Daily Archives: December 22, 2019

Gun regulators have admitted to violating the Second Amendment – Washington Examiner

Posted: December 22, 2019 at 1:42 am

On Dec. 11, Gun Owners of America argued before the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals that the governments recently enacted ban on bump stocks is illegal.

The organization's argument is by no means controversial. The government bureau that made them illegal, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, even admitted in a court filing that it lacks authority under the Gun Control Act and National Firearms Act to issue the rule. In short, it violated the Second Amendment as a way of reaping more power for itself, and that should not be tolerated.

The GOA can and will continue fighting the illicit actions of gun regulators as they arise in court, and they will be penalized; however, this piecemeal approach can only go so far. It is high time for Second Amendment advocates in Congress and the White House to begin taking action to reform the rogue bureau.

After all, this isnt the first time the ATF has disregarded the law. Just two months ago, a judge similarly found the bureau to have been enforcing laws that dont exist against gun owners. The bureau has been pretending that receivers are bound by the same draconian D.C. regulations as entire put-together firearms and have been threatening their manufacturers with prosecution for not going through the full regulatory process.

The methods the bureau has used to generate firearm cases against the American people have always been questionable. In the 1970s and 1980s, Congress studied the issue closely, with a Senate subcommittee report ultimately concluding that it is apparent that ATF enforcement tactics made possible by current federal firearms laws are constitutionally, legally, and practically reprehensible."

Its cousin organization, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, is no better. The tax bureau used to be a part of the ATF, but in 2002, the Homeland Security Act divided the organization into two. The tax bureaus half is now responsible for tax collection, labeling regulations, and trade oversight, and it remains just as reckless as the ATF.

The tax bureau pointedly refuses to provide clarity to its obscure, complex mandates. As former Treasurer Bay Buchanan pointed out, Ever since its foundation, TTB has seemingly gone out of its way to ensure that firearms and ammo merchants remain out of compliance with the law.

Like the ATF, the tax bureau also has no problem violating the law. For example, it recently proposed Notice No. 176, a rule that it alleges will "eliminate unnecessary regulatory requirements and provide consumers broader purchasing options." Over a dozen conservative organizations have called out the illegality of this proposed rule, which they say will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. In a letter to the administration, they said it violates President Trumps Executive Order 13771, which calls for the elimination of two regulations for every new one proposed, as well as Executive Order 12866 from the Clinton years, which mandates the Office of Management and Budget review any regulatory action that will cost the economy $100 million or more.

Unelected government bureaucrats should not be allowed to continue increasing the size of the regulatory state and infringing on the peoples Second Amendment rights, not when Republicans control the Senate and the White House.

With the ATFs abuses are still being reported in the news and are fresh on the publics mind, now is the time for the Senate to begin holding hearings and getting to the bottom of the exploitation.

The Senate Judiciary Committee should call in ATF head Regina Lombardo to discuss the bureau's legal violations and what steps, if any, are being taken to correct them.

Meanwhile, Louisiana Sen. John Kennedys Senate appropriations subcommittee should call the tax bureaus leaders, Mary J. Ryan and Daniel Riordan, in to see if they accept the deregulatory and transparency orders currently on the books and what action, if any, they are taking to ensure compliance.

If the ATF's or the tax bureau's leaders refuse to come before Congress or give lackluster answers to congressional questioning, the Trump administration can and should replace both. As luck would have it, Lombardo, Ryan, and Riordan are only serving in acting roles, so the White House has every right to replace them with permanent leadership officials at any time. In the case of the tax bureau, this would not even require Senate confirmation.

Gun Owners of America will continue to monitor the behavior of both bureaus and fight their illegal activity in court, but substantive change will never occur if we do not receive a helping hand from our friends in Congress and the White House.

Michael Hammond is legislative counsel for Gun Owners of America, a gun rights organization representing more than 2 million gun owners.

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Gun regulators have admitted to violating the Second Amendment - Washington Examiner

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Open Forum: Response to Second Amendment Sanctuary – The Winchester Star

Posted: at 1:42 am

Lack of communication on guns, disregard of, first, rule of law. and then of a faith tradition

At the conclusion of reading this article, my reaction was one of sadness. I believe this sadness resulted from three thoughts. First, I can remember my elementary school days when we practiced protecting ourselves from enemy air raids with convention/nuclear weapons. We had to get under our desks and close our eyes.

