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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Olympic Skier Attacks Ivanka Trump for Being Present at Event

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By Aidan McLaughlin. Gus Kenworthy, one of the first openly gay U.S. Olympians, took a swipe at Ivanka Trump on Twitter over the first daughter’s appearance at the Winter Games.

The Olympics silver medalist skier issued a tweet on the Closing Ceremony, noting he was proud of his fellow competitors representing the U.S. at the games.

“Everyone except Ivanka,” Kenworthy wrote. “Honestly, tf is she doing here??”

(Read more from “Olympic Skier Attacks Ivanka Trump for Being Present at Event” HERE)

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Olympic Skier Gus Kenworthy Slammed for Criticizing Ivanka Trump

By Tyler McCarthy. . .Almost immediately, the tweet received some praise as well as some serious backlash as Twitter users pulled no punches to mock him for underperforming at the games and getting too political.

“Didn’t you finish last or in the bottom half of most of our ski competitions? I believe you did. Perhaps you should practice more on making yourself better and leave the political commentary to the experts,” one Twitter user wrote. . .

Ivanka Trump arrived in South Korea on Feb. 23 to lead the U.S. presidential delegation to the games for the closing ceremony. She also met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in about possible diplomatic talks with North Korea.

Kenworthy, despite a disappointing showcase in Pyeongchang, became a bit of a viral sensation in 2018 after posting an image that went viral of himself kissing his boyfriend, Matthew Wilkas, before a qualifying run that was broadcast on NBC. (Read more from “Olympic Skier Gus Kenworthy Slammed for Criticizing Ivanka Trump” HERE)

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GOP Governor Infuriates Conservatives With Shock Position on Guns

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Student safety versus Second Amendment rights has been at the center of a heated debate in the wake of the Parkland, Florida school shooting, and it seems Governor Rick Scott is fueling the flames with a proposed plan to reduce the frequency of such tragedies.

More than a week after the fatal shooting that left 17 people dead, the Republican governor of Florida said at a news conference on Friday that the motivation for his plan was to keep students safe.

“We must take care of our kids,” Scott said, according to CNN. “Keeping guns away from dangerous people and people with mental issues is what we need to do.”

Yet, the way Scott intends to go about this, called the “Major Action Plan,” is bound to spark controversy among many conservatives, as it involves the creation of a “Violent Threat Restraining Order.”

The order is similar to the “Gun Violence Restraining Order” in California that is aimed at securing court orders so firearms may be confiscated if a family member complains about the gun owner.

Scott’s proposed restraining order also aims to prohibit unstable individuals from firearm possession or access “when either a family member, community welfare expert or law enforcement officer files a sworn request and presents evidence to the court of a threat of violence involving firearms or other weapons.”

“There would be speedy due process for the accused and any fraudulent or false statements would face criminal penalties,” the plan states.

However, no matter how well-intentioned, it continues to raise questions as to how it would work in cases similar to Cruz’s. The family Cruz had been staying with repeatedly called police on him but refused to file charges after the authorities arrived, according to Breitbart.

At the time, one family member chalked up Cruz’s erratic behavior to him merely “suffering significantly from the loss of his mother.”

Scott is also pushing to ban bump stocks and implement “tougher background checks,” especially when it concerns those who either present as — or have a history of being — mentally ill.

Under the plan, people who wouldn’t be able to get guns include those who are “subject to an injunction for protection against stalking, cyberstalking, dating violence, repeat violence, sexual violence, or domestic violence.”

In line with the pleas of many Democrats and some Republicans, the plan also aims to develop a more advanced mental health initiative and active shooter training. Moreover, it bumps the minimum age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21 — though none of the plan’s proposals include banning AR-15s, the same gun used in numerous shootings throughout the years.

A member of the National Rifle Association, Scott said he won’t be calling for a ban on all firearms, instead explaining he wants to “really focus on the problem.”

