Shooting in Alexandria, VA.

Rep. Steve Scalise

I woke up to this breaking news but I thought I would hold off posting about it until we had more information to work with.

What we do know is that a single man open fired with an automatic or semi-automatic rifle of some kind, during practice for a charity baseball game between the Washington Republicans and Democrats.

This particular practice field was being used by the Republicans.

House Whip Steve Scalise appears to be the only Republican lawmaker wounded, he was hit in the hip, though there are at least five wounded. One of whom may in fact be the gunman.

There were no fatalities. (Update: Well the gunman died, so that makes one.)

Here is more courtesy of the New York Times: 

Officials described a scene of chaos and of players taking cover wherever they could on the field. 

Rep. Mike Bishop from Michigan said the gunman was standing outside the fence line behind third base aiming for the field’s only exit. 

"If not for the detail who stepped up with basic revolvers, we would’ve all been dead,” he said, referring to members of the security team. He said he “Army-crawled” his way to taller grass and tried to reach the dugout, but bullets were hitting the dugout as well. 

“Ting, ting, ting, ting,” he said, describing the noise. “He was hunting us at that point. There was so much gunfire, you couldn’t get up and run. Pop, pop, pop, pop — it’s a sound I’ll never forget.”

The detail that Rep. Bishop is referring to is apparently the security staff that follows House Whip Steve Scalise around.

The gunman has been described as a white man with dark hair. (Update: Here he is.)

James T. Hodgkinson Identified as Shooter in Congressional Shooting https://t.co/gYxYuVPkBw pic.twitter.com/7WJ42GXRDG

— Mediaite (@Mediaite) June 14, 2017

So of course in Trump's America that means this will not be considered a terrorist attack. (Though Hodgkinson is being described as a Bernie Sanders supporter so that still might be an option for the Right Wing news outlets.)

There are reports that the gunman asked if it were Democrats or Republicans on the field but this does seem to be accurate.

This inconsistency seems like it could be important. It's better not to believe every scrap of information as 100% true immediately. pic.twitter.com/xGsu7avFmu

— Alan Cole (@AlanMCole) June 14, 2017

There is always a lot of confusion in the aftermath of these shootings, and invariably false information gets passed around.

Democratic leaders are already condemning this cowardly attack, which is good because knowing the Republicans this is definitely going to be spun as a political act from the Left.

Too late.

Liberals lose elections. Liberal response:

Property damage. Severed heads. Stabbings. Shootings. #Alexandria #SteveScalice

— RockPrincess (@Rockprincess818) June 14, 2017

What is not false however is that the folks targeted in this shooting want every person in America to have access to a firearm.  And I guarantee that will not change as a result of this event.

P.S. It now appears that the shooter has died of his injuries.

“He probably died about an hour, maybe a little over an hour ago.” @petewilliamsnbc says of suspect James T. Hodgkinson pic.twitter.com/rfH28v7njM

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 14, 2017

Update: This seems like an appropriate tweet to share today.

Looks like trump isn't the ONLY one with tweets that age poorly.

Does Rand Paul feel the same way after the Alexandria #shooting? pic.twitter.com/i9TviVUglM

— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) June 14, 2017

Rand Paul was one of the Republicans at this baseball field when the shooting started.

Gun injuries cost Americans 730 million annually.

Courtesy of the LA Times:  

Americans paid more than $6.6 billion over eight years to care for victims of gun violence, according to a new tally of hospital bills. And U.S. taxpayers picked up at least 41% of that tab. 

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, say the authors of a study published this week in the American Journal of Public Health. Their sum does not include the initial — and very costly — bill for gunshot victims’ care in emergency rooms. Nor does it include hospital readmissions to treat complications or provide follow-up care. The cost of rehabilitation, or of ongoing disability, is not included either. 

“These are big numbers, and this is the lowest bound of these costs,” said Sarabeth A. Spitzer, a Stanford University medical student who co-wrote the study. “We were surprised” at the scale, she added. 

That, arguably, makes gun-injury prevention a public health priority, Spitzer said. The GOP’s healthcare reform measure would reduce federal contributions toward Medicaid, which foots roughly 35% of the hospital bills for gunshot victims. The GOP plan would also cut payments to the hospitals that absorb much of the cost of caring for self-paying (in other words, uninsured) patients, whose hospital bills accounted for about 24% of the $730 million-per-year tab. 

“These are expensive injuries,” Spitzer said.

But can we REALLY put a price on a citizen's constitutional right to bear arms?

Hell yes we can! And it is a lot less than 730 million dollars a year.

I think that every gun owner should not only be forced to register their weapon, AFTER going through a strenuous background check, but that they also be forced to purchase insurance that specifically pays for any injuries that they or others may suffer as a result of that purchase.

