GOOD MORNING, BLOGTOWN! Every night. Every day. Just to be there in your arms. Won't you stay? LET'S GO TO PRESS.
Last night Portland held a vigil for the victims of the Orlando massacre, which left 49 people at the Pulse gay dance club dead and dozens more wounded. It's being called the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Our Doug Brown was at the vigil and has some beautiful, sad photos to share.
In case you missed the tragedy that has devastated Orlando and the country, Dan Savage has the details and how the rest of the country reacted. As for the rest of us here at the Mercury, we are both heartbroken and infuriated beyond measure. Our love goes to the families of the victims, and the entire LGBT community whom we proudly support, and we hope you will join us in continuing to battle extreme religious views and the cowards who still delude themselves into thinking that guns make us safer. From the New York Times:
Mateen demonstrated again just how potent the mix of ISIS and National Rifle Association ideology is. America is the perfect setting for “lone wolf” ISIS followers because they have access to the weapons they need to do their worst. Despite having been investigated twice in recent years by the F.B.I. for possible ties to terrorism, Mateen was able to walk into a Florida gun dealership recently, and acquire a “long gun” and a pistol. This, by any reasonable standard, is madness.
Today Hillary Clinton is calling for the reinstatement of the assault weapons ban, and tore into the Republican congress who "incomprehensibly" refuses to address the country's lax gun laws.
I'm not linking or talking about what Donald Trump is saying. Rest assured it is both intolerant and stupid.
The father of the Orlando shooter has apologized for his son's actions—but provides cold comfort by saying that the punishment of gays should be left in the hands of god.
Those who knew the shooter (including his ex-wife and former co-worker) say he was an out-and-out bigot, violent, and prone to domestic abuse.
The identities of many of the Orlando victims will not be known for days, but here are some pictures and memories of some of the people who died in the shooting.
'Hamilton' creator @Lin_Manuel paid tribute to the Orlando shooting victims with a stirring speech #OrlandoUnitedhttps://t.co/6ZFm5p2EP1
— Business Insider (@businessinsider) June 13, 2016
Police in Los Angeles have arrested a man who was heading toward the West Hollywood gay pride parade with a car load of weapons and explosives.
More troubles for Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer (who showed support for the Malheur Reserve militants)—his deputy is being accused of protecting his relatives in a random shooting, and then arresting the 911 caller who reported it.
Our Doug Brown also has some great photos he took of one of Pedalpalooza's most popular events, the (final) Bowie vs. Prince Ride on Saturday night.
Double amputee Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius is going to prison (perhaps for 15 years) for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Now let's take a look at the WEATHER: Showers developing in the afternoon with a high of 64.
And finally, here's President Obama's speech condemning the Orlando massacre.