3 Oct 2017: Daily Homily (Las Vegas Massacre) and Tweets

by | Oct 3, 2017 | Tweets, USA | 17 comments

I think everyone can guess what most tweets are about today. There’e been yet another mass shooting in the US, this time in Las Vegas. The killer was 64 year-old Stephen Craig Paddock. He shot down onto concert-goers from his 32nd floor hotel room.

At the time of writing the number killed is 59 and around 515 are wounded. It’s being called the “deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.”

He’d been in the room for four days before the killing. He seems to have spent a lot of that time gambling. Police found at least seventeen firearms in his room, including a semi-automatic that was modified to fire automatically. That gun appears to be the one that was used for most of the murders. He had set up a stand in his room to make firing easier. Paddock broke two windows in his room, and fired through the holes onto the concert-goers.

Location of shooting.

Location of shooting. (Source: Washington Post. Click pic to go to source.)

It appears there was a great deal of planning that went into this act. Despite that, so far no one has any hint of what his motive could be. Paddock was a retired accountant. He had no criminal record, though his father was a bank robber who at one time was on the FBI Most Wanted list. He was in a relationship. The Washington Post says he “legally bought more than two dozen firearms across a period of years.”

As I write this I’m watching ‘The Five’ on Fox News. Most of it is okay, or at least as you’d expect, but one of the co-presenters was unbelievable. Greg Gutfeld began talking about the gunman’s girlfriend who is apparently out of the country at the moment. His thought process, despite all evidence being that she is a normal US grandmother, was that she may be in the Philippines, and she may be Muslim, and she may have had an influence on the shooter, and this might be an ISIS situation. FFS! SMH!

As usual, fellow USians are offering “thoughts and prayers” to the victims and their families. (Why are people praying to the same god who couldn’t or wouldn’t stop the gunman?)

The NRA (National Rifle Assn) and its supporters are saying this isn’t the right time to discuss gun control. Of course, they don’t think it’s ever the right time. When tragedies like this happen, it has to be the time to talk about it. It’s the only time people take any notice.

Many people in the US seem quite happy to accept the result of their lax gun laws. That means the needless death of thousands of their fellow citizens, including hundreds of children, each and every year.

The worst thing is the politicians who get huge donations from the NRA and ignore the situation. Two of them have been victims of gunmen who shouldn’t have been able to get weapons. But, most of them continue to support gun rights. What the fu€k is wrong with them?

President Trump made a speech that was exactly the same as every other speech by a president after such events. It began with, “My fellow Americans …”. There were plenty of “thoughts and prayers” and “praying for souls” and comments on the “evil” perpetrated. The flag on the White House is at half staff, and the president will visit victims and first responders. All very fine. But NOTHING will change.

This time, it looks like people aren’t going to be able to push the blame onto the usual causes. If that is so, maybe it will mean that people will face up to the fact that there is a problem in US society. I won’t be holding my breath.

 

Las Vegas Shooting Tweets

Governor Matt Bevin tweeted:

To all those political opportunists who are seizing on the tragedy in Las Vegas to call for more gun regs…You can’t regulate evil…:

A good response (via Ann German):

 

This is a better response than most of the political ones.
(Via Ann German.)

 

It seems it’s not terrorism when a white guy does it.
(Via Ann German.)

 

You can usually rely on Jake Tapper to say the right thing.

 

Enough said.

 

 

Gun Control Tweets

On the NRA. This is one I’ve tweeted myself in the past, but this time I’ve been beaten to it.
(Via Ann German.)

 

Some of mine I put out, because I think this IS the time to speak out.

 

 

 

When is the US going to do something about this?

 

 

Religion Tweets

So now you know …


And more genius from the same thread …

 

Science does it again!

 

Pat Robertson says that things like lack of respect for the law is a problem, but he only means laws he approves of. He doesn’t respect the laws that mean abortion and same-sex marriage are legal. He constantly flouts the law where in return for not paying taxes he doesn’t tout for a particular politician or political party.

Political Tweets

The information keeps on coming. The problem is that Trump is doing his best to make his base distrust the media. So when the truth comes out they won’t believe it and will continue to believe his lies.
(Via Ann German.)

 

Human Rights Tweets

The crisis of the Rohingya Muslims has already gone from the front of our minds by the latest tragedy.

Science Tweets

I want one!

 

The break up of Pangaea – how cool is this?!

 

How science works.

 

Wow!

 

Amazing work!

Halloween Tweets

I’m not a fan of Halloween. It wasn’t a thing in New Zealand when I was a kid, but it’s growing now thanks to the influence of US TV. Some of my nieces and nephews go trick or treating, and they look cute in their costumes. Here’s an adult costume I’ve never seen before!

 

Entertainment Tweets

Who knew?

 

I love The Rock, Dwayne Johnson. So of all the stars putting out messages right now, his gets my approval. I don’t know whether or not he’s a believer. However, I noted with pleasure there was none of the “thoughts and prayers” crap in this.

 

Bloody hell! USians will make a competition out of anything.

Space Tweets

It’s hard to read, even on full screen. But, it’s such a beautiful pic it’s going in anyway!

Marine Tweets

Keep calm, and carry on.

 

How cool is this?!

Other Animals Tweets

This lovely red squirrel knows where to go!

 

Insect Tweets

Very cool!

 

There’s so much to learn about insects.

 

Spider Tweets

I think this is my first spider tweet, and it’s a good one.

Cat Tweets

This cat has a problem if it’s survival depends on hunting!

 

 

Lovely kitty!

 

To tell the truth, this is another weird looking cat to me. It looks like a sausage cat (as opposed to a sausage dog).

 

What a special meeting! Walking over nails to get to the object of your affection!

 

The old story – cats and boxes!


I’ve saved my favourite for last – kittens and owls. What a special mix!!!

