The Folly Of Arming Teachers

     It is not enough to train someone how to safely handle and shoot a gun. At all times a law enforcement officer must be aware of his or her weapon and the people around. At any time, especially for cops working high crime areas, there is the possibility that a criminal or unhinged person can make a grab for the weapon. It is important to know not only how to handle a gun and shoot it, but also how to defend it from someone that might want to grab it away.
     Should teachers have to be concerned with this throughout the school day? Protecting their gun so that an unhinged student or someone else does not make a grab for it?  Is this really the answer? Or just an excuse to continue to do nothing of substance?

Public Safety And The Right To Bear Arms

     Public safety will require more metal detectors in schools and elsewhere along with more armed security officers. It is unfortunate that there are a whole lot of unstable people in the United States that possess weapons that make mass killings easy. People have the right to bear arms, but this does not mean unrestricted access to almost any kind of weapon for almost anyone. There are certain powerful weapons that make mass killings easy that are now in the hands of thousands of individuals and hate groups that have few or no reservations about using these weapons against unarmed civilians. The politicians that allowed this to happen failed to recognize that a fundamental responsibility of government is to provide for public safety. Lives have been lost, and it will be costly, to protect against what they have created.
     

Second Amendment Was Not Intended To Support Murderers In Their Quest to Kill

     When moderation is lost, it is difficult to get anything resolved. Between banning guns and barely having any restrictions on guns is a sensible middle ground. Even if certain weapons are not considered military weapons does not mean they should be available to the civilian population. Like it or not, there are plenty of deranged people only too happy to kill, and that relish the weapons that make mass killings easy. The second amendment was not intended to support lunatics, hate filled fanatics and terrorists in their quest to kill.
       It is less expensive to reduce access to the weapons that make mass killings easy, and fewer lives will be lost, than continuing to allow access to these weapons while adding more security guards, more security checks, and more limitations on freedom.
   

Cops, Students, And Powerful Weapons

       There are cops that worked high crime areas that experienced being shot at not once but multiple times. Some were on the hit list of powerful street gangs. They gained the strong awareness that the difference between life or death, being crippled and disabled or not being crippled and disabled, can depend on what weapons criminals use.

        If someone desires chaos in the United States, such as a foreign government with hostile intentions, it makes all the sense in the world for them to support virtually unrestricted access for every lunatic, hate filled fanatic, and terrorist to get their hands on powerful weapons that can inflict mass casualties.

        It is in the interest of cops working high crime areas - it is in the interest of students and everyone that wants to be free- to not allow the desire of lunatics and fanatics to kill to trump their right to live.

        

Arming Lunatics

     It is hard not to be moved by the students, teachers, families and others personally affected by the recent mass shooting in a Florida high school. Maybe this will finally be the straw that breaks the camel's back, and the United States will stop being one of the easiest countries in the world for  lunatics, fanatics and terrorists to get their hands on weapons that make it easy to commit mass murder.

Right To Bear Arms Did Not Mean Making Mass Murder Easy

     Another mass shooting in the United States, and the usual response. Condolences, sympathy extended, calls for action, calls for mental health treatment, and in the end ...nothing.
     Politicians are too beholden to their special interests to do anything but tow their party line.
     When it comes to guns, the republican party is the party guilty of political correctness. The party line is that no gun is a bad gun... this is only a mental health issue. Conservative political correctness dictates to not deviate from this narrative.
      Many liberals are guilty of excusing violence provided it comes from people they consider downtrodden. They excuse or ignore all kinds of violence and bad behavior provided it comes from those they consider victims.
      Many conservatives may not be guilty of the pandering that many liberals do, but they do not mind arming every lunatic in the country.
       Every time there is a mass shooting and conservatives say it is not the time for politics, they are completely wrong. It is the time for politics, because if nothing changes, and so far nothing does, then all the country is doing is waiting for is the next shooting.
       When they say it is a mental health issue and not a gun issue, this is a deflection. People intent on killing are not the people eagerly seeking therapy for themselves. And therapy in and of itself is far overrated. It works for some, not for others, and rarely for those who are forced into it. Is every person in the United States that is thought to be unhinged going to be forced into therapy? Thereby taking away people's rights and forcing them into something that most likely will not work anyway?
        No one knows for sure if someone is a murdering lunatic or fanatic until after they committed the crime, or attempted to commit it.
        Despite Trump and others complaining that something should have been done about the 19 year old murdering lunatic, the fact remains that people cannot be arrested or detained for what is thought they might do in the future.
        Someone intent on murder may be difficult to stop, but making it easy for that person to murder as many people as possible is plain lunacy.
         Not all guns are created equal. Obtaining weapons that can inflict mass casualties, and the ease by which people can get these weapons, which includes lunatics, fanatics and terrorists, remains far too easy.
          Republicans want to make this a mental health issue, even though there is no way they are about to fund mental health treatment. They need to stop pretending this is not about guns. People have the right to bear arms. But that is a far different right then making it easy for every murderous lunatic, every hate filled fanatic, every terrorist, to get their hands on guns, especially powerful weapons that can quickly inflict mass casualties.

