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Post by Phantom of London on Jun 12, 2016 20:53:24 GMT
So sad to read about the unneccessay and homophobic murder of 50 innocent people, especially on the eve of the Tony awards. My sypathies for everyone involved and connected. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36512308 |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jun 12, 2016 22:19:26 GMT
It prompted me to volunteer for London Pride in a couple of weeks.
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Post by Michael on Jun 13, 2016 6:52:40 GMT
After this horrible tragedy, it is completely beyond my understanding how anyone can still defend the 2nd amendment.
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Post by n1david on Jun 13, 2016 7:40:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2016 8:08:01 GMT
As people have been saying on Twitter, the American debate on gun control was over after Sandy Hook, because once Americans decided that even the deaths of 6 and 7 year olds didn't signify a need for gun control, there's clearly no helping them. There is nothing about this whole thing that is not upsetting, nothing at all.
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 13, 2016 11:58:23 GMT
Horrific.
Gay, straight, black, white, tall, short, fat or thin; they're all people!
Unless he also shot the bouncers at the club, how did he even get in with a weapon?
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Post by n1david on Jun 13, 2016 12:10:18 GMT
Horrific. Gay, straight, black, white, tall, short, fat or thin; they're all people! Unless he also shot the bouncers at the club, how did he even get in with a weapon? It's legal to carry a weapon into venues in Florida, as long as you don't drink alcohol. (As I was told by someone in Florida last night who assured me that things would have been much better if more people had guns in the club as the death toll would have been much lower. Hmm.) |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2016 12:16:14 GMT
Horrific. Gay, straight, black, white, tall, short, fat or thin; they're all people! Unless he also shot the bouncers at the club, how did he even get in with a weapon? It's legal to carry a weapon into venues in Florida, as long as you don't drink alcohol. (As I was told by someone in Florida last night who assured me that things would have been much better if more people had guns in the club as the death toll would have been much lower. Hmm.) Yes, sadly I was waiting for that particular argument to rear its ugly head. 'Heading off on a fun night out? Make sure to take your guns, folks!' Sigh. I suppose they're totally ignoring the fact that armed security couldn't stop the perpetrator getting in? |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2016 12:37:12 GMT
There's also a vigil in Cardiff at the Senedd at 7pm for anyone else in this area. The flags, including the Pride flag are currently half mast as well.
So devestating. It hit me hard yesterday morning when I realised I'd said goodbye to some friends at a party the night before who were heading off to a gay club. For me, living where I do, the worst thing that I thought about happening to them was a hangover, there but for the grace of God and all that...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2016 12:47:26 GMT
As I was told by someone in Florida last night who assured me that things would have been much better if more people had guns in the club as the death toll would have been much lower. Hmm.) I really don't understand how anyone can think that way. Do they actually believe that the gunman will stand there with a big sign over his head and a target on his chest so they know who he is while everyone else calmly steps aside to give the would-be hero a clear shot? Conditions are far from ideal. People are going to be running around in panic, which not only means it's likely someone will run directly into the path of a bullet as you pull the trigger but also means you're going to be jostled about as you try to aim. You'd have trouble trying to hit a specific wall under those conditions, let alone a specific person. But that's not the biggest problem. If there's one gunman and ten people pulling out their guns and dreaming of their place in the headlines, each of those heroes-to-be looking around for a gunman to shoot has odds of 9 to 1 on that they'll pick the wrong gun-wielding target. The real gunman's best strategy is to shoot a couple of times and then dive to the floor and crawl to safety, leaving the heroes to gun each other down along with anyone else who gets caught in the stray fire. |
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Post by vdcni on Jun 13, 2016 13:13:05 GMT
The whole thing is just horrible and the predictability of the reactions afterwards from some quarters has been very depressing.
Has any mass shooting in the US been stopped by a civilian with a gun?