 

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17 Comments

  1. Yakaru
    Yakaru on 3rd October 2017 at 9:10 pm

    Given that 40+% in the US elected and still support a president who publicly fantasizes about shooting people, this will not change any time time soon. There simply isn’t the political will. Quite the opposite in fact. There is a celebration of violence from Trump’s followers, and an odd passivity from liberals (especially in the media) towards Trump’s obvious and childish eagerness for nuclear war.

    It looks to me like nuclear war and/or some kind of civil war are more likely for the US than gun control at the moment.

    Reply
    • Heather Hastie
      Heather Hastie on 4th October 2017 at 5:47 am

      I agree. They couldn’t even get gun control done after the Sandy Hook massacre. Instead, people like Alex Jones were busy convincing others it was a false flag operation in order to prevent support for action. Parents of children who died were getting death threats for lying! Sick.

      Reply
      • David Coxill
        David Coxill on 4th October 2017 at 8:26 am

        Hi ,that tithead alex jones is trying to blame the shooting on the Russian Revolution and the release of oj simpson ,i kid you not .
        Don’t know how America is going to fix this problem ,but seeing that the victims families are all for gun control ,maybe it will only happen when someone from every family in America becomes a victim .
        PS ,did you know that Jerry Coyne is pinching all your Tweets ?.

        Reply
        • Heather Hastie
          Heather Hastie on 4th October 2017 at 8:43 am

          Trying to work out how Alex Jones’ s mind works is impossible. There’s a lot of both bad and loose wiring there.

          Yes, I know about Jerry using my tweets. I’m quite happy for him to do it, which he knows. We’re good friends. He always links back to my website. They don’t belong to me even if I did object.

          Reply
          • David Coxill
            David Coxill on 5th October 2017 at 4:15 am

            Hi ,i was making a funny when i mentioned Jerry pinching your Tweets.
            Don’t know how it is in NZ ,but in GB we don’t have fruit cakes like jones, and their radio and tv shows .

          • Heather Hastie
            Heather Hastie on 5th October 2017 at 6:55 am

            No, we don’t them either. We don’t have extremist politicians either. One of the benefits of being a small country is public figures have to appeal to a majority if their goal is fame and popularity. Infamy doesn’t cut it here – it leads to either mockery or disdain.

            Even groups that are normally reasonably popular, like the mainstream churches are sensitive to it. For example, when they spoke against same-sex marriage they got so much opposition they realized they were better off shutting up.

          • David Coxill
            David Coxill on 5th October 2017 at 7:43 am

            Hi ,not quite true about GB being right wing loon free have you heard of a woman named katie hopkins ?.,a ann coutler wantabe .
            She had a slot on the LBC radio station ,she said something along the lines of having a final solution to Europe’s refuge problem ,she got sacked soon after .

            Can’t see that happening to jones, beck and the rest .

          • Heather Hastie
            Heather Hastie on 5th October 2017 at 7:59 am

            I’ve heard the name, but haven’t come across her. She sounds ghastly!

          • David Coxill
            David Coxill on 5th October 2017 at 8:42 am

            Ghastly ,that is the right word to describe her.

          • nicky
            nicky on 25th October 2017 at 6:14 am

            If it were not for Jerry, I’d probably never have heard about’Heather’s Homilies’. I’m grateful.

  2. Lee Knuth
    Lee Knuth on 4th October 2017 at 5:05 am

    Many of us keep fighting to get stricter gun laws but unless legislators stop taking NRA’e money nothing will happen.

    Reply
    • Heather Hastie
      Heather Hastie on 4th October 2017 at 5:54 am

      Yeah, the amount of money in politics in your country is a big problem. It’s so expensive to fight an election and there are no limits on what’s spent as in other countries, so the situation is inevitable. The trouble is, most of the politicians don’t want to change it. The overturning of the conviction of that Republican politician (whose name currently escapes me) by SCOTUS set a major precedent in ensuring things won’t change anytime soon as well.

      Reply
  3. Kevin Henderson
    Kevin Henderson on 4th October 2017 at 7:57 am

    Obama is likely to be remembered as the greatest American president for the NRA. The NRA has not done so well under Trump. The Las Vegas Massacre will be good for them.

    I will add one to Yakaru’s list: another massacre is significantly more likely that US gun control.

    A simple message to gun owners: This will never stop without your support.

    Reply
    • Mark R.
      Mark R. on 4th October 2017 at 8:18 am

      I agree, he was the perfect scapegoat for the gun nutters.

      Reply
    • David Coxill
      David Coxill on 4th October 2017 at 8:30 am

      Well he did pass a law that stopped 75.000 people with mental health issues from getting their hands on guns ,the snatch snatcher has abolished it earlier in the year.

      Reply
    • Heather Hastie
      Heather Hastie on 4th October 2017 at 8:33 am

      Quite true. As long as groups like the NRA are spinning their line, things won’t change. Every time Obama mentioned gun control, people bought more guns. I’ve got some cartoons about that too. I might post them later.

      Reply
  4. Mark R.
    Mark R. on 4th October 2017 at 8:17 am

    Since we don’t have a functioning democracy, the will of the people is inconsequential, thus no action will be taken to stop Americans from being slaughtered. And when you think of it, “thoughts and prayers” actually amount to silence. The silence is deafening (just like g*d’s). Though I must admit, it would be nice if there really was a benevolent god that looked after its creation; a very pleasant fairy tale indeed. Oh, and Pat Robertson is the Alex Jones of the evangelicals.

    The abortion vs. buying a gun tweet was very excellent; more evidence that religion. poisons. everything.

    The animal tweets were great as usual. I especially liked the turtle riding the (I think) gharial, and the cat with mice. I couldn’t read the space photos…grrr.

    Reply

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