#highland park shooting

[dontmean2bepoliticalbut]

[geezerwench]

“Parents who help their kids get weapons of war are morally and legally responsible when those kids hurt others with those weapons," Rinehart said.

[frances-baby-houseman]

I just saw Kamala Harris!

Someone posted on our local fb group that there were cops on every corner and that she was going to be at Ravinia but that was all I heard of it. I drove home and definitely saw the cops, and there were helicopters circling, and right after I turned onto my street, they closed the intersection!

So I was like, I will walk over there! so I walked over to ravinia and there was nothing doing, so I walked home, but then I was like, well I'll go check out the barricade (they close the streets with snowplows) and then I saw some cop cars speeding thorugh, and I was like, oh I bet she's coming! So I hurried and stood on the corner with a dad and his kid, and the motorcade was just coming through and we were waving and waving and then we saw her! You can see my absolutely insane liveblog of this on my instagram stories.

Then I was walking home and ran into my neighbor and it was a very fun and social event!

Kamala Harris for the People!

[tomorrowusa]

Illinois has banned the sale of military-style assault weapons. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the bill into law soon after it was passed by the Illinois legislature. 

The state immediately banned the sale of the military-style weapons and high-capacity magazines Tuesday evening, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature on a bill the House had passed just hours earlier.

“Today, we made history, becoming the ninth state to institute an assault weapons ban —and one of the strongest assault weapons bans in the nation,” Pritzker said before signing the bill in a ceremony quickly put together at the state Capitol.

Contrary to far right propaganda, Illinois will not confiscate existing weapons legally obtained.

Those already owning the banned guns would be allowed to keep them but would have to register them with the Illinois State Police by Jan. 1.

In addition to thanking the legislators and activists who bucked the gun lobby to pass the bill, the governor paid tribute to some of the lives lost to assault weapons.

The mass shooting last year at a 4th of July parade in Highland Park last year was the last straw for many Illinoisans. 

The passage comes six months after a gunman killed the seven and wounded more than 48 people at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade. Police say shooting suspect Robert Crimo III used a Smith & Wesson M&P15, an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle whose initials, M&P, stand for “military and police.”  

[ ... ]

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering applauded the bill’s passage and called it an “important step” but also urged the federal government to follow suit and enact a national ban.

“We need continued bold action to address mass shootings across our nation,” Rotering said in a statement, calling on Washington and other states to follow Illinois’ lead.

 The proposal became law in less than six weeks after being introduced.

House Democrats introduced the measure on Dec. 1 — and held three committee hearings in Chicago that featured more than 12 hours of emotional testimony from victims of gun violence, survivors and gun-rights advocates.

The new law will help a little but national legislation would help a lot more.

[haute-lifestyle-com]

A Father's Promise, from Abramorama, presents the story of professional musician Mark Barden whose life changed instantly, when his son Daniel was murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary school, and the resilience to turn tragedy into hope.

[davetada]

Thalia

Highland Park, CA

[dwuerch-blog]

It Hurts So Much

So much suffering in our world. Yesterday’s headlines bore more bad news. I read in Dr. Jim Denison’s daily article that the beloved Senior Pastor of Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Bryan Dunnigan, age 44, passed away in his sleep due to natural causes. He leaves behind his wife and three children. Many are grieving deeply today. I also read about the massive manhunt for the gunman…

[mediocre-writerr]

hi!! i absolutely loved sparks, it was PERFECT and for sure the best maddy imagine in this app

so i would like to request a maddy x fem!reader based on style by taylor swift where maddy is "you got that long hair slicked back white tshirt" and reader is "and i got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt"

and reader is like, a cute sweet good girl and everyone thinks she's and angel so when she shows up dating the maddy perez everyone is shocked but they don't really care and just a looot of pda and maddy likes to keep her hands around reader waist all the time and tease her about the skirts she wear saying it is for her

well, thanks for reading and i really like your writing <3

style [maddy perez]

summary: you've always had that good girl faith, maddy perez just happens to be the opposite of that. it's the perfet combo

warnings: some explicit language, underage drinking, and allusions to smut

pairings: maddy perez x fem!reader

mediocre author's note: hey guys! this request has been sitting in my inbox for over a year now...i apologize dearly lol! but it's out now and i hope you enjoy. slowly, but surely getting through all of these requests so please be patient with me. love you all!

