National Security

11 mass shootings over Labor Day weekend in mostly Democrat-run cities

Published

1 year ago

September 6, 2022

According to Gun Violence Archive, at least 11 mass shootings occurred nationwide over the Labor Day weekend; most took place in Democrat-run cities. Tragically, at least 15 people lost their lives. Cities where the shootings took place included Saint Paul, Minnesota, Charleston, South Carolina, Chicago, Philadelphia and Cleveland.

The Daily Caller News Foundation reports:

The weekend’s deadliest mass shooting so far occurred in Saint Paul, Minnesota, represented by Democratic Mayor Melvin Carter III, where three people died and two others were injured on Sept. 5 in the city’s Payne-Phalen neighborhood, according to The Hill.

The Gun Violence Archive defines mass shootings as incidents in which four or more people were shot or killed, excluding the shooter.

In Philadelphia, another shooter killed two people and injured at least three more on September 5th. Just days earlier, President Joe Biden spoke in Philadelphia where he stated that supporters of former President Donald Trump are a “threat to democracy.”

Throughout the weekend, Philadelphia saw more shootings, during which at least nine people were killed and 19 more were injured, according to Metro Philadelphia.

Chicago, run by Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot, is one of the strictest cities on gun control and was the first state to eliminate cash bail in 2021. However, Chicago gun violence over the holiday weekend resulted in 46 people shot and seven wounded, according to ABC 7.

In Charleston, South Carolina, Democratic Mayor John Tecklenburg blamed “illegal guns” and “repeat offenders” for a shooting of a 13-year-old on Sept. 4, and another shooting a few hours later, injuring five people in downtown Charleston, Live 5 News WCSC reported.

Middle East

U.S. House Votes to Permanently Freeze $6 Billion Iranian Funds Amid Hostage Exchange Controversy

Published

8 hours ago

December 1, 2023

Sara Carter Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation to permanently freeze $6 billion in Iranian funds that were initially slated for release by the Biden administration as part of a hostage exchange with Tehran earlier this year. The measure passed in a 307-119 vote, with the majority of Republicans supporting it, according to The Hill. Notably, Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie was the sole Republican dissenting voice, aligning with 118 Democrats.

The frozen funds, originally held in South Korea, were part of a deal where Seoul committed to paying Iran for oil before the U.S. imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic in 2019. Subsequently, these funds were transferred to Qatar as part of the exchange. However, in the aftermath of an Oct. 7 Hamas raid on Israel, where more than 200 hostages were seized and around 1,200 civilians were killed, both Qatar and the U.S. agreed to refreeze the funds.

The decision to permanently freeze the funds reflects the growing controversy surrounding the hostage exchange and the broader implications of releasing substantial financial resources to Iran. Tehran’s support for Hamas and its proxies’ heightened hostilities in the Middle East have contributed to the contentious nature of this issue.

As the legislation progresses, it further underscores the complex dynamics in the region and the United States’ response to Iran’s involvement in activities that destabilize the Middle East. The vote outcome signals a bipartisan stance on this matter, with implications for U.S.-Iran relations and the ongoing challenges of navigating geopolitical complexities.