Colorado Massacre: The Aftermath, and A New Gun Debate, Updates All Weekend

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http://www.thenation.com/blog/168994/colorado-massacre-aftermath-and-new-gun-debate-updates-all-weekend

9:00 RETROACTIVELY Obama backs return of full ban on assault weaponry--as candidate in 2008.

8:45 THE STOCKPILE AND THE QUIET AMERICAN How the alleged shooter assembled it, including easily obtaining 6000 rounds (count 'em) of ammo. Legally.... For those who claim little link between guns and homicides.... New from Denver Post on James Holmes, a new "quiet American" (with apologied to Graham Greene)...Still no release of his jailhouse photo.

8:10 NEW DEBATE OVER GUNS Wide coverage of this in the media, and NYT today has at top of its site this report on lax gun controls in Colorado (even after Columbine), but many warn that Obama and the Democrats will say and do nothing between now and Election Day--yet more proof of the fundamental un-democratic effects of the Electoral College and how a few voters in "swing states" dictate the national agenda.

From late Friday

A DAY LATE? Piers Morgan shouts at pro–gun rights guest who said today is not the time to talk about gun control: You’re right, he says, Yesterday was the day. Angry. Now “today is the day to act.”.... Earlier on CNN, in a debate over gun control with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Newt Gingrich said with a straight face that assault rifles were illegal throughout the U.S.

AMMO ON DEMAND Police chief in another press conference just now lowers casualties to seventy from seventy-one. Says suspect purchased startling 6,000 rounds of ammunition "over the Internet." (Hey, this is America.) Still not moving on booby-trapped apartment… Suspect left medical school “voluntarily.” Nothlng else new. Loner. Chief says sheriff asked if he wanted to release new photo. He declined… Expired federal assault weapons ban would have covered purchase by gunman.

[HopeHoops]

1. Guns don't kill people. People with guns do.