Whispers bounced off the lockers and classrooms in East Highland High School. Ever since Maddy Perez finally and officially moved on from Nate Jacobs, rumors have been spreading about who has captivated her heart.

“Y/N, are you going to the party tonight?” Lexi asked you as you put your books in your locker.

A laugh interrupted your answer, “Y/N? Go to a party?” Kat said as she continued to laugh, “Lexi, you’re one of the smartest people I know, but that was such a dumb question,” 

“Ha ha, very funny, but as a matter of fact, I am going to the party tonight,” you answered, shutting the locker behind you. 

“Oh my gosh, is Hell freezing over?” Kat continued to tease and you rolled your eyes playfully, “If Hell is freezing over does that mean we can finally meet your new boyfriend Maddy?” 

“Yeah, I don’t understand why you won’t just tell us! We’re your best friends!” Cassie added on as all of you made your way towards the parking lot.

Maddy just shrugged with a small smirk on her face, “It’s fun keeping you all on your toes, besides, keeping it a secret makes the sex a lot hotter,” she whispered the last sentence, shooting the group a wink, “Bye girls! I’ll see you tonight!” 

As you part ways with the other girls, you pull your phone out of your pocket: Kat and Cassie are going to lose their minds because of you. 

You watched as the three dots quickly popped up without missing a beat: And? They can keep thinking all they want, it’ll make the reveal even better. 

Very true. You replied before quickly typing up another text, You think the sex is hotter because we keep it a secret?

Our sex is always hot, baby ; ) I’ll see you at midnight xxx  A warm flush appeared on your face at the simple words, as you started your car to begin your drive home. 

You and Maddy had been dating for about four months now. What started out as a drunk hookup turned into something way more.

It was different than Maddy expected. Her expectations for relationships and love in general were washed down the drain after her toxic cycle with Nate. She always believed that she wasn’t built for a normal relationship. She always thought that she had to fight and argue for a relationship to be exciting. 

That wasn’t the case with you. Maddy tried to pick a fight with you once, but you quickly shut it down. You reassured her that she doesn’t have to prove that she is something she’s not. The Maddy you knew and were falling in love with was nothing like the girl who was dating Nate Jacobs. She was worried that it would bore her, but it didn’t. Your soft touches and reassuring words made her feel like she was falling in love with you over and over again. 

You were pulled out of your homework when your phone buzzed: I’m outside xxx 

Quietly, you tiptoed out of your room and downstairs to the backdoor, making sure to keep it unlocked so you can sneak back in after. Maddy was leaning against the passenger door as her headlights were off, causing her already dark car to seem much darker.

“Is that the Maddy Perez wearing a plain white t-shirt?” you asked, smirking as she smiled at your words.

She wrapped her arms around your waist, pulling you into her, humming in response, “I love this tight little skirt you’re wearing baby,” she said before moving to whisper in your ear, “You look so gorgeous. I am debating if I should keep you all to myself tonight,” 

You bit your lip, lifting her chin up so your eyes could meet, “That would ruin the fun tonight, don’t you think? How about we make our little appearance and then you can take me home and we’ll have our own fun?” 

“Deal,” she whispered, nipping at the sweet spot on your neck. 

Maddy opened the door for you before quickly getting into her seat to drive to McKay’s. She rested her hand on your thigh, as she drove down the suburban streets. 