I can tell you that I personally do not want to pay for the hospital bills of some fool who accidentally shot himself with his own gun. In my opinion he is too dumb to live anyhow.

Sarah Palin finally posts pictures of Todd in the hospital recovering from his accident.

Courtesy of Palin's only remaining media outlet Facebook:

So grateful for your prayers and support during Todd's recovery! He's in a good place - on the couch - insisting if there's any good season for injury, it's now. 

"March Madness is a great distraction," Todd reports. "And catching up on 'Deadliest Catch' and 'Bering Sea Gold' episodes is some awesome motivational therapy. I can't wait to get on Bristol Bay waters and pick fish with the family!" 

In our 35 years, I've never seen the guy have to literally hold still, sit down, and take a (winced) breath. And I've never seen Todd so touched by the kindness shown during difficult days. 

"It's overwhelming and I'm not worthy of these well-wishes," he said. "I wish I could repay people for caring. Makes me want to do more for others, especially when they're down and out. Maybe that's part of the purpose in all this." 

It IS overwhelming, friends' goodness permeating the situation. Todd is always, always doing what he can for others, and rooting for anyone going through life's trials. It's amazing to realize his character is recognized outside of our four walls. He's got a great heart... to go along with two inflated lungs now, metal holding bones together, and stitched up epidermis that makes him appreciate good health more than ever. 

"I can't thank you guys enough," Todd said. "The past few weeks showed us it's not just family circling the wagons; I don't think we'd ever realized that before. People out there who are hurting a hundred times worse than I was can use our prayers and any kind gesture. Maybe I can only repay by offering the same to you."

 Well we asked for pictures, and now there are pictures.

Of course I notice that we still have no pictures of the snowmachine.

Sarah Palin provides an update on husband Todd's condition.

Courtesy of Palin's Facebook page:  

Todd Palin is in intensive care at an Alaskan hospital with injuries including multiple broken and fractured ribs, broken shoulder blade, broken clavicle, knee/leg injuries; and a collapsed lung. He is presently back in surgery to repair multiple fractures. Thank you for your prayers for a speedy recovery. We, as his wife and children, appreciate your respect for our privacy during this time. Knowing Todd, once he's cognizant, he'll probably ask docs to duct tape him up and he'll call it good. He's tough.

So when this was written Todd was "back in surgery?"

I guess that means that he already underwent surgery while his wife lazily made her way back to Alaska.

According to the news Todd was injured Sunday night, yet Palin did not "suddenly" quit pimping for Trump until just before 12:00 PM Florida time, only to later show up later and give a somewhat unhinged speech for him before actually leaving to fly up here to see to her husband.

Such a dutiful wife don't you think?

Now I have been thinking about these injuries of Todd's and I have to say that I am a little baffled.

Whatever your opinion of Todd Palin might be, I think we can all agree that he has spent a great deal of time on snowmachines and clearly knows how to ride safely.

And yet here he is in the hospital receiving multiple surgeries, not as the result of injuries sustained while engaged in a high speed Iron Dog race, but while out making what appears to be a beer run to Cubby's Marketplace. A trip I am confident that he has made numerous times in the past.

So how does one damn near kill themselves while taking a leisurely drive to the store, when there are no other vehicles involved in the accident?

Things that make you go "Hmm."

But don't you fret. After all it's not serious enough that his daughter Bristol is distracted from her grifting.

Courtesy of Daddy's Little Girl's Instagram account:

bsmp2Always on the run, but I never leave the house without my #310shake! I've got to keep lean and energized! @310nutrition #fitmom #yum 🙋🏻🤓🗻

Why anybody would let this family within 100 yards of them is beyond me. 

As promised here is an update on the death of Juneau Mayor Greg Fisk. Update!

Courtesy of Komo News:  

The newly elected mayor of Alaska's capital city had suffered injuries when he was found dead, but police are awaiting autopsy results to announce a possible cause of death, officials said Tuesday. 

Juneau Police Department spokeswoman Erann Kalwara said Tuesday the cause of death remains unknown. 

"It's not clear what the cause of those injuries are," she said. She could not comment on the nature of the injuries, she said. 

Fisk lived alone. There was no sign of forced entry into Fisk's home above Juneau's downtown. 

"We haven't ruled anything out yet," she said. Police are hoping the state medical examiner in Anchorage will complete the autopsy in a couple of days, she said. 

Investigators on Monday didn't speculate on a possible cause of Fisk's death but did not immediately rule out foul play.

There are still plenty of rumors swirling around.

And the fact that there was no forced entry, injuries present, and the fact that the police are not ruling out foul play is doing nothing to change that.

According to ABC the police have also ruled out a gunshot, drugs, or suicide as the cause of death.

Update: Autopsy reveals that Fisk died of natural causes. 

Well there at least is one conspiracy theory that can be put to rest.