Churches Tell Town Council: Leave Our Beliefs Alone

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A lawsuit has been filed against the city of De Pere, Wisconsin, over a new nondiscrimination ordinance providing special protections for same-sex duos that purports to “control aspects of religious employment, facility use, and even advertising.”

It’s a rule that city officials adopted just months ago, but the lawsuit explains that they not only neglected to include exemptions for churches and other religious groups whose faith forbids same-sex relationships, they specifically refused to offer assurances religious beliefs would be protected.

The case on behalf of Hope Lutheran, Crosspoint, Destiny, St. Mark Lutheran and Christ the Rock churches, as well as a local radio station, by Pacific Justice Institute and Heidi Miller of Wauwatosa challenges the requirements the city had scheduled to implement March 1.

“The ordinance bars discrimination, broadly defining that term as well as public accommodation and employment decisions in ways that would severely curtail religious exercise,” the legal team said. “The only exception for religious entities like the churches and radio station is for hiring people of the same religion.”

The lawyers insisted that even that exception is faulty, since it would “afford no ability to make employment decisions if a pastor, other employee, or applicant acts inconsistently with church teaching but continues to claim to be of the same faith or denomination.” (Read more from “Churches Tell Town Council: Leave Our Beliefs Alone” HERE)

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Child Calling for Gun Control Fails to Realize the Truth Behind Purchasing Guns

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A student survivor of the deadly shooting attack earlier this month at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, appeared to claim that an AR-15 can be purchased for $130.

Addressing state lawmakers and members of the media last week, 17-year-old senior Delaney Tarr called for increased gun control regulations in the aftermath of the shooting, which left 17 people dead.

“We know what we want,” she stated. “We want gun reform. We want common-sense gun laws. We want stronger mental health checks and background checks to work in conjunction. We want a better age limit.”

Then, calling for regulations on private gun sales, she made a claim about how much it costs to buy an AR-15.

“We want privatized selling to be completely reformed so you can’t just walk into a building with $130 and walk out with an AR-15,” Tarr stated.

Tarr’s concerns over the AR-15 stem from the fact that the suspected gunman in the Florida school shooting did indeed use that type of semi-automatic firearm to murder his victims.

AR-15s are popular in the United States, and in Florida, there is no waiting period to purchase one. However, Tarr was vastly understating how much they normally cost.

According to Alain Stephens, a military veteran who currently serves as a criminal justice expert for NPR, some AR-15s can cost thousands of dollars. Even if a would-be buyer wanted to purchase a basic model at a local sporting goods store, he or she would be looking at spending at least $800.

As noted by Time magazine, many AR-15s cost less than $1,000. But that doesn’t take into account the hundreds of dollars one might spend on ammunition, extra magazines and additional accessories.

Regardless, it’s difficult to buy any gun for as little as $130, let alone an AR-15.

Though it’s unclear as to where Tarr got her facts regarding AR-15 prices, she admitted during the same speech that the movement to tighten gun control laws in the aftermath of the Florida shooting is “based on emotion.”

“This movement, created by students, led by students, is based on emotion,” she stated. “It is based on passion and it is based on pain. Our biggest flaws — our tendency to be a bit too aggressive, our tendency to lash out, things that you expect from a normal teenager — these are our strengths.”

“The only reason that we’ve gotten so far is that we are not afraid of losing money, we’re not afraid of getting reelected or not getting reelected, we have nothing to lose. The only thing we have to gain at this point is our safety,” she added, according to Quartz Media.

Though Tarr is not yet legally old enough to vote, she warned that she and her fellow students are “coming after” lawmakers who refuse to act.

“To every lawmaker out there: No longer can you take money from the NRA. No longer can you fly under the radar doing whatever it is that you want to do,” she stated, as reported by CNN. “We are coming after every single one of you and demanding that you take action.” (For more from the author of “Child Calling for Gun Control Fails to Realize the Truth Behind Purchasing Guns” please click HERE)

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2 U.S. Congressman Detained on Temple Mount

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. . .It identified the members of Congress as Republican Reps. Scott Tipton of Colorado and David B. McKinley of West Virginia.

They visited the Temple Mount, only to be “detained by Israel police after an Islamic Waqf official, which administers the Temple Mount, lodged a complaint against them,” the report said.

“It appears that they violated some unknown rule when Tipton bent down to pick up a broken olive branch off the ground. His movement seems to have agitated the Waqf official who, apparently believing the congressman was bowing as if in prayer, set off the events that followed.”

The report bluntly explains what happened. They were “physically removed from the Temple Mount by police officers, and frisked and detained for more than a half-hour.” . . .