Fortunately, before I moved on to high school, these drills were no longer necessary. Unfortunately, today all schools must have active shooter procedures, which must be practiced. Also, unfortunately, the occurrences of active shooter incidents in schools and in our communities continue to increase. I do not profess to have the wisdom to know what we should change, but I am convinced nothing will change until we learn to talk to each other and respect each others viewpoints.

My second sadness is that my neighbors appear to be taking the perspective that any law passed by our legislature and signed by our governor can be disregarded by us and our Frederick County government. I am proud to be an American and to have served our great country in our military.

Our long-standing commitment to free election and peaceful transition of power (as embodied in our Constitution and Amendments) is the foundation upon which our democracy rests. The rule of law is also central to our system of government. We should not be rebelling against laws that have been or may be passed by our state legislature. That is the purpose of the court system. Also, the rebellious tone sends the wrong message to our children.

Finally, my greatness sadness is there is never a faith component to thesediscussions. Our Founding Fathers were men of faith. Yet, when we discuss important issues, we conveniently omit our faith traditions. These traditions form a moral compass upon which we should live our lives and make decisions. While the Scriptures of our major faith traditions do not address guns, they do provide a framework for living a moral life.

In the Christian faith tradition, which I practice, a central theme of the Gospel is Gods love for us and the love we should have for each other. I suspect many citizens who have signed the petition have also been raised in a faith tradition. I also suspect the moral compass provided in their Scriptures was not considered when they signed. Perhaps in future discussions on the 2nd Amendment, we can establish a common basis for an informed discussion by sharing with each other the foundation of our moral compass.

At the conclusion of the 1990 movie Ghost, the last thing Sam says to Molly as he leaves this world is: Its amazing, Molly. The love inside, you take it with you. Love is the only thing we can take with us when we die. Lets include our love for each other in future discussions of the Second Amendment and all other contentious issues we must face.

Michael J. Conk is a resident of Frederick County.

Michael J. Conk is a resident

of Frederick County.

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Open Forum: Response to Second Amendment Sanctuary - The Winchester Star

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List of Second Amendment sanctuaries in Virginia and where its being discussed – WSLS 10

Posted: at 1:42 am

ROANOKE, Va. As more and more counties vote to become Second Amendment sanctuaries, weve compiled a list to help you keep track.

10 News talked with a Constitutional law professor to learn more about what it means to become a Second Amendment sanctuary.

To read the bills related to weapons, including guns, that will be discussed during Virginias 2020 legislative session, click here.

Counties/Cities Adopted:

Accomack County - Adopted on Dec. 18. 2019 (Slightly modified version)

Alleghany County - Adopted on Dec. 3, 2019

Amelia County - Adopted on Dec. 18, 2019

Amherst County - Adopted on Dec. 3, 2019

Appomattox County - Adopted on Nov. 18, 2019

Augusta County - Adopted on Dec. 4, 2019

Bath County - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019

Bedford County - Adopted on Dec. 9, 2019

Bland County - Adopted on Nov. 26, 2019

Botetourt County - Adopted on Nov. 26, 2019

City of Bristol - Adopted on Dec. 9, 2019 (Slightly modified version)

Brunswick County - Adopted on Dec. 11, 2019 (Confirmed with county administration)

Buchanan County - Adopted on Dec. 2, 2019

Buckingham County - Adopted on Dec. 9, 2019

Campbell County - Adopted on Nov. 7, 2019

Caroline County - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019

Carroll County - Adopted on May 13, 2019

Charlotte County - Adopted Nov. 13, 2019

City of Chesapeake - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019

City of Colonial Heights - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019

City of Covington - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019

Craig County - Adopted Dec. 5, 2019

Culpeper County - Adopted Dec. 3, 2019

Cumberland County - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019

Dickenson County - Adopted on Nov. 19, 2019

Dinwiddie County - Adopted on Nov. 20, 2019

Floyd County - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019

Fluvanna County - Adopted on Dec. 11, 2019

City of Franklin - Adopted on Dec. 9, 2019

Franklin County - Adopted on Dec. 17, 2019

Frederick County - Adopted on Dec. 11, 2019

City of Galax - Adopted on Dec. 9, 2019 (Slightly modified version)

