Obama Supreme Court Nominee, SotoMayor, Dodged Questions on Gun Background Checks and Abortion

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, during the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, sat through hours of discussions and question.

But during this grueling interrogation, Sotomayor managed to do what almost all high court nominees have done in the last two decades, and that was to dodge controversial questions pertaining current issues on abortion and gun control laws.


The only difference now is that the hearing almost became a media circus with columnist and critics giving mixed reactions to how Sotomayor answered the controversial questions. Most questions that were thrown were met with a comment which left supporters on both sides hanging and without definite answers.

She was able to give details of her court decisions based upon her long judicial records, which were dug up especially for this hearing. When questions on her stand on the current background check and gun control laws, she quickly refused to engage republicans on what her views were on abortion, gun background checks, and same-sex marriage.

She apparently did not show any kind of favor towards being against or for abortion and gun ownership rights. The way Sotomayor handled herself during the interrogations drew praise among those who witnessed the hearing stating that she is unbiased and decides her cases based on facts and not on her predetermined opinion and stance towards these laws.

“I can’t answer in the abstract” was a phrase she repeated more than once in facing questions regarding these issues. As the hearing drew near to a close, Democrats no longer pressed on Sotomayor to disclose her views on the issues, and instead defended her for her experience and unbiased decision making as seen on her long judicial records.

Homeowners Cry Foul over Landlords Requiring their Visitors to Undergo Criminal Background Checks

Dallas, Texas - A basis for a new implemented measure by a Dallas housing development firm is that the main source of most domestic crimes are perpetrated not by residents but by the residents' visitors.

The new measure requires that tenants' visitors that are staying over are to register and undergo a criminal background check which brought about a lot of complaints from tenants, and home owners associations from the units operated by the Dallas Housing Authority. DHA operates at 27 locations with 3,900 units.

The controversial new lease agreement requiring tenants to have overnight visitors register and undergo criminal background checks, was met with negative feedbacks from would be tenants as well as current ones. They proclaim that the new policies are a direct invasion of privacy and that the DHA does not have the right to choose who they let into their home.

Some tenants proclaim the problems that will arise with the implementation of such a policy, stating how they were to tell guest or visitors that they had to undergo criminal background check before they are allowed into their homes.

After the initial proposal, the agreement was revised and reinstated with new compromises agreed upon by the DHA and the homeowners. The policy now says that guests must undergo criminal background checks under to conditions, that is if the staff believe they are living at the property without authorization and if they cause any problems that cause complaints among other tenants.

Among these revises there were additional policies implemented with the agreement stating that the DHA will no longer lease to anyone with any history of arson or child sex crimes. These revisions and policy will be up for voting by the board of commissioners in august.

Why The Nice Man Didn't Save the Toddler

Just goes to show that our own ignorance, fear, and paranoia have finally caught up. Not only do we choose to ignorantly see the worst in people, but now so is our own government. It's just so sad that even actions done with good will can be considered grounds for suspicion of evil. I also read about the man who was sued for trying to save someone who was trying to commit suicide, now that's just wrong. Our laws are no longer making any sense, and is basically now trying to ban us from acting like moral human beings.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Firearm Criminal Background Check could have Prevented McNair Shooting

Nashville, Tenn. – Recently abuzz on news papers and news networks is the death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair and his 20-year-old girlfriend found dead by his side. McNair was shot four times, twice in the head and twice on his chest, while his girlfriend died of a single gunshot on the side of her head.

They were both found dead on a downtown Nashville condominium leased by McNair and close friend Wayne Neeley.

Police are yet to determine if this was in fact a murder suicide. The gun that was used was a firearm purchased by McNair's girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, from an unnamed private seller. Investigators have yet to identify or name the private seller. Sahel Kazemi was not yet of legal age to buy a firearm from a licensed gun store, and if she did, she would have failed the background check that would be required to purchase guns.


Current gun background check loopholes, like purchasing from private sellers, have not really been given much attention. Had background check and gun control laws been strictly implemented, the waiting time and background check on Kazemi could have prevented the alleged murder suicide.

McNair is married and his death leaves his four children fatherless. Police and detective have yet to provide solid evidence to determine that the shooting was a murder homicide brought about by a lover's quarrel gone wrong or perpetrated by a third party assailant.

One thing is clearly determinable, McNair's death was a homicide, but the death of his Kazemi is yet to be determined. Uncovering the truth will follow after thorough investigation, autopsies and ballistic tests.

DBAV News: Gun Range Suicides Prompt Gun Rental Background Checks

Orlando, Florida - On July 1st 2009, Wednesday, a 43-year-old man went inside an Orange County gun range and rented a gun for target practice. Valentin Pepelea proceeded to fire a few shot before pulling the trigger on himself at around 6:40pm. Employees and witnesses told reporters that the man was a regular, and never caused any problems with anyone at the range.


Rieg's Gun Range is on South Orange Blossom Trail, and the shooting is the fourth incident and the third gun range suicide in Florida since April where a woman shot her 20-year-old son and then killed herself at a Casselberry shooting range.


The other incident was at the same Casselberry range where a 26-year-old Jason McCarthy killed himself with a 9mm rented handgun. The first incident was a failed suicide attempt on June at another Orange County gun range.

There are no current laws or regulations that require a person to undergo background checks before renting a firearm in any of the 50 states. The only requirement is an ID.

The recent incident has raised concerns about the gun ranges and establishments readily renting guns to anyone without checking on their mental or criminal backgrounds. Currently Florida Gun Ranges are already petitioning for legislators to pass a law mandating background checks for people renting firearms, and allowing these ranges to access government databases to conduct instant background checks.

The Casselbury gun range where most of the suicides occurred are now looking at running instant background checks by employing a third party firms services, and are no longer renting firearms since the july incident. Other Florida gun ranges no longer rent out firearms to individuals but only to parties of two or more, they would also require an ID copy of a family member and their phone number before being allowed to possess the firearm.

Federal law does not mandate these requirements, but since the incidents, gun ranges have made their own regulations regarding gun rentals. Many second amendment advocates see's these regulations as a threat to American's rights to bear arms, despite the current suicides.