Tipton told the news agency, “You know it was a little surprising. … We were going around and trying to take it all in and being rushed through, and I happened to pick up an olive branch, ironically a symbol of peace. Apparently, that broke a rule – not one that was defined. We had no forewarning going in of what to do and not to do, no instructions. … We were trying to take in what is obviously a religious site not only for Jews and Muslims, but for Christians as well. … Interestingly, apparently they viewed something as an infraction and then chose to detain us.” (Read more from “2 U.S. Congressman Detained on Temple Mount” HERE)

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Ivanka Trump Scolds NBC News for ‘Inappropriate’ Question About Her Father’s Sex Misconduct Accusers

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First daughter Ivanka Trump scolded NBC and MSNBC reporter Peter Alexander for what she considered an inappropriate question about her father’s sexual misconduct accusers during an interview from South Korea on Monday.

The first daughter sat down with Alexander who, after a voice-over explaining that President Trump has denied accusations of sexual misconduct, asked, “Do you believe your father’s accusers?”

“I think it’s a pretty inappropriate question to ask a daughter if she believes the accusers of her father when he’s affirmatively stated that there’s no truth to it. I don’t think that’s a question you would ask many other daughters,” Ivanka fired back. “I believe my father, I know my father.” . . .

One viewer tweeted, “Why even ask Ivanka Trump about the allegations of sexual misconduct against her Dad? What did Peter Alexander think she was going to say?”

Another viewer said, “The question was both crude and rude,” while many others pondered whether or not reporters would ask Chelsea Clinton a similar question about her father.

(Read more from “Ivanka Trump Scolds NBC News for ‘Inappropriate’ Question About Her Father’s Sex Misconduct Accusers” HERE)

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Florida School Massacre Survivor Who Was Shot 3 Times ‘Grateful’ She’s Alive

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By Fox News. Sitting between her mom, Missy, and dad, David, 17-year-old Maddy Wilford told a room full of media how grateful she was to be alive after a gunman opened fire and shot her three times during the Valentine’s Day shooting massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

“I’m so grateful to be here. It wouldn’t be possible without the first responders and the amazing doctors and the love everyone has sent,” she said.

The high school junior sat just feet away from the doctors at Broward Health North Hospital in Deerfield Beach, who performed three surgeries on her within 48 hours, and the Coral Springs Fire Department lieutenant who was part of a team of five who triaged and rushed her to the hospital 11 miles away — an act that may have saved her life.

“I was sitting on my couch thinking of all the letters, love that was passed around. I wouldn’t be here without — I just want to send my love and appreciation,” Maddy said . . .

Maddy is one of more than a dozen students who were shot and survived the attack by former classmate, Nikolas Cruz. Seventeen other students, teachers and coaches died after police say Cruz opened fire with an AR-15 assault-style weapon, shooting more than a hundred rounds of ammunition in building 12. That building now is closed and is scheduled to be demolished. (Read more from “Florida School Massacre Survivor Who Was Shot 3 Times ‘Grateful’ She’s Alive” HERE)

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Florida Deputy Who Didn’t Enter School During Mass Shooting Is Not ‘a Coward,’ Lawyer Says

By Fox News. The Florida deputy who resigned after it emerged he didn’t enter Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the mass shooting on Valentine’s Day is not “a coward” and acted appropriately, his lawyer said in a statement Monday.

Broward Deputy Scot Peterson has been heavily criticized for failing to enter the school and confront the gunman, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, during the rampage that left 17 people dead.

Peterson had been assigned to guard the school, and his actions — or lack of them — were even lambasted by President Trump, who called Peterson “a coward” last week. Trump on Monday again slammed Peterson and other officers who allegedly did not enter the school, saying “the way they performed was frankly disgusting.”

Peterson’s lawyer Joseph DiRuzzo said in a news release obtained by Fox News the one-time school resource officer of the year didn’t go inside the high school because he believed the shooting was happening outside the building. (Read more from “Florida Deputy Who Didn’t Enter School During Mass Shooting Is Not ‘a Coward,’ Lawyer Says” HERE)

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Delta Tax Break Threatened After Cutting NRA Ties

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Conservatives in Georgia’s Senate have a message for Delta Air Lines: Renew your relationship with the National Rifle Association or you will pay the price.

The state House had approved a tax break that could provide a $40 million benefit to the airline, but members of the Senate vowed to fight the deal after Delta dropped its discounted fares Saturday for members of the NRA.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, a Republican, vowed Monday to kill any tax break for Delta, which is headquartered in Atlanta, unless the airline revived its discount program . . .

Delta announced Saturday that it was joining at least 10 companies in ending its discount arrangement with the NRA, and asked the gun rights group to remove its logo from the group’s website. Other groups that cut ties include MetLife and Hertz.

The airline decided at its annual meeting to end the contract to reflect its neutral position in the national debate over gun control and notified the NRA on Saturday. The decision came after the shooting rampage Feb. 14 at a Florida high school that left 17 people dead. (Read more from “Delta Tax Break Threatened After Cutting NRA Ties” HERE)

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Trump: I Would’ve Run Into School Shooting Unarmed

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In the wake of news reports indicating as many as four Broward County Sheriff’s deputies had their pistols drawn and were taking cover behind their vehicles after an active shooter went on a killing spree at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a disgusted President Trump vowed he would have stormed the school to save the kids – even if he had no weapon.