Giles County - Adopted on Nov. 21, 2019

Gloucester County - Adopted on Dec. 3, 2019

Goochland County - Adopted on Dec. 3, 2019

Grayson County - Adopted on Dec. 12, 2019

Greene County - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019

Greensville County - Adopted on Dec. 3, 2019

Halifax County - Adopted on Dec. 2, 2019

Hanover County - Adopted on Dec. 11, 2019

Henrico County - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019 (Slightly modified version)

Henry County - Adopted on Nov. 26, 2019

Isle of Wight County - Adopted on Dec. 12, 2019

James City County - Approved resolution to affirm its commitment to the constitutions of the United States and Virginia on Dec. 10, 2019

King and Queen County - Adopted on Dec. 9, 2019 (Confirmed with county government)

King George County - Adopted on Dec. 3, 2019

King William County - Adopted on Nov. 25, 2019

Lancaster County - Adopted on Dec. 12, 2019

Lee County - Adopted on Nov. 19, 2019

Louisa County - Adopted on Dec. 2, 2019

Lunenburg County - Adopted on Dec. 12, 2019 (Confirmed with county administration)

Mathews County - Adopted on Dec. 17, 2019

Madison County - Adopted on Nov. 26, 2019

City of Martinsville - Passed slightly modified resolution on Dec. 10, 2019

Mecklenburg County - Adopted on Dec. 9, 2019

Middlesex County - Adopted on Dec. 3, 2019

Montgomery County - Adopted on Dec. 16, 2019 (Slightly modified version)

Nelson County - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019

New Kent County - Adopted on Nov. 27, 2019

Northampton County - Passed slightly modified resolution on Dec. 10, 2019

Northumberland County - Adopted on Dec. 12 (Confirmed with county administration)

City of Norton - Adopted on Dec. 3, 2019

Nottoway County - Adopted on Nov. 21, 2019

Orange County - Adopted on Dec. 3, 2019

Page County - Adopted on Dec. 3, 2019

Patrick County - Adopted on Nov. 18, 2019

Pittsylvania County - Adopted on Nov. 19, 2019

City of Poquoson - Adopted on Dec. 9, 2019

Powhatan County - Adopted on Nov. 25, 2019

Prince Edward County - Adopted on Dec. 17, 2019

Prince George County - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019

Prince William County - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019 (Expected to be overturned by newly elected Board)

Pulaski County - Approved on Dec. 16, 2019

Rappahannock County - Adopted on Dec. 2, 2019

Richmond County - Adopted on Dec. 12, 2019 (Confirmed with county administration)

Roanoke County - Adopted on Dec. 3, 2019

Rockbridge County - Adopted on Dec. 9, 2019

Rockingham County - Adopted on Dec. 11, 2019

Russell County - Adopted on Dec. 2, 2019

Scott County - Adopted on Dec. 4, 2019

Shenandoah County - Adopted on Dec. 9, 2019

Smyth County - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019

Southampton County - Adopted on Nov. 25, 2019

Spotsylvania County - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019

Stafford County - Adopted on Dec. 17, 2019

Surry County - Adopted on Dec. 5, 2019

Sussex County - Adopted Nov. 21, 2019

Tazewell County - Adopted on Dec. 3, 2019

Warren County - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019 (Confirmed with county administration)

Washington County - Adopted on Nov. 26, 2019

Westmoreland County - Adopted on Dec. 11, 2019 (Confirmed with county administration)

Wise County - Adopted on Dec. 12, 2019

Wythe County - Adopted on Nov. 26, 2019

York County - Adopted on Dec. 17, 2019 (Constitutional County)

Towns Adopted:

Big Stone Gap - Adopted on Dec. 10, 2019 (Confirmed with town office)

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List of Second Amendment sanctuaries in Virginia and where its being discussed - WSLS 10

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Supervisors ready to adopt 2nd Amendment stance – Fauquier Now

Posted: at 1:42 am

December 18, 2019

Photo/Lawrence Emerson

Part of the crowd outside the Warren Green Buiding last Thursday, Dec. 12, during Second Amendment testimony before Fauquiers board of supervisors.

