Like most of you, the news on Wednesday night that Russia had invaded Ukraine, even though expected, was somewhat of a gut punch and kept me awake most of the night. So, it’s no surprise that my mind is bouncing today and many things crossed my radar that made it bounce even more, so what better way to get them out of my head than to share them with my friends?
More gun insanity!!!
This from my local news station …
“Under Ohio law, people who wish to carry a concealed weapon must pass a background check, show proof of eight hours of training and ‘promptly’ inform officers they are carrying a concealed weapon during a stop. Senate Bill 215 would get rid of all of those requirements.
‘What this House bill represents in my mind, honestly, is lawlessness…it represents the wild, wild west,’ said Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey. ‘It puts our officer at risk. It puts one more layer onto what could be a very stressful situation for the officer.’
While McGuffey has been vocal in opposition, Republican representatives — backed by gun-rights advocates — argue the bill is a constitutional issue.
‘This legislation works,’ said Rob Sexton with the Buckeye Firearms Association. ‘It gives people their God-given right to defend themselves and their loved ones.’”
Did he say, “God-given right”??? Seriously??? Talk about people having sold their brains to the lowest bidder!!! And defend themselves against what or who? The innocent school child who happens to be Black and walking home from school through a white, racist neighborhood? Or perhaps the woman in the grocery store who doesn’t move fast enough to suit the man with the gun? No, Mr. Sexton, this legislation most definitely does NOT work!!! I’d much prefer banning guns altogether!
YES!!! They’re going to prison!
I’ve been holding my breath, wondering if the three officers who stood by and watched as Derek Chauvin literally choked the life out of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020, would actually be convicted for the crime of inaction. And yesterday, they were!
J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao were found guilty of federal crimes for failing to intervene when it was obvious that Mr. Floyd was being murdered by their fellow officer. The jury found that the three had willfully violated Mr. Floyd’s constitutional rights by not providing medical care when he lost a pulse and that two of them were also guilty of not intervening to stop a fellow officer.
I had concerns from the beginning of this trial, in part because it is rare that officers are charged in such instances, and second because one defense lawyer had earlier claimed that while Floyd’s death was a tragedy, it was not a crime! But, justice prevailed, hopefully a sign that juries may become more willing to convict not just officers who kill people on the job, but also those who watch them do it. Mr. Kueng and Mr. Lane both helped Mr. Chauvin restrain Mr. Floyd while he was handcuffed facedown on the pavement. Mr. Thao stood nearby, keeping bystanders away. Mr. Chauvin was convicted of murder last year and sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison.
The judge in the case, Judge Magnuson, has wide latitude to impose a penalty and could sentence the officers to any amount of prison time, including life. They still face state charges of aiding and abetting murder, with a trial scheduled for this year.
The jurors’ decision, which came after about 13 hours of deliberations following a month-long trial, suggested that they agreed with the prosecution’s arguments that the officers knew in the moment that Mr. Floyd was in severe medical distress and that Mr. Chauvin was breaking the law. The verdict was also a rejection of the argument cited in each of the three defense cases: that the officers trusted Mr. Chauvin, the senior officer on the scene, and therefore were not aware that what he was doing was illegal.
Score one for justice against racism in policing, against unwarranted police brutality. Now we await the sentencing which I hope will be harsh.
The day in pictures
Last, but not least, the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Lest you think that the Russian people are supportive of Putin and his deadly invasion, they are not. Most have family and close friends living in Ukraine and they are so against Putin’s aggression that there have been massive protests in cities across the country, even though the protestors knew they could be arrested for speaking against Putin. In fact, at least 705 have been arrested as of this writing, probably more.

A person is detained by police during an anti-war protest, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Moscow, Russia February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina
Tell me again how Putin is such a ‘great guy’ and not at all an autocrat??? The best way to describe what is happening in Ukraine is with pictures …