“I really believe I’d run in there even if I didn’t have a weapon,” Trump said Monday during a governors meeting at the White House on school safety.

In the middle of the bloodshed, Coral Springs police officers arrived on the scene. Officers told CNN that the armed school resource officer and three other Broward County Sheriff’s deputies hadn’t entered the school by the time they arrived. One source told CNN the deputies were behind their vehicles with their weapons drawn, and they didn’t appear to join police as they entered the school.

“I got to watch some deput[ies] performing this weekend,” Trump said, criticizing the sheriff’s response. “They weren’t exactly Medal of Honor winners, all right? The way they performed was, frankly, disgusting.

“They were listening to what was going on, the one in particular (the school resource officer). Then you had three others … ” Trump said. “The way they performed was really a disgrace.” (Read more from “Trump: I Would’ve Run Into School Shooting Unarmed” HERE)

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Army Vet With AR-15 Stands Guard Outside High School

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Enough is enough, says an armed U.S. Army veteran in Indiana who has decided to take student and teacher protection into his own hands after the horrifying Florida school shooting and threats of school violence rocked his own town.

Mark Cowan says he is keeping watch outside North Side High School in Fort Wayne with his AR-15 and a handgun – at least until added security is in place. Cown told WANE-TV 15 that he’s standing guard to protect students and defend them against anyone who might threaten their safety while they’re in school. He has been in contact with local police and the school resource officer.

“I [decided] to get my butt off the couch and come out here and keep an eye on these kids and teachers. They deserve it,” Cowan told the news station. “They all deserve a right to go home every night without fear of what’s going to happen during the day.”

In addition to being an Army veteran, Cowan is a member of Oath Keepers, an organization of former police officers, first responders and veterans.

“These kids mean a lot to me,” Cowan told WANE-TV 15. “These teachers mean a lot to me … this is my community, and they need protecting. And our law enforcement, as good as it is, can’t be everywhere. So it’s people like myself and the other Oath Keepers that say, ‘I’m gonna take up that slack.’” (Read more from “Army Vet With AR-15 Stands Guard Outside High School” HERE)

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Comey’s FBI Had Reputation for Sexual Mischief

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The Department of Justice’s inspector general sanctioned at least 14 FBI agents and officials for a range of improper sexual acts since 2014, and most of the misconduct occurred during former FBI Director James Comey’s term, The Daily Caller News Foundation has determined.

The public got a glimpse into the bureau’s sexual mischief when it was disclosed high-profile FBI officials Lisa Page and Peter Strzok were cheating on their spouses. Special counsel Robert Mueller dumped Page from his investigation on Russian collusion and later removed Strzok after he learned of their relationship.

But it turns out sexual misconduct within the bureau went much further than cheating spouses.

According to the Justice Department inspector general’s enforcement summaries, which TheDCNF reviewed, FBI agents and officials engaged in a variety of improper sexual relationships and harassment throughout the bureau. Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz published at least 14 instances of improper sexual conduct. The latest incident was reported only last week.

The acts entail inappropriate romantic relationships with a subordinate, outright sexual harassment, favoritism or promotion based on demands for sex, and retaliation against women who rebuffed male employee’s advances. (Read more from “Comey’s FBI Had Reputation for Sexual Mischief” HERE)

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Growing Risk of Israeli-Russian Military Conflict as General Threatens Jewish State While Deploying Advanced Stealth Fighters

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Russia has deployed two of its most advanced and sophisticated stealth jets in Syria, in a power move likely to draw US criticism, as the Pentagon expressed its alarm earlier this month over recent close calls with Russian planes in the war-torn country.

Satellite images published by Israeli company ImageSat International on Friday showed the fifth-generation jets — two Su-57 fighter aircraft — at Russia’s airbase in the coastal Syrian city of Latakia. A source in the defense ministry confirmed to RBK news agency this week that the two planes were sent to the Hmeimim base “for a test in real conditions.” The jets are said to be a potential rival to the US’s Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which American forces use in patrols over Syria.

The deployment came with a covert warning to Israel by a Russian official, who said that the presence of the Su-57s will doubtlessly send a political message, serving as a deterrent “for aircraft from neighboring states, which periodically fly into Syrian airspace uninvited.”

Speaking to the Russian news network Sputnik, Vladimir Gutenov, chairman of the Military Industry Committee in the Russian parliament, said on Friday that the jets “need to be tested in combat conditions, in conditions of [enemy] resistance.”

(Read more from “Growing Risk of Israeli-Russian Military Conflict as General Threatens Jewish State While Deploying Advanced Stealth Fighters” HERE)

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