Terrorism

CBS News reports: Police in Austin say “similarities” between three package explosions in Texas’ capital city this month, two fatal, lead them to believe the incidents are related. The latest fatal incident, reported Monday morning, killed a 17-year-old boy and wounded a woman, Austin police chief Brian Manley said. The boy died at the scene and the woman in her …

The Associated Press reports: The National Rifle Association has dramatically increased its funding to schools in recent years amid a national debate over guns and school violence, an Associated Press analysis of tax records has found. But few say they plan to give up the money in the aftermath of the latest mass shooting. The AP analysis of the NRA …

USA Today reports: The National Rifle Association filed a federal lawsuit this afternoon against the state to block a law that had just been signed by Gov. Rick Scott that prohibits gun sales to anyone between the ages of 18 and 21. “We filed a lawsuit against the state for violating the constitutional rights of 18 to 21 year olds,” …

UPDATE: Scott has signed the bill. The Associated Press reports: Florida Gov. Rick Scott is expected to meet Friday afternoon with families of the 17 people killed in a school shooting and sign a $400 million school safety bill with new gun controls opposed by the NRA and a plan to arm staff that teachers don’t want. State Rep. Jared …

This rant from Tuesday is blowing up today. Carbonated reports: Florida State Rep. Elizabeth Porter is not a fan of young activists. The Republican lawmaker made it clear when she went on criticizing her colleagues who support students protesting against existing gun laws, stating it was an “adult’s” job to make policies. “We’ve been told that we need to listen …

Tallahassee.com reports: The Florida House sent the state’s first gun control measures in 22 years to Gov. Rick Scott on a 67-50 vote. The measure that also creates a school marshal program to arm classroom teachers comes three weeks after 17 were slain at a Parkland high school. Scott said he will read the bill and talk with family members …

Fox News Columbus reports: A man has been arrested for making death threats towards the LGBTQ community on a popular dating app. The Columbus Division of Police said in a post on their Facebook page, that officers arrested 27-year-old Me’Shach Israel-Miller Tuesday night at his home and charged him with inducing panic and aggravated menacing. Police say on March 1, …

The Miami Herald reports: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School will get another high-profile visitor in the wake of the shootings three weeks ago that left 14 students and three faculty members dead and many more injured. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is scheduled to visit the Parkland school Wednesday morning and meet with students and teachers. DeVos could get …

TIME Magazine reports: In the wake of the shooting at Parkland, Florida high school, Oliver noted that the public pressure is actually working and many companies are dropping the discounts given to NRA members. However, so far, one group has held firm — big tech companies like Amazon, Apple, and Roku have resisted public pressure are all still offering access …

The Independent reports: The National Rifle Association has released a video containing a threatening message to journalists, warning them “your time is running out”. In a video posted on Twitter by NRATV, conservative political activist and TV host Dana Loesch tells “every lying member of the media” that they have “had enough”. Set to a backing track of ominous-sounding guitar …

The Pensacola News-Journal reports: The same anti-Republican political action committee responsible for a billboard that targeted GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz in January has paid for a second billboard in Pensacola, this time taking aim at the NRA. The new sign on North W Street near West Fairfield Drive was paid for by Mad Dog PAC, an organization registered in December …

USA Today reports: How many airline passengers does it take to kill a $40 million tax break for Delta Air Lines? 13. The Georgia legislature removed a jet-fuel tax break from a larger tax package Thursday. Lawmakers were upset that Delta, which is headquartered in Atlanta, dropped the National Rifle Association from a discount-fare program in an effort to appear …

The New York Post reports: President Trump and an NRA executive had a “good (great)” meeting at the White House on Thursday — one day after Trump told lawmakers to take people’s guns away and “go through due process second.” Trump met with the head of the National Rifle Association’s lobbying arm, who stated after the Oval Office sit-down that …

Reuters reports: The chief executive officer of American Outdoor Brands Corporation (AOBC.O), maker of Smith & Wesson guns, on Thursday said gun retailers reported increased foot traffic and sales after the Florida high school shooting. CEO James Debney, on a conference call with investors to discuss earnings, briefly addressed the Feb. 14 attack at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, …

The Associated Press reports: Georgia lawmakers punished Delta Air Lines on Thursday for its decision to cut business ties with the National Rifle Association in the wake of a shooting at a Florida high school that killed 17 people. A tax measure, which was stripped of a jet-fuel tax break, passed the GOP-dominated Senate 44-10, with only Democrats opposed. It …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Survivors of the mass shootings at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub and a South Florida high school embraced Wednesday outside the club where 49 people were killed nearly two years ago. “We’re all family,” said Neema Bahrami, who was an event manager at Pulse at the time of the attack. Pulse survivors, wearing shirts that read “We Will …

The Miami Herald reports: Facing anguished relatives and classmates of shooting victims, two House and Senate committees advanced legislation Tuesday to create a new statewide program to put armed teachers in classrooms — over the vocal opposition of teachers, parents and many Parkland residents. In the House, the Appropriations Committee voted along party lines to approve the measure to train …

The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reports: Surrounded by a heavy police presence, students began returning to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Wednesday for the first time since a gunman killed 17 students and staff on Valentine’s Day. “I’m a little nervous but we have to get back so we can get some sense of normalcy,” said Bradley Golab, 14, who was in …

The Associated Press reports: Justice Department officials are forging ahead with plans to ban rapid-fire bump stocks, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Tuesday — a move that would likely set the stage for long legal battles with gun manufacturers while the devices remain on the market. Sessions said top officials within the department believe gun accessories like the ones used …

“In my year as first lady, I have also learned that it is often times after a tragedy that you see strength and resilience of the human spirit. I have been heartened to see children across this country using their voices to speak out and try to create change. They are our future and they deserve a voice.” – Melania …