How gun control has changed since Sandy Hook
(WTNH/Kathryn Hauser) – As we remember the victims of Sandy Hook 10 years later, the impact of that day has changed gun control all across the country. During that time, many thought the horror of that day would lead to sweeping gun reform.
Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy spoke on the Senate floor on Wednesday to honor the Sandy Hook victims as they do every year. They spoke about grief and grit, pain and progress, and the passing of key federal gun legislation 10 years in the making.
“Many of us in Connecticut and throughout the nation awoke today with a heavy heart with grief still so raw you can almost touch it,” Blumenthal said.
Grief, remembrance and a call to action 10 years after 20 students and six educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
“My pain is for what we lost that day,” Murphy said. “My pain is for the delayed reaction of this country.”
Many expected the horror of that day would lead to sweeping federal gun reform. In 2013, grieving Newtown families witnessed an expanded background check law fail to get the 60 votes needed in the Senate.
“We return home for now disappointed, but not defeated,” Mark Barden, victim’s father, said in 2013. “We return home with a determination that change will happen. Maybe not today, but it will happen.”
It did. Nine years later, President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill called the “Safer Communities Act” this past summer.
“Almost ten years to the day of this tragedy of Sandy Hook, we passed the most significant anti-gun violence measure in Congress in 30 years,” Murphy said.
The law includes $750 million to help states implement “red flag” laws to remove firearms from people who appear to be a danger to themselves or others. It provides funding for mental health programs and enhances background checks for buyers under 21.
The law also closes the “boyfriend loophole,” so people who are convicted of domestic abuse can’t purchase a gun.
Some argue the law falls short, but Murphy says this is meaningful progress.
“What we communicated this summer to those kids and to the parents is that we care,” Murphy said. “Our answer isn’t nothing.”
Murphy added he and his colleagues were shown evidence that this law is saving lives. (Source)
No. 20 Maryland men’s basketball vs. No. 16 UCLA preview
No. 20 Maryland men’s basketball is in the midst of a two-game losing streak and finishes a tough four-game stretch at home against No. 16 UCLA on Wednesday at 9 p.m.
Following the game, Maryland will have eight days off before it finishes its nonconference slate with two games against Saint Peters and UMBC, respectively. Then, it will be exclusively Big Ten competition for the Terps.
For now, Maryland’s attention is on another title-contending opponent in UCLA. The Terps started the season 8-0 with a signature win against then-No. 16 Illinois. After earning a ranking as the No. 13 team in the country, Maryland went 0-2 last week with losses to Wisconsin and then-No. 7 Tennessee.
Similar to Illinois a couple weeks ago, Wednesday’s game in College Park is expected to be an electric atmosphere, which will certainly help the Terps against a high-caliber opponent.
UCLA (8-2, 2-0 Pac-12)
Head coach Mick Cronin is in his fourth year at the helm of UCLA and has brought the program back to national prominence. This year is no different with UCLA posting one of the better rosters in the country.
Cronin has achieved postseason success in his first three years, too. In 2021, he brought his team to the Final Four, and last year, UCLA advanced to the Sweet 16 before it was knocked out of the tournament.
This season, UCLA entered the season with high expectations and has lived up to them. It has just two losses on the season, falling to then-No. 18 Illinois and then-No. 11 Baylor. Since its loss to Baylor, UCLA has rattled off five consecutive wins.
UCLA and Maryland going head-to-head is not a historically frequent event, but it will be moving forward. UCLA is leaving the Pac-12 following the 2023-24 season and entering the Big Ten, meaning the two historically great basketball programs will play at least once a year. The Terps will play the Bruins in Los Angeles next season.
Players to know
Jaime Jaquez Jr., senior guard/forward, six-foot-seven, No. 24 — Jaquez has been the Bruins’ most consistent scorer all season, leading the team in points per game with 17.4. Jaquez Jr. is mostly a threat near the basket and can penetrate the defense with dribble drives. He is also good at getting to the free throw line. Jacquez Jr. is capable of making a three but is struggling from beyond the arc this season, shooting just 26% from deep.
Jaylen Clark, junior guard, six-foot-five, No. 0 — Clark is another scoring threat for UCLA and can get his baskets anywhere on the floor. He’s averaging 15.1 points per game on 62% shooting. While he’s not the 3-point threat some of his teammates are, like Tyger Campbell and David Singleton, he is shooting an impressive 45% from deep on just 22 attempts on the season.