     
   

New Jersey, An Anti-Animal Cruelty Organization And Corruption

     In researching more about what transpired in New Jersey regarding the end of an animal organization's mandate to investigate animal cruelty, and instead having it placed in the hands of  public law enforcement (the only place where it belongs), it was heartening to think that this was done out of the realization of how ineffective and harmful it is to have animal cruelty investigated by an animal organization. Instead, it appears the main motivation stems from the abuse of power and corruption by one particular animal organization.
     Corruption often is not overt. Often it is insidious and hidden, and does not blatantly violate the law. When corruption is not overt or sensational, there is rarely anyone, and certainly not the media or press (shortsighted and sensation driven as they are) willing to take a look. Across the United States, the response to animal cruelty and dog fighting continues to be disgraceful.
     Many nonprofits and individuals are enriched, no matter how corrupt, ineffective and harmful they might be. Whether it is animal cruelty, animal welfare, wildlife protection, or a host of other matters, the more there is suffering and crisis, the more these organizations and individuals benefit.
      What transpired in New Jersey is but the small tip of the iceberg.
 
     

Humane/Anti-Cruelty Animal Organizations, Snake Oil And 911

     When anti-domestic violence and anti-drunk driving organizations realized that there was a poor, often nonexistent police response to domestic violence and drunk driving, they did not tell the public and their donors to call 911 to report domestic violence and drunk driving, and then wash their hands of the matter. They instead advocated to ensure there was an appropriate police response. Things are not perfect, but they are much better now than how they were in the past.
      When it comes to animal cruelty and dog fighting, a number of organizations eagerly tell people to call 911 and/or their particular organization to report these crimes, knowing full well that an animal organization is incapable of properly responding to animal cruelty and dog fighting (they are ineffective, often harmful substitutes for the police, and provide an excuse for police to continue doing little to nothing), and that the police response to animal cruelty and dog fighting is greatly lacking. Despite the pathological and minimal response to animal cruelty and dog fighting, various animal organizations and animal advocates refuse to change the status quo. Why will they not do for animal related crimes what anti-domestic violence and anti- drunk driving organizations achieved in their fight against drunk driving and domestic violence?
       Because animals cannot communicate in the way a human can, animal organizations and animal advocates can say and do whatever they want on behalf of animals. Even when they promote ineffective or harmful programs and interventions, there is no constituency (the animals) that can protest.
Furthermore, whoever has the public believing that they are the go to place regarding animal cruelty and animal welfare is virtually ensured fame and fortune, including a fortune in contributions.
       It is not difficult to access the police response to dog fighting and animal cruelty, including the response to 911 calls. If someone cared enough to do so, they would be appalled at how poor and dismissive is the police response.
       Unfortunately, despite the myriad of animal organizations and animal advocates, no one cares enough to do so. And no one cares enough to do for animal cruelty and dog fighting what anti-domestic violence and anti-drunk driving organizations and advocates did to ensure an appropriate and better police response. (Token anti-cruelty teams fielded by a police department or animal organization are sometimes held as a model to emulate. However, they are ineffective and provide an excuse for law enforcement, with few exceptions, to do nothing. It is understood, for example, that all police must respond appropriately to domestic violence, and not tiny, inconsequential teams.)
        And so the myriad animal organizations and advocates keep pushing their snake oil. Almost every single animal experiencing cruelty and dog fighting will never have anyone came to their aid because of the continued dysfunctional response by police and animal organizations. Thus animals suffer needlessly. And criminals, who can legitimately be arrested, get to continue their criminal conduct. Few animal abusers and dog fighters will ever get caught because of what these animal organizations and advocates allow. Their failure to advocate for a defenseless population has ensured misery.

Animal Advocate; Self Serving Label And A Hustler's Dream

     To the prominent animal advocate that has made a fortune and career on the backs of animals, and who stepped into what is unfortunately one of the easiest hustles in the world - Do you ever feel shame for how you and others have exploited animal cruelty and dog fighting for your own gain?  Anyone can claim to be an animal advocate. It is far too often a self serving label that has attracted no shortage of unethical hustlers. Unfortunately, expressing concern for animals seems to be the low bar many animal lovers have set. Caring, whether real or not, and emotions, rather than efficacy, is the low standard applied when it comes to animal welfare and animal cruelty. And thus animal cruelty continues to not be taken seriously. Animals, not the animal lovers, and certainly not the animal advocates, pay a huge price for this failure.