Board Chairman Chris Butler

By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)Staff Journalist

In response to testimony from 74 people at the boards Dec. 12 meeting and hundreds of emails, phone calls and personal conversations, the revised draft document declares Fauquier a Constitutional County.

> Resolution at bottom of story

Demanding tougher language and a more explicit endorsement of the Second Amendment, some critics called the previous version watered down.

No one at the four-hour-plus meeting last Thursday spoke in support of gun-law restrictions.

The board will vote on the revised document at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23, in the Warren Green Building at 10 Hotel St. in Warrenton. The public will not be permitted to comment during the meeting.

Supervisors Chairman Chris Butler (Lee District) backs the resolution and expects the five-member board to approve it.

I think this will pass but wont speak for anyone, Mr. Butler wrote in a text Wednesday.

About 2,000 people gathered last Thursday outside the meeting to show their support to keep and bear arms.

The vast majority of speakers urged the supervisors to approve language designating Fauquier as either a Second Amendment sanctuary or a Constitutional County.

In defining a Second Amendment sanctuary, one speaker said Sheriff Bob Mosier wouldnt enforce unconstitutional laws and Commonwealths Attorney Scott C. Hook wouldnt prosecute those people in violation of such laws.

The board also wouldnt appropriate county funds to enforce them, the speaker told the board.

Fauquiers three-page resolution doesnt include such provisions.

Instead, it states that the board reaffirms its Oath of Office to support and defend the United States and Virginia Constitutions and stands as a Constitutional County with the overwhelming number of Constitutional and Sanctuary Counties across Virginia.

So far, more than 90 Virginia counties, cities and towns have adopted similar resolutions, according to published reports.

We took an oath to uphold the U.S. and Virginia Constitutions, Mr. Butler wrote in support of the Constitutional County resolution. We are bound by the four corners of both documents, not just the Second Amendment.

As I stated before, both documents are our sanctuary. We are stating we wont stand for any infringement of any right protected by these documents.

Fauquiers resolution also strongly condemns statements of the Governor and members of the General Assembly threatening to withhold funds to localities that support the constitutional rights of their citizens to keep and bear arms.

Gov. Ralph Northam (D) backs stricter gun laws, which the 2020 General Assembly will consider when it convenes a 60-day session Jan. 8.

On Nov. 5, Democrats won majorities in both the 100-member Virginia House of Delegates and 40-member Senate. Not since 1993 has the party controlled state government.

ContactDon Del RossoatDon@FauquierNow.comor 540-270-0300.

Resolution on Right to Bear... by Fauquier Now on Scribd

Member comments

maryjdkns@gmail.com December 21, 2019 at 8:20 pm

Yes I'm aware.. I assume you're aware that a majority of gun owners welcome responsible gun legislation not sure why anyone would object if in fact they want to use them for sensible purposes.

Constitutional Insurgent December 20, 2019 at 5:57 pm

On edit for clarity....not the legislation, but numerous bills across the country. Some passed and enforced, some successfully defeated or repealed.

Constitutional Insurgent December 20, 2019 at 5:05 pm

But yes, instead of mobilizing early in the face of un-Constitutional infringement....I'm sure that you would very much like us to wait.

We will not comply, and we will let that be known now, not after it's too late.

maryjdkns@gmail.com December 20, 2019 at 4:48 pm

Let's wait to see what the general assembly legislates. No previous legislation has ever entertained the idea of taking away the guns of law-abiding citizens.. This presumptive strike for a gun sanctuary is beyond idiotic.

bblimber December 20, 2019 at 4:31 pm

Well gee. We all know that a law will solve this problem, so why don't we just pass a law that it's illegal to kill someone. That way no matter how someone might chose to end someone else life, then at least they know the consequences gosh darn it!

Constitutional Insurgent December 20, 2019 at 2:58 pm

Constitutional Insurgent December 20, 2019 at 2:54 pm

And? It hasnt been in the interest of the gun control lobby to study defensive gun use......for a reason. Use Google, you get much the same from any reputable source.

