Trending 2-26-2018

BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT UNDER INVESTIGATION

Stricter gun laws must remain the focus as new revelations come forward about warning signs and law enforcement lack of action in the Parkland, FL shootings. Multiple missteps by Broward County police are being investigated as revelations come to light about multiple red flags on the shooter prior to his attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.  There is a growing outcry for Sherriff Scott Israel to resign after several of his deputies failed to engage the shooter during the massacre.  They just stood armed outside as the attack ensued. Add to that the amazing number of direct warnings about the shooter that were missed by the department prior to the shooting, it’s amazing that Israel stands firm that he is not resigning. Governor Rick Scott has ordered an investigation.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE GUN CONTROL

School safety is the top priority. Congress is back in session, but notably quiet about the issue. Arming teachers is not the answer. Raising the age of buying assault weapons is more talk. Banning the sales of assault weapons and modifiers must remain the goal.  The National Rifle Association remains unyielding on all. But the students are planning a march on Washington DC in March as they stand strong in their efforts to stop assault weapon sales and mass shootings in schools.  "Their Mission" within the week following the shooting is starting dialog and change.

Gun control activists have campaigned in recent days, with demands ranging from banning semi-automatic guns like the one used in the Florida shooting to asking public pension funds to sell gun stocks. An action that sounds very similar to that which aided the abolishment of Apartheid in South Africa. Take a look at the growing list of those companies according to Reuters, that have cut relations with the NRA:

• First National Bank of Omaha: The bank said it will not renew a contract with the NRA to issue an NRA-branded Visa card.
• BlackRock Inc: BlackRock said it will speak with weapons makers and distributors “to understand their response,” putting pressure on companies such as Sturm Ruger & Co Inc and American Outdoor Brands Corp.
• Enterprise Holdings Inc: National Car Rental, Enterprise, and Alamo, the three brands owned by the company, will end their discount program with the NRA, effective March 26.
• Wyndham Worldwide Corp: Tweeted it is no more affiliated with the NRA, has ended its relationship late last year.
• Symantec Corp: Symantec said it has stopped a program with the NRA that offered discounts for its LifeLock identity theft product.
• Chubb Ltd: The insurer said that it will stop underwriting an NRA-branded insurance policy for gun owners.
• MetLife Inc: The insurer ended an auto and home incentive program for NRA members.
• North American Van Lines Inc: The company scrapped its affiliate relationship with the NRA.
• Delta Air Lines Inc: Airliner severed marketing ties with the NRA.
• United Airlines: Airliner cut marketing ties with NRA.
• Avis Budget Group Inc: Ended partnership with NRA, effective March 26.
• Hertz Global Holdings Inc: The company tweeted, "We have notified the NRA that we are ending the NRA's rental car discount program with Hertz."

Take a look at the back of your credit card and contact them.  Let them know if they support the NRA in any way (discounts, branded cards, etc.) you will cancel your card and do business elsewhere.  

Top Congress Members Funded By NRA

BLACK PANTHER, A MARVEL OF SUCCESS 

In week two "Black Panther" is still top of the heap with over $700 million in sales worldwide. The film was the number one film in the U.S. for the second weekend making “Black Panther” only the fourth film ever to cross $100 million in its second weekend, joining “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” "Jurassic World," and "The Avengers." It is the second highest during the second weekend for a film, behind only "Force Awakens” according to CNN.

After its second weekend domestically, the film, starring Chadwick Boseman and directed by Ryan Coogler, is already the fifth highest grossing Marvel Studios film and will likely pass "Captain America: Civil War" and "Iron Man 3" to take the number three spot in the coming days. Overall, "Black Panther" showed strong staying power losing only 47% of its domestic audience from its record-breaking opening weekend. That's less of a drop than other films in Marvel's Cinematic Universe like "Captain America: Civil War" and "The Avengers: Age of Ultron," which saw its second-weekend totals drop closer to 60%, according to comScore.