Pulse Massacre

From the Tampa Bay Times: A pride flag waving outside the Hillsborough County center was meant to be a sign of respect and remembrance for the victims of the shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando. But just a day after it was raised, Commissioner Stacy White said it may be offending Christian employees and questioned whether it should be …

From Sarah Palin’s Facebook page: OBAMA IS A SPECIAL KIND OF STUPID. Enough is enough, Mr. President. There’s no “due respect” due you after pulling this stunt. Exploiting a sick, evil, ideological-driven attack on Americans to further your twisted anti-Second Amendment mission is disgusting. Today you’re demanding an “explanation” from law abiding gun owners, but not demanding the same from …

The most deadly mass shooting in the history of the United States hasn’t changed Rick Scott’s mind about the easy availability of assault weapons. Politico reports: The Republican governor of the state that saw 49 lives taken and another 53 people injured Sunday during a shooting rampage inside an LGBT nightclub has been meeting with families of victims but said …

From Sacramento’s NBC affiliate: About 100 people protested Wednesday night outside of a Sacramento Baptist church after a pastor praised the Orlando mass shooting during his sermon. It was supposed to be a silent protest, but dozens of people shouted and sang as parishioners, with Bibles in hand, tried to make their way through the crowd. Yellow tape and Sacramento …

The Los Angeles Times reports: Stickers and posters featuring a rainbow-colored version of the Gadsden flag and the hashtag #ShootBack were raising eyebrows in West Hollywood on Thursday morning in the wake of the massacre at a gay nightclub in Florida. The signage was affixed to electric boxes, light poles, trash cans and other fixtures near West Hollywood City Hall, …

In the wake of the Orlando nightclub massacre, a coalition of 50 groups – most of them LGBT – have signed onto a pledge to pressure lawmakers to enact gun control reform measures. Conspicuously absent from the list of signatories is the Human Rights Campaign. Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade: The organizations issue the joint statement as congressional …

From the Marine Corps Times: Two active-duty Marines are under investigation in connection to a social media post purportedly threatening to attack gay bars following Sunday’s deadly mass shooting in Florida. The California-based I Marine Expeditionary Force launched a command investigation after a photo surfaced on social media showing a corporal in uniform holding a rifle with his finger near …

The Hill reports: President Obama pleaded with lawmakers to take action to prevent gun violence after meeting with families of the victims of Sunday’s mass shooting in Orlando. The president pledged to be “relentless” in going after international terrorist groups but said passing new gun laws is a crucial step in preventing “homegrown” attacks like the massacre at a gay …

From the website of Major League Soccer: In the wake of the mass shooting that killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando early Sunday morning, Orlando City SC announced Tuesday that they are dedicating Saturday’s match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Camping World Stadium to #OrlandoUnited efforts. Orlando players will wear special patches and t-shirts during pregame …

From the Associated Press: Republican Sen. John McCain said Thursday that President Barack Obama is “directly responsible” for the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, because Obama has allowed the growth of the Islamic State group on his watch. McCain, who lost to Obama in the 2008 presidential election, made the comment to reporters Thursday while Obama was in Orlando visiting …

Via press release: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS announced today that $150,000 will be donated on behalf of the Broadway community and all Broadway Cares supporters to three service organizations in central Florida committed to reaching out and providing emergency assistance to the victims of the Pulse nightclub mass shooting, and their families and friends. “Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS historically has …

President Obama is due to arrive shortly in Orlando where he will console the families of the Pulse massacre victims and meet with first responders. Florida Gov. Rick Scott is expected to meet the president when he exits Air Force One. Embedded below is a live stream of the president’s visit and I may switch this stream out if necessary.

From NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke’s internal email to employees: It has been a heartbreaking week for our nation and for each of us as members of the NBCUniversal family. On Monday, I shared with you that two employees, Luis Vielma and Jonathan Camuy, died in the incomprehensible tragedy in Orlando. Sadly, we now know that four additional people associated with …

Rolling Stone reports: “I’m dealing with it the way I deal, which is, I wrote a song,” she said. “I just sat here, and I just started writing a song… That’s how I first started to cope because, as a singer songwriter, I feel very… I’ve done this before. I feel called to speak; to do what musicians do. We’ve …

From the Boston Globe: Greed, legislative cowardice, advanced technology — that is how we got here. The United States has been pummeled by gun violence since the assault weapons ban expired in 2004. This year, mass shootings have already claimed 61 lives. One class of gun, semiautomatic rifles, is largely responsible. But this nation cannot be a hostage of fear. …

As funerals for the dozens of Pulse massacre victims take place across the Orlando area, hundreds of residents are turning out to form human chain links to block Westboro Baptist Church from being seen by mourners. Immediately upon news of the shooting, Westboro issued a press release declaring their intent to go to Orlando. They’ve not yet been spotted, but …

Wonderful and heartbreaking. Get a tissue. CNN reports: One of the youngest victims in Orlando’s deadly shooting was Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo. Known as Omar to friends, he was a dancer and barista. On Tuesday, less than three days after Omar’s brutal murder, his grandmother, heartbroken and alone, boarded a flight to Orlando to attend his funeral. Jetblue crew member Kelly …

From USA Today: Sandy Hook Elementary was demolished after 26 people were shot and killed there. After 14 people were killed at a conference center in San Bernardino, Calif., the building remains closed. But in Orlando, after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, Pulse’s nightclub owner vows to reopen. Experts say reactions to this decision may vary. Some may …

From San Diego’s ABC affiliate: Police are investigating an online threat of violence to San Diego’s LGBT community that read: “You’re next.” On Tuesday evening, a 10News viewer saw the post in the men-seeking-men section of the Craigslist San Diego personal ads. He took a screenshot and sent it to 10News before the post was flagged and removed. The post …

The Georgia Voice reports: The Atlanta Police Department confirmed they are investigating a gay Atlanta man who tweeted that he would make two local gay bars “the next Orlando.” The incident follows the early Sunday morning shooting at Orlando LGBT nightclub Pulse that left 50 dead and 53 injured. Brett Edgerton, going by the handle @BrettTEdgerton, tweeted the following: “TEN …