Her gaze lingering on your skirt or your tight crop top. The red light illuminated on the two of you as she came to a stop. You leaned over the middle console, guiding her face to look at you. Your lips brushing over hers as you spoke, “Keep your wild eyes on the road,” Maddy let out a groan as you fell back onto the passenger seat. 

“Has anyone seen Maddy? I know she loves to be fashionably late, but she’s even later than usual,” Kat asked.

“Y/N’s not here yet either,” Lexi added on. 

You smirked to yourself as you heard them talk, “Sorry I’m late guys, I was doing homework and completely lost track of time,” 

“We were starting to think that you would pull a no show again,” Kat added on with a smirk lingering her face before her jaw dropped, “Is that Maddy?”

“In a plain white t-shirt?” Cassie chimed up equally as shocked as the brunette. 

“Oh wow. I mean I’ve seen her wear my shirts before, but this is so fucking hot,” you winked at all of them before making your way towards your girlfriend. 

Maddy smirked at you before wrapping her arms around your waist. Her lips finally meeting yours in a passionate kiss. You tugged her closer to you before smiling into it. 

“Y/N and Maddy?” Cassie breathed out.

“No fucking way,” Kat whispered.

Lexi rolled her eyes at the two, “You guys really had no idea? It was obvious,” 

You and Maddy finally pulled away as you approached your friends. Cassie and Kat still needed time to pick their jaws up from off the floor, “What happened, Kat? Close your mouth, sweetheart, you’ll catch flies,” you finally tease the girl back. 

“I’m sorry, but what the fuck?” Kat admitted, “Y/N! You’re one of those good girls that everyone always talks about. You’re with Maddy Perez?!”

“Am I not a good girl, Kat?” Maddy faked pouted. 

You chuckle, kissing her cheek softly, “Trust me Kat, Maddy is a very good girl,” you wink at her and everyone in the circle gags jokingly except for Maddy who just tightens her hand around your waist, leaving an open mouthed kiss on your neck. “Plus, you know what they say every good girl has a thing for the bad guy.” 

[scotianostra]

30th November 1872 saw the first official football international.

This was the first official international match in the world, not just Scotland.

Two years before a “A match between Scotch and English sections" was played at The Oval in London, England in March 1870, oh and don't gripe about the word "Scotch" this was 152 years ago and the term wasn't as frowned upon, we also didn't have T'internet where people get offended for trivial things.

This match was the first match under association rules, the rules we more or less play to this day.

That’s not to say the Oval match wasn’t important. Interestingly though the minute book of the English Football Association does not give any coverage to the 1870 match at the Oval or to four other games which followed between November 1870 and February 1872 – all of which were played in London.

The main reason why these games are not deemed as official is due to the backlash from Scotland. A report in the Glasgow Herald two days after the match in March 1870 claimed that the Scottish team was not representative of footballers in the country. All the players in these games were English based Scots, that is to say they played for English teams.

The grumblings from north of the border grew even louder after A second match, in November 1870, a 1-0 victory for England which was again played at the Oval. One angry correspondent wrote that “it must not be supposed that the eleven who represented us have in their defeat involved our national reputation as athletes.”

It was commented that the Scottish players links with the country were tenuous in the extreme, “such as having gone shooting in the Highlands, or a fondness for Whisky.” however, research into the backgrounds of all 11 players representing Scotland and states that all “would have qualified for Scotland under our modern regulations.”

The problem was that at the time only one club in Scotland played “the association game” was Queen’s Park of Glasgow, other teams had not yet adopted the newer rules and still allowed for “ for running with the ball in hand; the second for obstructing such a run by hacking (kicking an opponent in the shins), tripping and holding.” Sounds like fun eh!

So it was no surprise that when Scotland and England met in the first official game in 1872, all eleven of the Scots were Queen’s Park players. It was a match that kick-started a revolution in Scottish football.