Tony Bentley December 20, 2019 at 2:46 pm

Constitutional Insurgent December 20, 2019 at 2:04 pm

In 1996, 1997, and 1998, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted large-scale surveys asking about defensive gun use (DGU) in four to six states. Analysis of the raw data allows the estimation of the prevalence of DGU for those areas. Estimates based on CDCs surveys confirm estimates for the same sets of states based on data from the 1993 National Self-Defense Survey (Kleck and Gertz 1995). Extrapolated to the U.S. as a whole CDCs survey data imply that defensive uses of guns by crime victims are far more common than offensive uses by criminals. CDC has never reported these results.

Tony Bentley December 20, 2019 at 10:34 am

Can anyone give me the stats for how many lives guns have SAVED per year?

Gunner December 20, 2019 at 5:09 am

Actually, they are ridiculously easy to get...for criminals. That's the point in my view. The black market is one thing, but the dark web is a whole other ball of wax. You can buy d@*m near anything with no regulation or checks WHATSOEVER. And do it with crypto currency. Yet 'they' want to push more regulations and restrictions on the law abiding and strip us of the means to to protect ourselves. That is one major factor that is never really discussed by society and an inconvenient truth for the left they don't want to admit if they are actually aware of it.

Constitutional Insurgent December 19, 2019 at 11:46 am

But I do know this, continually infringing upon our Constitutional Rights and civil liberties, is not going to help.

Weapons aren't 'ridiculously' easy to get. Period. Contrary to absurd claims from the gun control lobby...I don't have to undergo near the time and labor for other lawful items, as I do for firearms.

Truepat December 19, 2019 at 10:42 am

It's not whether it can be fixed, it's all about those that don't want it fixed. The bright side is that the turn out all over Virginia in support of our Constitution shows that the "silent" majority are no longer silent. That's the last thing they thought would happen or wanted......

DonkeyFarmer December 19, 2019 at 9:45 am

Demo- I actually agree with everything you just wrote. Now how is banning a single type of rifle like an AR15 going to help?

Demosthenes December 19, 2019 at 8:33 am

I would agree that a lot of today's violence stems from a loss of stable families.

But assuming that is true, how do we fix the problem? Can you imagine a way to regulate happy and healthy families? Shall we pass a law requiring every family to have two happy and competent parents who sit down with the kids at dinnertime each night?

Should we mandate universal mental healthcare with regular assessment requirements? Would that even prevent the violence that is taking place now?

Sadly, I don't think government is capable of fixing broken families or broken young men.

But the government can create policies that prevent those broken young men from having ridiculously easy access to weapons.

Constitutional Insurgent December 19, 2019 at 7:44 am

That's exactly correct, Trupat. The breakdown of the family, coupled with the social media-ization...drive-by consumerism and a believed entitlement to instant gratification....are the true causes of any increased violence; not, as the gun control cabal would have one believe - the "easy availability of firearms".

Truepat December 19, 2019 at 6:43 am

The true unfortunate reason behind the majority of shootings was due to a break down in the family unit, you can research the conclusion of each case, I already know. I do find it interesting that the "gun advocates" ignore the fact that city gang violence such as Chicago kills hundreds a year but are never listed. DC is right there with them.

jim goodwin December 19, 2019 at 5:06 am

Glad to see the new language includes "self-defense", though I don't think it needs to be hyphenated.

DonkeyFarmer December 18, 2019 at 10:28 pm

*the *tied

DonkeyFarmer December 18, 2019 at 10:25 pm

The 2A sancuary movement might help to temper the gun control laws. But the real way to deal with this is to vote. Let three democrats overplay their hand, get tired up in court, then vote them out. Declaring yourself in violation of the law is not going to do much but make them dig in deeper.

Jim Griffin December 18, 2019 at 9:51 pm

Agreed, threaded the needle, just saying no to sanctuary is the right thing to do.

I want all my rights, 2A included, and the Rule of Law, though Jeffersonian American is likely more eager than ever to dissolve Fauquier County government. RGLJA is happy the resolution no longer mentions the sheriff (as it once did).