Amari Bailey, freshman guard, six-foot-five, No. 5 — Bailey was a highly-touted prospect out of high school and decided to stay in his home state of California to play college basketball. He’s lived up to the billing in the early part of his freshman season, averaging just under 11 points per game. While there have been hiccups at times, he also has the second-most assists on the team.
Strength
Generating turnovers. UCLA is holding opponents to 63.3 points per game, but the most impressive part about its defense is its ability to generate turnovers. The Bruins force 17.6 turnovers per game and score 22 points per game off turnovers. That doesn’t bode well for a Maryland team that has struggled with turnovers at times this season.
Weakness
Depth. Cronin plays eight guys consistently in his rotation but only receives significant contributions from six players. Maryland deals with similar issues. In a game as competitive as this one has the potential to be, rotations might be tightened anyway, but UCLA has had limited bench contributions this season, particularly from the backcourt.
Three things to watch
1. Can Julian Reese play physical and stay out of foul trouble? Reese’s dominant start to the season provided optimism to Terp fans. However, many of those games were against less physical opponents. As the schedule has become more challenging, Reese has not been nearly as dominant. He has still racked up points in Maryland’s last two games but rarely shows any ability of generating points on designed post touches. He also has committed four fouls in each of the last three games. Reese needs to be more disciplined on defense, especially given the lack of front court depth Maryland has.
2. Can Maryland get off to a better shooting start? Before Maryland’s loss to Tennessee on Sunday, Willard remarked about how his team has got off to slow shooting starts all season. Then, his group went out and made just three shots in the first 20 minutes for a season-low 17 points in the first half. Willard was matter-of-fact following the game, saying they need to practice shooting and that Maryland needs to win the 3-point battle to win games. Against UCLA, the Terps will be in trouble if they dig themselves a hole early with poor shooting.
3. What will the shot selection look like? Willard may be right that his team isn’t physical enough to win games inside and it will be essential to win the 3-point shooting war, but that doesn’t mean Maryland should rely on the three more than it needs to. Maryland’s at its best offensively when it is trying to get to the rim, putting pressure on the defense and kicking out for open threes. In the first half against Tennessee, 66% of Maryland’s shots were threes and it scored 17 points. In the second half, 29% of Maryland’s attempts were from three and it scored 36 points. Maryland certainly needs to shoot the ball better from deep, but it also should have a balanced offensive approach and not rely on threes more than it needs to.
The Terps look to get back on track at home.
Going into the season, if basically any Maryland basketball fan was told that the team would be 8-2 after the first 10 games of the season, they would have been ecstatic. However, after getting off to a blistering 8-0 start, the Terps have come back to earth a bit with two losses last week in two tough games at now-No. 22 Wisconsin and on a neutral court against now-No. 6 Tennessee, respectively. Terps fans will be hoping to see the team avoid a three-game skid.
That will be difficult though, as their opponent is a UCLA team that is ranked No. 16 in the country. The Bruins also have an 8-2 record, with their losses coming to Illinois and Baylor. Like Maryland, both of their defeats have come to teams in the current top 25. The Bruins’ biggest strength is at the guard position, where they not only have veterans Tyger Campbell and Jaime Jaquez Jr., but also star freshman Amari Bailey.
The numbers
Maryland: (8-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
UCLA: (8-2, 2-0 Pac-12)
All-time series: UCLA leads, 6-2
DraftKings Sportsbook line: Maryland -1
How to watch and listen
Wednesday, December 14, 9:00 PM EST, XFINITY Center, College Park, MD
TV: FOX Sports 1 — Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst)
Radio: 105.7 FM (Baltimore) / 980 AM (D.C.) / XM: 375 — Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Chris Knoche (analyst), Walt Williams (sideline)
Streaming: Sling TV
Baker Mayfield Named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 14
Quarterback Baker Mayfield's game-winning performance in his Rams debut is also an award-winning one. Mayfield has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 14, it was announced Wednesday morning. Mayfield completed 22 of 35 pass attempts for 230 yards and the go-ahead touchdown pass with 10 seconds left in the Rams' 17-16 win over the Raiders on Thursday Night Football. The touchdown pass came at the end of a 98-yard drive that marked the longest go-ahead drive that began in the final two minutes over the last 45 seasons, according to Elias Sports Bureau. This is the third player of the week honor of Mayfield's career. He also won AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 7 in 2020 and Week 16 in 2018 while with the Browns.
