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SALT LAKE CITY — Following the murder-suicide of Kansas City Chiefs football player Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend, the issue of gun control was thrust into the national spotlight as NBC's Bob Costas gave his opinion on gun control during the "Sunday Night Football" halftime broadcast.
Praising an article by Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock, Costas said, "In the coming days, Jovan Belcher's actions and their possible connection to football will be analyzed. Who knows? But here, wrote Jason Whitlock, is what I believe. If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today."
It's an issue that has been discussed ad nauseum, especially after events like the shooting in Aurora, Colorado, where a gunman shot up a movie theater during the midnight showing of the "Dark Knight Rises."
I think it is going to come hard, I think it is going to come fast, and I think it is going to come soon.
–Wayne LaPierre
On Monday, Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president and CEO of the National Rifle Association, said he expects an "unprecedented" fight on the issue of gun control on CNN's "Gut Check." LaPierre did not offer specific legislation in the works, but said he has sources in Washington D.C. who said the fight is coming.
"I think it is going to come hard, I think it is going to come fast, and I think it is going to come soon," LaPierre said.
LaPierre also condemned Costas' comments, saying he used the murder-suicide to "piggyback his social agenda on the back of a tragedy."
SCOTUS delays decision on gay marriage
With several states voting to allow same-sex marriage over the last decade, the United States Supreme Court is weighing the decision to address the constitutionality of marriage and the right for people to marry regardless of sexual orientation.
The justices met Friday and again Monday to discuss the issue, weighing the several appeals on the court docket. On Monday, the Supreme Court announced they will put off a decision until at least Friday, when they may determine what case to accept or delay a decision for a later date.
The court is expected to address the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act, which denies benefits to married same-sex couples, and California's marriage ban commonly known as Prop 8.
The Supreme Court generally holds on high-profile, complex cases that take more time to address, particularly when the constitutionality of the case will have a major impact on the nation. Considering that 31 states have passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, the issue before the court will not be taken lightly. The Supreme Court's decision will have a lasting impact no matter the decision.
D.A.R.E. America has determined that anti-drug material is not age-appropriate. The new curriculum focuses on character development.
–D.A.R.E. state affiliate leader
Related political news:
- Referendum on Obama: The polling firm, The Winston Group, released a memo Monday saying Mitt Romney had all the opportunities available to him to win the election. However, because the Republican Party attempted to make the election a referendum on President Barack Obama, the party suffered and ultimately lost. "Because Governor Romney focused on Obama's negative record at the expense of defining himself, the Romney campaign never engaged in the needed economic debate that would have given voters a clear understanding of his economic vision for the country, why it would work, and how it differed from both Obama and Bush," the memo stated.
- Dropping marijuana: The D.A.R.E. program, which promotes Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is dropping marijuana from its new curriculum, according to Reason. "D.A.R.E. America has determined that anti-drug material is not age-appropriate," a state affiliate leader told Reason. "The new curriculum focuses on character development."
- Sarah Palin is popular on Yahoo: Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin used to be the hottest ticket for the Republican Party. And while much of her fame has dwindled in recent years, Palin is still one of the top searches on Yahoo. Palin was the third most popular searched politician on Yahoo, followed behind Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