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Post by Phantom of London on Jun 13, 2016 13:44:47 GMT
As I was told by someone in Florida last night who assured me that things would have been much better if more people had guns in the club as the death toll would have been much lower. Hmm.) I really don't understand how anyone can think that way. Do they actually believe that the gunman will stand there with a big sign over his head and a target on his chest so they know who he is while everyone else calmly steps aside to give the would-be hero a clear shot? Conditions are far from ideal. People are going to be running around in panic, which not only means it's likely someone will run directly into the path of a bullet as you pull the trigger but also means you're going to be jostled about as you try to aim. You'd have trouble trying to hit a specific wall under those conditions, let alone a specific person. But that's not the biggest problem. If there's one gunman and ten people pulling out their guns and dreaming of their place in the headlines, each of those heroes-to-be looking around for a gunman to shoot has odds of 9 to 1 on that they'll pick the wrong gun-wielding target. The real gunman's best strategy is to shoot a couple of times and then dive to the floor and crawl to safety, leaving the heroes to gun each other down along with anyone else who gets caught in the stray fire. Sadly this philosophy (bad choice of words) comes from the NRA (National Rifle Assosciation), who stated after Sandy Hook the "only way to stop a man with a guy, is a man with a guy'. If a gunman gunning down infant children doesn't change things nothing will. If the press showed pictures of the children shot in Sandy Hook it would of changed opinions, but that is the scums of the press for you. Sadly after any shooting like this, sales of guns goes up significantly. A new shopping channel is going to/been launched that only sells guns. One of the biggest drivers of anti gun laws are the 'religious' South and get angry and on their soapbox when gun reform gets mentioned these are typically your Southern Baptists, who are so engage in their religion that they believe it is a right for a guy to buy a gun, for the record these are the people who also belepieve reform of their health service is a bad thing, therefore denying poor people health benefits, but they go to church on Sunday, so they are alright and 'saved'. So you see I hold the press in very low esteem and abhor religion, which incidentally and sadly was the driving force behind this massacre in Florida. The NRA is like the countryside Alliance over here, who have access to unlimited resources. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2016 14:02:15 GMT
The whole thing is just horrible and the predictability of the reactions afterwards from some quarters has been very depressing. Has any mass shooting in the US been stopped by a civilian with a gun? According to everything I've read so far on the subject, no. Never. |
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Post by londonmzfitz on Jun 13, 2016 14:03:27 GMT
It prompted me to volunteer for London Pride in a couple of weeks. And your post has prompted me to do the same. |
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 13, 2016 19:54:36 GMT
Well done Oxfordsimon and londonmzfitz
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Post by CG on the loose on Jun 13, 2016 20:15:17 GMT
Remarkable scenes in Old Compton Street tonight - this just beautiful...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 11:46:01 GMT
I actually can't say too much on these horrible events because it makes me too emotional to even write. It is possibly the most upsetting tragedy I can recall for myself in my lifetime anyway because a lot of the victims were young, they were having fun, and this asshole took their lives away from them when they only went out with the intention of loving one another and having a laugh. It is downright awful and too upsetting to even begin to put into words. That said, it is overwhelming to see the amount of support for the LGBT+ community globally. I just don't understand why we can't all just love one another... is it really that hard? Why can't we all just love and support one another, I truly don't understand it.  But either way, peace and love to you all.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 12:17:29 GMT
I was at "Aladdin" and felt amazed and humbled by Disney Theatrical and Delfont Mackintosh Theatres response. The performance was an important one for them, with a lot of pressure running up to Opening Night. Yet they replaced all the electronic canopy signs with the Pride flag, and arranged a 2 minute silence within the theatre to match the one outside. Not that it's the most important thing, obviously, but I was curious how the theatre would cope, when I saw the photos from friends who were there. With all those crowds in the streets, it must have been difficult for patrons to access the theatre in time, surely? |
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Post by westendcub on Jun 14, 2016 13:26:17 GMT
Before I met friends at a bar to gather together, I walked down Old Compton Street and was so moved that 'Aladdin' had replaced it's signage with the rainbow flag. It was respectful, thoughtful and touching.
I was at the vigil last night, it felt so important standing shoulder to shoulder with people in a 2 minutes silence, the release of 49 balloons and the Gay Men's Choir beautiful poignant rendition of 'Bridge over troubled waters', I of course wish that last evening didn't need to happen but it did and shows we need to strong strong and not live in fear.
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Post by Phantom of London on Jun 14, 2016 13:45:10 GMT
The vigil sounds very touching, sadly this may cause a community to re-unite, which grew strong and cohesive when the Conservative government., brought into law section 28, but then no one died.
Nice to see a 1 minute silence taken and observed in the 5th playoff in the NBA (Basketball final).
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Post by foxa on Jun 15, 2016 19:32:41 GMT
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Post by theatre-turtle on Jun 15, 2016 23:35:30 GMT
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Post by Phantom of London on Jun 16, 2016 0:38:30 GMT
I know Anderson Cooper, I have seen him on CNN, which I watch in the states and does a great programme Anderson Cooper 360, he is a first class journalist, who came out as being gay, so no wonder why he broke down.
Incidentally he was the voice on the last revival of How To Succeed............... With Daniel Ratcliffe.
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Post by maggiem on Jun 16, 2016 11:53:27 GMT
I was in blackpool at "The Ultimates" convention over the weekend. On Sunday afternoon guest Robin Lord Taylor spoke about what happened in Orlando and everyone in the main hall took a moment to reflect on what was going on there. I finally caught up with the news reports in the evening and was shocked at what I saw.
This kind of hatred never works. It just brings people together and makes them stronger. My job is in customer service and I couldn't do it if I harboured prejudice against any particular group. I just see the customer who needs help. Why can't we just see an individual human beings?
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Post by n1david on Jun 20, 2016 15:59:53 GMT
Interesting idea, thanks for posting. Will hope to hear a bit more about it before deciding - Saturday is Pride so there will be lots of LGBTQ people in town but equally with lots of competing attractions...
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