This was not the original intention but the Scots were unable to obtain the services of two countrymen who had competed in the FA Cup final. Arthur F Kinnaird of the Wanderers and Lt Henry Waugh Renny-Tailyour of the Royal Engineers would have to wait until 1873 to play for their country.

While Scotland was eventually represented by eleven men drawn from the Queen’s Park club, England played the match with players from nine different sources selected by Charles Alcock the English Football Association Secretary and captain of the FA Cup winning Wanderers. Alcock, who was the driving force behind the unofficial matches, was unable to play in the first official meeting due to injury but he participated by running the line. Imagine an English player doing that nowadays!

Three England players came from Oxford University but only Reginald Welch played from the successful Wanderers side. Scotland wore dark blue shirts, the then colour of Queen’s Park, with a single lion crest badge attached. The SFA released a replica of that top for the 150th year, although the original tops had a red lion, the 2023 anniversary top had a gold lion.

England, in white, had the badge of the three lions on their shirts.

The crowd, who gathered to watch a goalless draw in the match, numbered 4,000 and they paid an entry fee of a shilling, the same price charged by the English Football Association for the first FA Cup final.

After the success of the game other clubs quickly appeared and on 13th March 1873 the Scottish Football Association was founded to take over the responsibility from Queen’s Park of running the Scotland team, but also to oversee the running of the newly created Scottish FA Cup. Any pretensions that the Football Association in London may have had of running the game throughout the whole of the United Kingdom were quick to recede as Scottish football forged its own independent path.

After the first match the teams met anually unti 1914, not starting again until 1920. The first 13 are marked as friendlies, from match 14 on 15th March 1884 until 26th May 1984, there was also no official matches played between 1939 and 1946. Since 1996 the games have been sporadic.

The games were played as part of the British Home Championship, we just called them the Home Internationals. After the Scotland v England games were marred by pitch invasions and crowd trouble the Home internatiols were scrapped

There was an attempt to keep the Scotland, England fixture with the introduction of The Rous Cup in 1985, the first two years it was a one off match between the two nations, in year 3 it was decided to invite a different South American team to compete each year to create more excitement and to fulfil England and Scotland’s desire to regularly play ‘stronger’ teams. The Rous Cup was discontinued in 1989 and since then matches against the two countries have been more sporadic.

Scotland last played England in the Group D European Championship at Wembley on June 18th 2021, this was the 115th official game and ended in a goalless draw. As of 2023, the teams have played 116 matches; England have won 49, Scotland 41, and there have been 26 draws.

The rivalry between the two countries has been a factor in the matches, Scottish sports journalists traditionally referring to the English as the "Auld Enemy" BBC Online commented that the games "have represented all that is good and all that is bad about football since the fixture began," The Guardian newspaper once reported that "for millions across both sides of the border the encounter represents a chance for the ultimate victory over the enemy."

One of the most notable matches was in 1967 when Scotland beat England 3-2, and the Scots declared themselves unofficial world champions.

The rivalry, to me adds a bit of interest to Inernational competition, The FIFA world Cup and the European Championship, where we have not enjoyed the best of luck, failing to reach the competitions latter stages. During these times many Scots have a "ABE" mantra, meaning they are supporting Anyone but England.

[dontmean2bepoliticalbut]

[beardedmrbean]

A former prison guard trainee who executed five women inside a Florida bank almost six years ago was sentenced to death on Monday as his judge called the slayings calculated, heinous and cruel.

Zephen Xaver, 27, appeared to gulp but otherwise showed no emotion as Circuit Judge Angela Cowden pronounced the sentence at the Highlands County Courthouse in Sebring. After a two-week penalty trial, a jury in June voted 9-3 to recommend that Cowden sentence Xaver to death.

Cowden said the weeks of planning that Xaver performed before the 2019 murders at Sebring's SunTrust bank, the enormity of the crime and the fear the victims felt as they were shot greatly outweighed the two dozen mitigating factors his attorneys had presented, including his history of mental illness, his benign brain tumor and his jailhouse embrace of Christianity.

