25Walker, Where to begin? 1) Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness was codified in the Declaration of Independence.  Does not the U.S. Constitution grant citizens the right to freedom?  Trayvon Martin was murdered. He does not have life nor freedom.  Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is a foundation of American law and cannot be withdrawn.  2) The NRA does not promote unregulated gun ownership...are...proponents of keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and people with mental instability...[is] the largest sponsor of gun safety training in the US  Through the NRA's traveling events, the organization does promote gun ownership. The organization hopes to spark interest in and ownership of guns. If the NRA did not quickly inject "gun safety" into its events, the group would look even more irresponsible. The organization has taken the position of not having guns in the hands of criminals and folks with mental illness. However, the laws of many states prohibit guns ownership among criminals and those struggling with mental health problems.  Thus, the NRA's position is redundant and cannot supersede state law that are already in place.  Why does the NRA support rifle ownership?  Under the veil of hunting, we have decimated animal species.  About the perils of rifles and shotguns, here are facts for you:  - Newton Connecticut -26 dead;  - Aurora Colorado -12 dead;  - Oak Creek Wisconsin - 7 dead;  - Minneapolis, Minnesota - 5 dead  The second amendment grants the right to gun ownership.  However, the U.S. is flooded with guns. We have the fatalities to prove it.  At the following map, look at the casualties closely. It's ugly and the NRA has not helped.  3) Far more people are murdered every year in the US with knives, bricks, baseball bats, and bare hands than guns.  All category of firearms (including the standby hand gun) kill more people every year than knives, bricks, baseballs, etc. Conveniently, you omitted that when a gun is in a household there is a significantly increased likelihood that a homicide or suicide will occur.  Here are more facts for you:  Victims of killings are far more likely to be killed by someone they know, than by a stranger. It is wise to "keep good company." Many people have guns waiting for a stranger to break into their home.  4) The Tea Party advocates less taxation, less government intrusion, and to let citizens decide their own best interests.  The Tea Party advocates less taxation for the wealthy and Corporate America.  The above extremist group advocates the elimination of medical procedures for mothers who are in need of life-saving termination of their pregnancies. The Tea Party wants: to ban contraception; government approval of certain forms of sex and genital cavity searches for standard law enforcement procedures. This does not sound like less government intrusion to any logical human being! These torch bearers for an errant past want to destroy Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP.  In short, the Tea Party wants to bring a holocaust to America.  You are a coward for abandoning your fellow countryman.  You are furthering lies fed to you by politically motivated opponents.  The Koch brothers have pumped billions of dollars into right wing organizations.  5) The shooting of Trayvon was preventable, but what set Zimmerman free was Trayvon laying in wait to attack Zimmerman.  "Point 5" proves that you do not have any credibility.  Deservedly, the above facts should leave you disillusioned.
A teenager in Tampa, Fla., was sentenced to 25 years in prison Friday for the attempted murder of a transgender woman, officials said.  Tavares Spencer, 16, was convicted in October for shooting Terrence McDonald, a man Spencer believed was a woman.  Tampa Police said in April tha …