Animal Suffering In Chicago And Elsewhere From Lack Of Animal Advocates

     There is no shortage of people that call themselves animal advocates that use concern for animals as the pretense for lining their own pockets. They obtain fame or fortune or both, while animals and the public are harmed.
      True animal advocates are rare. They do not hide behind insincere compassion. They are people that are unafraid and courageous. If only Chicago and many other places had such people in their corner. If such people existed, the response to animal cruelty and dog fighting would not be ineffective and often harmful, exploitative and minimalistic .
     

Legalized Dog Fighting And Animal Cruelty Ends Hypocrisy

     Is there a single anti-domestic violence organization clamoring to be the responders and investigators for domestic violence? There is not, because they recognize that domestic violence is a crime that requires a law enforcement response. Name the crime, and it is a given that police are the ones responsible for acting against it.
     Animal cruelty and dog fighting are the exception. A number of animal organizations and so called animal activists know full well that by giving the perception they are doing something about these crimes, fame and fortune will follow. And so the years have passed in which these organizations and these activists have embarked on aggressive campaigns to be the go to place for all things animal cruelty related, no matter how ineffective, worthless or harmful are their programs and actions. Furthermore, decades have passed in which the public is fed the lie that an animal organization can adequately address animal cruelty related crimes, and that their array of self serving documentaries, programs, media events and so forth are about animals and not about themselves.
     They have completely failed, and even worse, have greatly harmed animals and the public good. Because animals cannot communicate the ineffectiveness and harm of human actions, these organizations continue their lucrative charade.
      It is unfortunate that there is the absence of scrutiny regarding efficacy when it comes to what takes place in the nonprofit world as it pertains to voiceless populations, be it domestic animals or wildlife.
      After lost decades in which a number of people and organizations have become greatly enriched by animal suffering, and in which there has been enormous unnecessary animal suffering as a result, it is time to stop pretending animal cruelty is a crime, and to finally treat it as a crime.
      Getting serious about animal cruelty means that only the police or public law enforcement responds to these crimes. No more animal abuse investigations by animal organizations. They have no business being the fourth rate, pretend substitutes for the police. Their actions are usually ineffective at best. Many are the times in which humane investigators have done nothing more than provide dog fighters and animal abusers a heads up warning and opportunity to move their animals to a new location. Their actions and the lack of advocacy by animal organizations and activists have allowed the police to do little to nothing about dog fighting and animal cruelty. (Small, against animal abuse teams fielded by a police department are nothing more than an ineffective bone thrown to so called animal activists and an excuse for larger law enforcement to continue to do little to nothing.)
       The only advocacy that animal organizations and so called animal activists should do, after years of shamelessly exploiting animal cruelty for their own gain, is to advocate that animal cruelty and dog fighting be treated as crimes. This means that these crimes get treated just like all the other crimes, especially crimes of violence - namely that the police and the police alone are responsible for their enforcement. No more phony advocacy programs that are worthless diversions. No more self serving documentaries. No more animal advocates using concern for animals as the pretense for lining their own pockets. Either get serious about dog fighting and animal cruelty, after years of exploiting these crimes, or stop being hypocrites and demand their legalization.
         

Police Misconduct, Animal Cruelty, Dog Fighting And The Media

     The media, reporters and journalists included, feed upon sensationalism. Even when they expose something that needs to be exposed, do not count on them to ensure that there is change for the better. After they have milked something for its sensational value, they move on like vultures, with no regards to seeing wrongs corrected.
      It is too bad that they have the platform that can set things right. The platform to ensure better  directions and outcomes for an array of wrongs and injustices. Often they write an article, or run a story, and then walk away from the situation. One reporter commented, after a story regarding a form of police misconduct was published, and after being told nothing had changed for the better, that it was no longer her problem because she had exposed the issue. When told that nothing had changed other then a way to continue the same conduct without having it formalized on paper, she declared that because she exposed the problem, even though it was still ongoing, it was no longer newsworthy and worthy of her attention.
      This blog has focused recently and in the past upon the exploitation of animal cruelty and dog fighting by a number of animal organizations, and the failure to enforce these crimes.  Had the interest of a variety of media people extended beyond the sensational value of dog fighting and animal cruelty, and if their interest and concern extended beyond a self-serving documentary or story, their platform could have set things on a far different and better course.
       It is not enough to write an article, produce a self serving documentary or some other media event, and then wash one's hands of the problem. Without an active, probing, independent press, serious issues get exploited, and the public is failed. In regards to dog fighting and animal cruelty, the failure to go beyond the sensational and self-serving has allowed for years of exploitation and failure. Without an independent, probing press, anything goes.