Animal Defenders International (ADI) welcomes the passage of The Big Cat Public Safety Act (HR263/ S1210), to ban private possession, public contact and increase restrictions on the breeding, trade, and exploitation of big cats in the US. The bill passed the US Senate today, and now goes to the President, who previously released a statement in support of the bill. The bill, sponsored by Representative Mike Quigley and Senator Richard Blumenthal, will not only protect big cats, but also first responders and local communities. “The Big Cat Public Safety Act will end the horrific exploitation of big cats and bolster public safety. These beautiful but powerful predators deserve to live in the wild, not be kept in captivity for people’s entertainment—even as cubs. I’m thrilled that, after a groundswell of public and bipartisan support, this bill I’ve long advocated for will become law,” said Senator Blumenthal. ADI President Jan Creamer said: “We are thrilled that Congress has voted to ban the backyard breeding, private ownership and public contact of these magnificent animals. Our thanks to Representative Quigley and Senator Blumenthal for their leadership on this important legislation. It is time to put an end to the horrific scenes of babies ripped from their mothers at birth, and tiny cubs passed around as photo props. Truly a life of misery for big cats.” Rep. Quigley said, “I have been working on this legislation for over 3 years and we are now one step closer to seeing it become law. Over the years, the world has seen the dangers of owning big cats, not just for the animals themselves but for the communities in which they are kept. When these big cats escape, first responders are put in immense danger. My legislation will bring an end to housing big cats in inhumane, unsafe conditions and will keep neighborhoods and law enforcement safe.” The bill is narrowly drawn as it attempts to strike a line between backyard breeders, and those recognized and accredited as Species Protection Programs, ex situ conservation at accredited zoos, and those wildlife sanctuaries meeting standards similar to the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (i.e. no commercial trade, breeding, direct contact, or offsite exhibition). It also grandfathers in entities having cats born prior to the bill’s enactment, so long as they register the animal, do not allow direct public contact with the animal, and do not breed, acquire, or sell the animal after the bill is enacted. As a result, the Big Cat Public Safety Act received broad bipartisan support. |
Follow ADI on social media:
Facebook: @AnimalDefenders
Twitter: @AnimalDefenders
Instagram: @animal_defenders_international
ADI TV YouTube: youtube.com/ADITV-animals
Celebrity quotes in support of the Big Cat Public Safety Act:
Award-winning TV legend Bob Barker said, “The abuse big cats suffer is indefensible. They are starved, mistreated, kept isolated in tiny cages, their paws mutilated, their bodies drugged, their lives miserable, and their deaths violent and ugly. It must stop. Please join Animal Defenders International in supporting the Big Cat Public Safety Act today.”
Actress Alexandra Paul said, “Breeding big cats in captivity is not conservation. Captive breeding will often result in compromised gene pools and unnatural hybrids. It would be disastrous to wild populations if the damaging genetic results of captive in-breeding found their way into the wild gene pool.”
Award-winning songwriter Diane Warren said, “No animal should be caged or have their babies taken from them at birth. We must teach compassion for all living creatures. No true sanctuary would ever keep animals in these shameful and cruel conditions, and no animals should be made to exist purely for human entertainment.”
Actress Jorja Fox said, “It is heartbreaking to know that these cubs used for photo props are pulled from their mothers, deprived of all that is natural to them, and endure a life of severe confinement, constant travel, overbreeding, and physical abuse.”
Actress Tonya Kay said, “Kids aren’t learning about big cats in roadside zoos. They’re learning about animal abuse. Roadside zoos are confining the largest of wild animals in tiny cages unable to exhibit any natural or healthy behaviors. The only place to learn respect and appreciation for these dangerous cats is viewing them in the wild. It’s time to end roadside zoos.”
Contact: ADI Media Desk, mediadesk@ad-international.org, (323) 804-9920 Animal Defenders International (ADI): Los Angeles – London – Bogota Behind some of the biggest and most dangerous large scale animal rescues in the world, with daring undercover missions to expose the suffering of animals. Active worldwide to end animal suffering, ADI’s undercover investigations inside laboratories, circuses, animal traffickers and Hollywood animal trainers, have led to prosecutions and new laws to protect animals. Bans on all, or wild animals in circuses have been secured in almost 50 countries. In Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Guatemala, ADI has been called in to help government wildlife officials enforce the bans and empty the cages. The ADI team tracks down illegal circuses wherever they go, facing threats and abuse as they take the suffering animals to a new life. These rescues often include large-scale relocations of animals – flying over 50 monkeys to forest sanctuary habitats or 33 lions from Peru and Colombia to South Africa. ADI cares for many of these circus survivors in their 455-acre sanctuary in South Africa, where lions and tigers roam huge natural enclosures – the lions, who once lived in cages the size of double beds, enjoy something of the life they were meant to live. ADI also cares for monkeys and bears in the natural homes in Latin America. All the animals have incredible stories of survival. ADI was founded in 1990; is a US 501(c)(3) non-profit; a registered charity in the UK and South Africa; has offices in Colombia and Peru. Winner of a 2021 and 2022 Great Non Profit Certificate and a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator. |
Win an Autographed Matthew Stafford Football
Download the Rams app before December 22nd for a chance to win a Matthew Stafford Autographed Football.* Plus, be the first to know about breaking news, roster moves and more when you turn on notifications.
