The Morning Dispatch: Evil in Uvalde

Another community shattered by another massacre.

By and
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Happy Thursday. A bit of lighter news in a heavy week: A Welsh town official resigned last week after rumors spread that he is in fact Banksy, the internationally known—or rather, unknown—anonymous street artist. 

“I’m not Banksy,” he insisted, which seems like exactly what Banksy would say.

Quick Hits: Today’s Top Stories

  • Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday signed into law a near-total abortion ban, prohibiting the procedure from the moment of fertilization except in cases of rape or incest reported to law enforcement, or if deemed necessary to save the life of the mother. The law does not restrict access to morning-after pills or any type of contraception, and authorizes doctors to remove a fetus in cases of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. Because the law is structured like Texas’ SB8 to be enforced by civil lawsuits rather than criminal prosecution, it will likely be allowed to take effect immediately.

  • With just 902 votes separating Dr. Mehmet Oz from David McCormick in Pennsylvania’s Republican U.S. Senate primary, the race is officially headed for a recount, with local tabulations due to the state by June 8. Citing a federal court order from last week, the McCormick campaign has already filed a lawsuit arguing mail-in ballots received before the deadline should be counted even if the voter forgot to write the date on the ballot’s security envelope. The matter will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court.

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  1. David B.

    Not to oversimplify, but in this case, the back door of a school was left unlocked???? This sounds like the "I left my car unlocked with the keys in the ignition and I'll be damned if someone didn't steal it! We gotta have more patrols!"

    I can't believe in this day of armed security, possibility of metal detectors, car barriers, etc. that school back doors are left unlocked!

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  2. Lisa Sowry

    For anyone interested, I read that the First State Bank of Uvalde has opened an official account to support the Robb Elementary families affected by the tragedy. You can send checks through the mail payable to the Robb School Memorial Fund or donate through Zelle to robbschoolmemorialfund @gmail.com or call 830-356-2273. Aside from the burial of their children first, I can imagine these parents will need help, and the surviving students too, for a long time. Trauma of this magnitude will not simply fade away. Family on here...faith if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. Yes, pray. But do something, no matter how little. I have 7 grandchildren in school, 2nd - 9th grade. I'm sure many of you do, children and grandchildren. We can't be relieved it wasn't "our school". That is the worst abandonment for these families, and who knows what the future holds?

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  3. Mark Lewis

    Yes. Full stop.

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    Dona Dunsmore

    Yes, congress has a role and I am so tired of them dodging it.

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    Zachary King

    I’m fully on board with the sentiment of wanting to “DO SOMETHING” anything, but I also don’t trust government. To be restricting our fundamental rights just because we are having a knee jerk reaction to an atrocious event.

    I generally agree with Sarah a lot, but I do think being able to articulate how proposed laws would have actually solved/helped the problems that are presented is really important. Passing laws that restrict rights that wouldn’t even make a difference in the event in question as a response to that event is totally irrational.

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      cheerio

      it is not just one incident or event.

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  6. Dennis Trask

    Both

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    Michael Berkowitz

    It's good that at TD one sees both a recognition of the seriousness of the tragedy and a policy discussion that's largely unemotional. Precisely 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 of the seriousness of the tragedy we need to focus on what responses are most likely to actually 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.

    With that in mind I'd like to ask: Do we know how many people talk about killing, are alienated from friends and family, get into fights and domestic disturbances -- in short, present the sort of things that could trigger a red-flag intervention -- and then never do anything dangerous? I'm wondering whether we won't have a problem separating the signal from the noise.

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  8. Patti

    It is the responsibility of Congress to protect us. At the same time there is an undeniable disease of our country’s culture. Why is there such a huge drug addiction problem? Why do we have such a huge gun violence problem? I think we need a major soul searching to answer these questions. I can’t help but think the two problems stem from the same diseased root.

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  9. Seth Kramer

    I ask the staunchest supporters of the 2nd amendment....IF gun regulation and limitations could save thousands (homicides, suicides, mass shootings, etc) , and you could still keep your hunting guns and pistols for self defense, then would that not be a good trade-off? Yes, yes, I know the strict gun laws of Illinois do not stop the homicide rate in Chicago; But wouldn't it be great if some regulations did save lives? And if investing in hardening security at schools and hiring more trained police to do that job (not teachers or custodians packing a piece) saves lots of lives, then fund that. And more counselors, interventions, etc. sure.
    The 2nd amendment states, ".......a well regulated militia" Gun laws are the regulation the amendment mandates. Most Americans believe in reasonable regulations such as speed limits, legal drinking age, age minimums for sexual activity, etc., etc.
    Finally, isn't there a correlation between the U.S. homicide rate and gun ownership? We lead the world in both. When do we awaken to reality?

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    Mike Kupfer

    re: '“I’m not Banksy,” he insisted, which seems like exactly what Banksy would say.'

    Of course, if he's seen Life of Brian, he knows not to say that he *is* Banksy.

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