill people who are a threat to themselves and others?

            The guns rights advocates’ assault on the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and dialogue with elected officials has been blistering and deadly. With rare exception, politicians are so afraid of the National Rifle Association they won’t even talk to people looking for ways to curb this epidemic of violence.

            Following the massacre at Virginia Tech, UCLA Professor Douglas Kellner monitored coverage on the Sunday news shows on all the major networks. The results debunked claims of liberal media bias. What he found was a feeding frenzy of right wing, pro-gun advocates. Only one gun control advocate spoke, and that was just for a few moments on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

            So, when will our elected officials respect the First Amendment as much as they fear the Second? When will they engage in a dialogue?

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Freedom of Information Request


June 30, 2012

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cucinnelli
Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia
900 East Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219

REF: Freedom of Information Request

Attorney General Cucinnelli,

I am requesting all documents relating to the amount of money your office and the state of Virginia (including Virginia Tech University) spent on the Pryde and Peterson lawsuit.

Specifically, I would like all documents showing all money and expenses paid to individuals, lawyers and their staff for legal service from:

McGuire Woods
One James Center
901 East Cary Street
Richmond, Va. 232190

I would also like the names of all deputy attorney generals and their staff members used in the state’s defense? What are their salaries (daily salary rate if possible), and how many days did each devote to the trial?

Would you also send me a list of all expenses, travel, miscellaneous, etc. associated with the state’s defense?

Thanking you in advance,

                                                                                    Yours sincerely,



                                                                                    David Cariens
                                                                                      

cc: Governor McDonnell