DonkeyFarmer made good suggestions about keeping guns from the wrong hands. Hope some of it becomes law.

Demosthenes December 18, 2019 at 9:37 pm

Alright Donkeyfarmer, let's see what happens. I'll buy you a drink sometime if you are right.

DonkeyFarmer December 18, 2019 at 9:35 pm

Demon- 2A supporters are not claiming any right is more important than another. You are simply making it up. Repeating your lie is not going to work.

Demosthenes December 18, 2019 at 8:55 pm

Next up: The 2A people will start beating a dead horse about how gun rights are more important than all other rights.

_()_/

philshea December 18, 2019 at 8:22 pm

1st amendment depends on the 2nd amendment. We know this is mostly symbolic, but so are "sanctuary cities," and looks how that has changed them.

bblimber December 18, 2019 at 7:07 pm

I beg to differ - they WILL exploit their power. Unless of course you hold to the arrogant notion that "we are more enlightened than past generations."

@twotterpilot: By the numbers, hardly a tidal wave. Now as for a true "...tidal wave of death and carnage" How about the one gratuitously promoted by the narrow, parochial interests of PPoA and it's allies.2015 638,169 2014 652,639 2013 664,435 2012 699,202 2011 730,322 2010 765,651 2009 789,507 2008 825,564 2007 827,609 2006 852,385 2005 820,151 2004 839,226 2003 848,163 2002 854,122 2001 853,485 2000 857,475 1999 861,789 Total: 13,379,894

Gunner December 18, 2019 at 4:38 pm

Just me, I see your statistics and raise you with genocide; horrific acts which statistically began with the disarming of the population.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_genocides_by_death_toll

But I'll make you a deal. Once you, and you desired 'leadership', can ensure repeat, violent offenders are kept of the street instead of repeatedly released back into society, eradicate innocent deaths due to drunk driving, wipe opioid deaths from the nation, generate absolutely perfect doctors who don't kill (for lack of a better word) patients through malpractice, and fill every pool in the nation with concrete, then I would be glad to talk about my guns. That is just a short, a very short, list of incidents that kill more people than active shooters. Do your research, apply critical thought. Don't act on emotion.

twotterpilot December 18, 2019 at 4:10 pm

Agreed, just me. The numbers speak for themselves. There will be more depressing statistics to add as common sense gun control legislation is thwarted by such resolutions, adding to the tidal wave of death and carnage promoted by the narrow, parochial interests of the NRA and it's allies.

Gunner December 18, 2019 at 2:59 pm

Just me, your point?

just me December 18, 2019 at 2:37 pm

April 1999 Colombine High School - 12March 2005 Red Lake Senior HS - 7October 2006 W. Nickel Mines School - 5April 2007 Virginia Tech -32April 2012 Oikos University - 7December 2012 Sandy Hook ES -26May 2014 UCSB - 6October 2015 Umpqua Community College - 10November 2017 Rancho Tehama ES - 5February 2018 Stoneman Douglas HS -17May 2018 Santa Fe HS -10

Truepat December 18, 2019 at 1:14 pm

Represent and stand with our fellow Virginians!!

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Jason Derulo’s "Cats" Costars Revealed It Wasn’t Just His Bulge That Had To Be Removed – BuzzFeed News

Posted: at 1:42 am

BuzzFeed News is sorry to report Jason Derulo wasnt the only one who had to have his genital bulge digitally removed from the psychedelic live-action adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webers musical Cats.

His Cats costars Francesca Hayward (Victoria), Laurie Davidson (Mr. Mistoffelees), and Robbie Fairchild (Munkustrap) shed some much-needed light on the pressing situation during an interview on Friday with BuzzFeed News morning show AM to DM.

Everyone was gone! Nobody had a bulge!" revealed Fairchild.

The conversation around Jason Derulos genitalia has been one of the more bizarre news items to come out of an already bizarre movie.

Derulos dick, if anyone needs a refresher, has been having a hard time lately. First, it was censored by Instagram and then, apparently, by the movie. The Instagram controversy occurred after he posted a thirst trap which was subsequently removed by the platform because of its policy regarding aroused genitalia, but he argued he was only semi-aroused.