“May God have mercy on your soul,” Cowden told Xaver.

Xaver pleaded guilty last year to five counts of first-degree murder for the slayings of customer Cynthia Watson, 65; bank teller coordinator Marisol Lopez, 55; banker trainee Ana Pinon-Williams, 38; teller Debra Cook, 54; and banker Jessica Montague, 31.

At gunpoint, Xaver ordered the women to lie on the floor and then shot each the head as they begged for mercy.

Kiara Lopez told Xaver and the court that her mother Marisol had welcomed him into the bank with a smile, an act he repaid by murdering her.

“You shattered me into a million pieces," Lopez said. “I will celebrate the day you die, whenever that might be. Let it be known that you will always be a killer, a coward, a nobody and a waste of human life.”

Michael Cook, Debra's husband, also called Xaver a coward and told the judge, “I have absolutely no sympathy for him.”

Xaver’s lead public defender, Jane McNeill, had asked that Cowden spare her client, saying a life sentence would put an end to the case instead of dragging it out for a decade of appeals and possibly a retrial if the sentence is overturned.

“The only way for this matter to be brought to an end so that the families of the victims and this community is able to move forward is a life sentence,” McNeill argued. The sentence will be automatically appealed.

Under a new Florida law, death penalty sentences can be rendered by a jury vote of 8-4 rather than a unanimous recommendation. The change was adopted after the 2018 Parkland high school shooter could not be sentenced to death for murdering 17 people despite a 9-3 jury vote. McNeill called the new law unconstitutional.

Xaver moved to Sebring, a city of about 11,000, in 2018 from near South Bend, Indiana. In 2014, his high school principal contacted police after Xaver told others he was having dreams about hurting his classmates. His mother promised to get him psychological help.

He joined the Army in 2016. A former girlfriend, who met him at a mental hospital where they were patients, told police he said joining the military was a “way to kill people and get away with it.” The Army discharged him after three months. In 2017, a Michigan woman reported him after he sent her text messages suggesting he might commit “suicide by cop” or take hostages.

Despite his psychological problems and dismissal from the Army, Florida hired Xaver as a guard trainee in November 2018 at a prison near Sebring. He quit two months later, two weeks before the shootings and the day after he bought his gun.

Hours before the murders, Xaver began a long, intermittent text message conversation with a former girlfriend in Connecticut, telling her “this is the best day of my life” but refusing to say why. Fifteen minutes before the shootings, he texted her, “I’m dying today,”

Then, from the bank parking lot he texted, “I’m taking a few people with me because I’ve always wanted to kill people so I am going to try it and see how it goes. Watch for me on the news.”

[frances-baby-houseman]

I was just looking at a round up of 4th of july events on the north shore and it was like, Winnetka-- FUn!, Wilmette-- FUN!, Northfield-- FUN!, and then it got to highland park and it was like, we will be having a memorial service and a weird parade and no nighttime activies and there are services available for people who are struggling right now.

and you know a thing a rabbi said right after it happened was that we would all have to deal forever with being from highland park, and when we told people where we were from the shooting would come up, but it's actually much worse, because no one remembers at all. everyone else just lives their normal lives and doesn't think of us at all. And every day I wish I could be the person I was on July 3, 2022 and I never get to have that again.

Anyway it's a very hard time and I just used to love the fourth of july. I just loved it. And now I don't know what to do about it.

[mariacallous]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — With the calendar-page turn to 2024 on Monday comes 320 new state laws that Illinois residents will need to navigate.

Some will have a widespread effect, including a law banning semi-automatic rifles and another requiring paid time off. But others won’t have an immediate or noticeable impact, including a law that lets county governments consider a potential contractor’s participation in an approved apprenticeship program in determining the winning low bid for a project.

One law that took effect in 2019 but is still impacting tens of thousands of workers is an increase in the minimum wage. It increases to $14 an hour on Jan. 1 for non-tipped workers and will reach $15 in a year.