“I know there are some who are advocating a mass takeaway of Second Amendment rights for all Americans. That is not the answer,” Scott said. “Banning specific weapons and punishing law abiding citizens is not going to fix this.”

“What we have to do is we have to really focus on the problem,” he added.

“We’ve got to take all weapons away from people with mental illness, people who are threatening themselves or threatening others.” (For more from the author of “GOP Governor Infuriates Conservatives With Shock Position on Guns” please click HERE)

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Illegal Alien Student Arrested for Threatening School

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A student with a shotgun made a terrorist threat against East High School on social media, according to Rochester police.

Abigail Hernandez, 21, is charged with making a terroristic threat, a felony. She is currently in the Buffalo Federal Detention Center in Batavia because she is an undocumented immigrant, Rochester Deputy Mayor Cedric Alexander said.

Police said, “The initial threat came from an anonymous Facebook account, which our investigators had to track down and determine the author of the Facebook account.” Hernandez allegedly made the threat at 5:08 p.m. Feb. 15, stating, “I’m coming tomorrow morning and I’m going to shoot all of ya bitches.” . . .

Hernandez was arrested at home at 8:15 p.m. Feb. 20 after she made a “credible threat” against the school, Alexander said. Police recovered a shotgun in her home. “The threat referenced a shooting and sympathy with the school shooting in Parkland, Florida,” Alexander said . . .

Hernandez is a student in the Rochester City School District, but she is not a student at East. Authorities declined to say where she is enrolled. Rochester Police Deputy Chief La’Ron Singletary said he was unsure why Hernandez allegedly threatened East High. He said a City School District member alerted police to the threat. (Read more from “Illegal Alien Student Arrested for Threatening School” HERE)

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Florida Sheriff Refuses to Resign After School Massacre

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Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the response to the Parkland school massacre, as questions mounted over the Broward Sheriff’s Office’s handling of the shooting.

The announcement came just hours after Broward Sheriff Scott Israel appeared on CNN and refused any blame for his agency’s missteps and touted his own “amazing leadership.”

The governor’s office said the investigation will begin immediately in a statement released Sunday . It did not specifically name any law enforcement agencies. Butinvestigation the Sheriff’s Office was the lead agency on the scene and criticism has swirled about how it handled the first few minutes after a former student at the school opened fire in a hallway . . .

Appearing Sunday morning on CNN’s State of the Union with Jake Tapper, the sheriff said his agency was still investigating how multiple warnings about shooter Nikolas Cruz were missed and whether additional sheriff’s deputies failed to enter Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School immediately when they arrived . . .

“Deputies make mistakes, police officers make mistakes, we all make mistakes,” Israel said. “But it’s not the responsibility of the general or the president if you have a deserter. We’ll look into this. We’re looking into this aggressively, and we’ll take care of it, and justice will be served.” (Read more from “Florida Sheriff Refuses to Resign After School Massacre” HERE)

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Super-Secret Spy Court Raises Alarm Over Feds’ Snooping

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It’s a mysterious court that hides behind a hulking vaulted door and impenetrable concrete walls – and it’s where the federal government makes some of its most secretive decisions concerning Americans’ basic liberties.

If you dare ask where the secret court is located, employees at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, D.C. – where the court reportedly relocated in 2009 – won’t tell you.

That’s because the super-secret court is far beyond the reach of any journalist or curious American citizen.

Fortified with biometric hand scanners, wooden and metal doors and walls reinforced by concrete, it’s the room where it all happens: Eleven powerful court judges approve wiretaps, data collection and government requests to monitor suspected terrorists, spies and even American citizens. And they’re given sweeping power under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA.

In 2013, Eric Mill – a blogger and alum of the Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit organization that advocates for government transparency – documented his efforts to learn more about the nation’s most secure and secretive courtroom. (Read more from “Super-Secret Spy Court Raises Alarm Over Feds’ Snooping” HERE)

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