Welcome News From New Jersey Regarding Animal Cruelty Investigations

     New Jersey is passing a bill that will prohibit an animal organization from conducting animal cruelty investigations, and will place the responsibility on sheriff departments and other public law enforcement.
      A representative from a major national animal organization applauded the move - following public sentiment as they always do, and not necessarily out of their own conviction- even though  officials from that organization, including their president, were told years ago why no animal organization should investigate animal cruelty. The organization's president was informed about the ineffective, often harmful investigations animal organizations were conducting. He was informed about police not responding appropriately to animal cruelty and dog fighting, including from calls made to 911. He was told that animal organizations need to be advocates to ensure an appropriate police response, and that animal organization investigations not only were ineffective and often harmful, but also enabled police to continue to do little to nothing in regards to animal cruelty and dog fighting. He promised to look into the matter and get back in contact, which never happened. For this organization to now pretend to be concerned about how outdated and ridiculous it is for an animal organization to conduct animal cruelty investigations instead of public law enforcement is truly disingenuous. They never once lifted a finger to change the pathological dynamic of how animal cruelty and dog fighting are enforced, and have done nothing, along with numerous other animal organizations, other than to exploit dog fighting and animal cruelty for their own gain. This pathological dynamic was explained to a number of animal organizations, animal activists, reporters, and others, who proceeded to do absolutely nothing, thereby guaranteeing enormous unnecessary pain and suffering.
      If New Jersey throws a bone to the so called animal activists, and does what some other police departments have done- form small, ineffective anti animal abuse teams that are nothing more than an excuse for larger law enforcement to continue to do nothing- then there will not be success. Unfortunately, there are few animal organizations and animal activists concerned with something other than making money or themselves so that real structural change becomes near impossible to implement.
      Maybe New Jersey will be the start of something that should have taken place decades ago. It should have come from Chicago, but that is a whole other story.

Animal Cruelty And Dog Fighting: The Least Enforced Crimes

     Many animal organizations and a number of individuals are too busy making fortunes from the suffering of animals (donations, documentaries, media events, etc.) to concern themselves with the enormous structural failures - written about in earlier blogs- that ensures continued pain and suffering. Animal cruelty, in its many different forms, including dog fighting, continues to consist of  the least enforced crimes. Animals suffer because true activism is absent, while animal cruelty exploitation remains exceptionally common.
     

The Not Bright Future for Whales And Dolphins

     Whales and dolphins did not evolve to withstand what humans are throwing their way. The list of threats are many, but there is one threat that will be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Added to entanglement in fishing nets, collision strikes with ships, ocean acidification, loss of prey from overfishing, damage to the oceans from trawlers that scrape the seafloor, weapons testing, coastal overdevelopment, dredging, acoustic noise and sonar use that damages marine life tissue and hearing, chemical pollutants, human created ocean dead zones that kill virtually everything, radioactive waste - and much more - is the added threat of plastic and other oil based waste material.

       Plastic, Styrofoam and oil based materials (including food wrappers for chips, cookies, crackers, fast food restaurants and much more) enters the oceans daily by thousands upon thousands of tons. 

       In addition, micoplastics from a variety of products, and micoplastic fibers from clothing and other textiles, daily enters the oceans by the millions from washing, cleaning and a variety of other means. 

       Plastic and microplastic poisoning of the oceans will be the final straw. Already it has killed and sickened untold numbers of whales, dolphins,sea turtles, seabirds, fish and other marine life.

       Humans will not be unaffected. Plastic, including microplastic beads and microplastic fibers, are in the fish and marine life people eat. The fibers are in our water, in the air, and in the food chain.  

       The world focuses on its religious and political conflicts as we continue to poison ourselves.

       This human created disaster is not being addressed. There is no technology that can counter the daily poisoning of the oceans. No matter how much garbage is removed from ocean garbage patches, it will in no way equal what enters the oceans daily. Furthermore, almost all plastic and oil based material breaks down and disperses, and is virtually impossible to recover.

        There is no simple solution. It has to start with a massive worldwide effort to reduce the amount of garbage that enters the oceans. Reducing the amount of packaging materials and changing the materials used for packaging, textiles and more is essential. Hugely profitable food corporations serving burgers, coffees, fries, etc., know that their food wrappers, disposable gloves and so forth end up in the oceans, especially in countries where there is poor garbage disposal (which includes most countries of the world). It cannot be business as usual in which the only measure of wealth is what a stock does. The Dow Jones can reach 100,000, and it is meaningless in a poisoned world.

        Many marine species are on the verge of extinction. Many species are already far too stressed to withstand the massive threat, only decades old, of plastic poisoning. Whales, dolphins, sea turtles, fish, marine life and humans did not evolve to withstand plastic poisoning. And once plastic enters the oceans, it is virtually impossible to remove. It has already entered the oceans by millions of tons, with thousands of new tons added daily.