During a subsequent appearance on Andy Cohens radio show, Derulo, who plays Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, boasted proudly that producers of the movie "CGId the dick out" because it was so big.

But Fairchild said it wasn't just Derulo's package that had to be erased. "Its Cats!" he said. "If ours were gone, his should be gone!"

When told during his AM to DM interview that the Derulo penis censorship in Cats had been a "huge topic" of conversation in the BuzzFeed office, Davidson joked, "Huge topic? That's up for debate."

Cats is based on T.S. Eliots Old Possums Book of Practical Cats. It follows a group of cats called the Jellicle cats as they perform songs until one cat, named Old Deuteronomy (played by Dame Judi Dench in the movie) picks one of them to go to kitty-cat heaven.

Hayward confessed to BuzzFeed News that shes never seen the original musical performed live. I had a video and I just used to watch that all the time when I was, like, 8 years old, and I would always be Victoria, she said. Hayward is now the principal ballerina at the Royal Ballet and has had roles in major productions like The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.

The cast members told BuzzFeed News that they had to go to three months of cat school to prepare for the role. We played a lot of games to get into the mindset and physicality of cats, Davidson said.

Hayward said that soon it became normal to see their costars as cats, adding that it would be weird to see them without the CGI setup, like dots on their faces, outside of filming.

Cats came out Friday, but the purr around it started months ago when the first trailer released and everyone was collectively shocked to see cat versions of A-listers like Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, and Jennifer Hudson.

The reviews of the movie have been roughly the same.

But Fairchild said he feels the musical itself has always been polarizing."

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Jason Derulo's "Cats" Costars Revealed It Wasn't Just His Bulge That Had To Be Removed - BuzzFeed News

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Will new claims of censorship threaten TikToks presence in Europe? – 150sec

Posted: at 1:42 am

Technology

Make your day. TikToks slogan conveys the idea of another playful company to add to the list of social media giants. The reality, though, is much darker.

Initially released as Musical.ly a platform that allowed users to upload videos of themselves miming to songs the company was later acquired by Chinese ByteDance, who then launched TikTok. Rather than focusing on music videos, the app is now a place where users can create, share, and watch any kind of short videos on a continuous loop.

According to GlobalWebIndex, TikToks target demographic is primarily Gen Z and Millennials between 16 and 24 years old. In November 2019, it hit an impressive 1.5 billion downloads worldwide, placing the app third in the list of most-downloaded non-gaming apps, after Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger.

Operating on such a huge scale, TikTok has come under harsh scrutiny from governments and the press about its transparency and content regulation. With its headquarters in Beijing, questions about TikToks ethics came to fruition long before the company expanded into Europe in September 2017. Bytedance has repeatedly had to defend itself from allegations of propagandist aims and preventing mentions of Tiananmen Square. With an already-tarnished reputation in countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh and India, can the app survive fresh accusations of censorship in a relatively new European market?

Of the 500 million active TikTok users, 150 million are located in China and use the Chinese version of the app (called Douyin). Other Asian countries like Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand have an equally high engagement.

A November 2018 breakdown of TikToks European markets noted that Germany was the top country for users with 4.1 million active, followed closely by France with 4 million, where views averaged a total of 6.5 billion and 5 billion respectively. In both countries TikTok users open the app around 8 times a day.

As of October 2019, Germanys user base has more than doubled with 8.8 million users and is now the 10th country in the world with the biggest TikTok following.

Indonesia was one of the first countries to block TikTok after videos on the platform were deemed blasphemous and pornographic. As a result, TikTok was removed from all app download stores for a week, beginning July 2018. Only once TikTok agreed to clear all negative content, apply additional restrictions for 14 to 18-year-olds, and set up a team of censors in Indonesia to sanitize content, was the app reinstated in the country.

Later, in February 2019, after declaring a war on pornography, Bangladesh followed suit and also shut down TikTok. Currently, the app remains unavailable in the country.

More recently, in April this year, India joined the list of countries hitting back at TikTok. Accusations of content featuring child pornography, accidental suicides and killings, as well as dangerous trends like jumping in front of cars surfaced. Other issues included spreading fake news and cyberbullying. For two weeks, new downloads of the app were banned across all of India, costing TikTok $500,000 in revenue each day. Following an appeal from TikToks parent company Bytedance, Madras High Court reversed its decision after one week.