Here are some of the other major changes to Illinois state law as of New Year’s Day:

BAN ON SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS

The U.S. Supreme Court has failed to take up the case of Illinois’ ban on the sale, possession or manufacture of automatic weapons like the type used in a mass shooting at a 2023July Fourthparade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park.

The law bans dozens of specific brands or types of rifles and handguns, including .50-caliber guns, attachments and rapid-firing devices. No rifle will be allowed to accommodate more than 10 rounds, with a 15-round limit for handguns.

Those who previously purchased such guns must register them with the Illinois State Police by Jan. 1.

BOOK-BAN PROHIBITION

Libraries that indiscriminately ban books will not be eligible for state funds. They must adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights stating “materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.”

The library association reported that attempts to censor books reached a 20-year high in 2022, especially those with LGBTQ+ themes and those written by people of color.

PAID TIME OFF

Employers will be required to offer paid vacation for any reason. Workers will accrue one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked, up to 40 hours total. Employers may offer more than 40 hours and employees may take time off after working for 90 days.

AIR FRESHENERS ALLOWED

Police will no longer be able to pull over a motorist solely because there is an object hanging from their rearview mirror. The law was approved after Daunte Wright was pulled over in Minnesota in 2021 for having a dangling air freshener. He was shot when the officer, reaching for her stun gun, instead grabbed her sidearm.

NO VIDEOCONFERENCING ON THE ROAD

Video meetings, streaming or accessing a social media website while driving will be prohibited. There will be an exception for video on a hands-free or voice-activated device or an application requiring the push of no more than a single button to activate or terminate it.

NO INDOOR VAPING

Vaping or smoking an electronic cigarette or cigar in a public indoor space will be prohibited. The law adds electronic smoking devices to the list of items prohibited in indoor public places under the 2008 Smoke Free Illinois Act, which banned regular tobacco products’ indoor use.

LICENSE-PLATE READER RESTRICTIONS

Interstate agreements between law enforcement agencies must specify that license-plate reader technology not be used on cars driven by women coming into Illinois to have abortions.

SURVEILLANCE DRONES

Following the Highland Park parade shooting, lawmakers approved the use of drones by law enforcement to surveil “routed” or “special events.” The drones may not be equipped with weapons or facial-recognition technology.

DEEPFAKE PORN

Victims of digital forgeries known as deepfake pornography may file civil lawsuits against anyone who shares or threatens to share an image that falsely depicts a person exposing genitalia or other private parts or engaging in a sex act. Identifying the image as materially altered is not a defense to liability.

RESTROOMS MAY BE ALL-GENDER MULTIOCCUPANCY

Businesses have the option of installing restrooms that may be used by any gender simultaneously. Current restrooms may be renovated to accommodate all genders. Urinals may not be included and stalls must have floor-to-ceiling, locking dividers.

VOTER REGISTRATION FOR TEENS

Teenagers may pre-register to vote at age 16 or 17 while obtaining a driver’s license or state identification card at a drivers’ services office run by the secretary of state. When turning 18, the legal voting age, they will already be registered to vote.

[haute-lifestyle-com]

Nashville School Shooting Leaves Six Dead #janetwalker #hautelifestylecom #theentertainmentzonecom #schoolshooting #schools #guns #gunsafety #gunviolence

https://www.haute-lifestyle.com/168-haute-this-issue/6262-six-dead-in-nashville-school-shooting.html

[jose96853]

TRUMP-APPOINTED JUDGE STRIKES DOWN KEY GUN CONTROL MEASURE

In a pivotal legal decision, U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn, appointed by former President Donald Trump, overturned Illinois’ assault weapons ban, sparking a heated debate over Second Amendment rights and gun control. The law, known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA), was enacted in 2022 following a mass shooting at a Highland Park Fourth of July parade that left seven dead and…