*Sweepstakes ends 12/22. Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Full rules here
Electric Truck Deployment Ready for Acceleration in 2023, Says IDTechEx
Though battery-electric models currently make up only a small fraction of total global truck sales (around 0.4% in 2021), it is already clear that the transition from diesel combustion engines to zero-emission technologies is well underway. Volvo Trucks suggest that they expect by 2030, more than 50% of the trucks they sell each year should be electric. Truck OEMs face rising pressure to reduce the environmental impact of their vehicles, with legislation enacted to reduce exhaust greenhouse gas emissions and improve urban air quality. But, alongside this challenge, OEMs are seeing growing demand from their customers who need zero-emission solutions to help deliver their corporate emission reduction targets. As a result, the number of available electric truck models is increasing, with OEMs ramping up production volumes of these models. In their report, “Electric and Fuel Cell Trucks 2023-2043”, IDTechEx forecasts that the truck market is at the beginning of a relatively rapid shift to electric powertrains.
US Truck Market Gets Choice of Class 8 Electric Trucks
In North America, electric heavy-duty truck options have been limited until this year. However, in 2022 several major OEMs (including Daimler, Volvo, and Tesla) began series production of Class 8 electric trucks. Perhaps the earliest anticipated announcement was from Tesla, who, at the start of October, confirmed that its’ Tesla Semi had finally gone into “early production” at Tesla’s Nevada Gigafactory (the original production date was scheduled for December 2019). The first 15 electric Class 8 trucks will be delivered to Pepsi Co in December 2022. What makes this announcement significant is the superior performance promised by Tesla when compared to other available electric models; up to 500 miles of range (when loaded on a flat route), no sacrifice of payload capacity, Megachargers capable of returning 70% of range in 30 mins charging, and on-road energy consumption of less than 2 kWh/mile. The Tesla Semi could offer both the performance and total cost of ownership that make it competitive with current diesel trucks on some long-haul operations. The large order book for the vehicle demonstrates plenty of companies are keen to explore the technology and 2023 should see several of them get the opportunity to put Tesla’s claims to the test. Tesla have tentatively set themselves the goal of an annual production of 50,000 Semi’s per year in 2024.
Moving on From Electric Prototypes to Fleet Replacement
Sustainability is an increasingly important concern in the boardroom of major corporations, with many making public commitments to decarbonize their business operations in line with the UNFCC Paris Agreement and national net zero emission targets. Transitioning truck fleets from diesel engines to zero-emission powertrains is a highly visible way for companies to demonstrate their green credentials to their customers. While IDTechEx believes the initial deployment of electric trucks will be best suited to regional and urban routes, ongoing development work in battery technology, improved powertrain efficiency, and optimization of charging strategy will, over the next two decades, see future generations of electric truck able to meet the energy demand of all but the most arduous of long-haul duty cycles. 2023 promises to be an exciting year, with companies able to move on from small pilot tests of electric trucks to genuine replacement of diesel-fuelled fleet vehicles in cases where the duty cycle is compatible with electric operation. However, given the initial range limitations of the technology, OEMs must work with their customers on each deployment to avoid potential disappointment.
To find out more, the IDTechEx “Electric and Fuel Cell Trucks 2023-2043” report is designed to help businesses plan for the future in this dynamic market. The report contains 80 forecast lines, giving a twenty-year outlook for zero-emission truck sales, market penetration, battery demand, fuel cell demand, and market value, with separate forecasts for medium and heavy-duty trucks.
This report is part of IDTechEx’s broader mobility research portfolio, tracking the adoption of electric vehicles, battery, and technology trends across land, sea, and air. Find out more at www.IDTechEx.com/Research/EV. Lucy Rogers at press@IDTechEx.com (+44(0)1223 812300)
Social Media Links:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/IDTechEx
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IDTechExResearch
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