In November 2019, German digital rights blog Netzpolitik gained access to TikToks moderation rules. The site noted that, although guidelines were extremely loose, TikToks strategy, however, is clear: certain content is given the widest possible reach, while others are systematically suppressed.

Netzpolitik also discovered that unwanted content on TikTok is divided into four categories: deletion, visible to self, not for feed, and not recommended. General videos that do not fall into these categories can still be marked risk and be blocked by location. TikTok claims the moderation is to ensure content complies with different country laws.

The strategy, however, is clear: certain content is given the widest possible reach, while others are systematically suppressed.

An unnamed source from TikTok also told Netzpolitik that protests are generally not welcome on the app. Since its parent company Bytedance is Chinese, the recent troubles in Hong Kong, for example, have little if any exposure on the platform.

Only a month later, Netzpolitik broke another story about TikToks use of censorship. This time, a leaked document revealed how TikTok made videos of people with disabilities less visible. The app also hid videos of overweight people and people identifying as LGBTQ by grouping them on special user lists, deemed higher risk.

The justification? TikTok claimed the action was to protect vulnerable users and those susceptible to harassment or cyberbullying based on their physical or mental condition. These special user lists were curated by a team of moderators who were assigned to make their judgements based on 15-second video uploads.

The controversial measure meant that videos of users with disabilities or perceived disabilities were only shown in the country where they were uploaded. In Germany, this shrunk a potential audience of 500 million to 8.8 million.

TikTok claims the special user lists were never intended to be a long-term solution and have since changed them. The platform has also emphatically denied censoring politicized content. Nonetheless, its moderation guidelines and Bytedances likely pressure to further Chinese foreign policy still compromise the platform.

By systematically disadvantaging unfavorable content, TikTok has fueled suspicions of censorship and its broader political goals. While TikToks growth does not appear to be slowing down, it remains uncertain whether the skepticism will have a lasting impact on its user base.

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Will new claims of censorship threaten TikToks presence in Europe? - 150sec

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Heritage Foundation Responds to Tucker Carlson’s False Accusations on Big Tech – Heritage.org

Posted: at 1:42 am

WASHINGTONIn a segment that aired Friday, Fox News host Tucker Carlson made several false, outrageous, and unfounded accusations against The Heritage Foundation. Rob Bluey, vice president of communications at Heritage, released the following statement in response:

For nearly 50 years, The Heritage Foundation has represented the interests of the American people based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional values, and a strong national defense. Heritage does not support policies that deviate from these principles, nor are our recommendations ever influenced by donations or outside political pressure.

It was, therefore, incredibly disappointing to hear Tucker Carlson, whom we hold in high regard, mislead his viewers about Heritages work on the topics of big tech and censorship. Carlson is a former employee of Heritage who last year received our prestigious Salvatori Prize and who regularly features Heritage guests on his Fox News program. In other words, he knows Heritage, our people, and our principles.

Unfortunately, Carlson did not contact us in advance of his segment or provide Heritage with an opportunity to respond to his accusations. Rather than engage in a substantive policy debate, he chose instead to make ad hominem attacks and question our integrity. We are disappointed this came from someone whom we admire and respect.

The Heritage Foundation will not let these attacks go unanswered and we welcome the opportunity to have a substantive debate on public policy.

Carlsons claims began with an attack on a recent Heritage report about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. He claimed the reports author repeated lines verbatim from a trade association. This is false. In fact, the 13-page Heritage report contained 22 footnotes, all of which were properly quoted and attributed to sources. The report went through a thorough and lengthy process of vetting and review by Heritage scholars to ensure accuracy and agreement among all Heritage analysts involved in technology and social media policy.

The conclusions of Heritages report were based on the principles that guide all of our policy recommendationsprinciples Carlson seems curiously less interested in defending. Instead, he made an unfounded assertion against Heritage and outrageous smear of one of our scholars. It is disappointing that Carlson would deceive his viewers with such patently false information.

It should come as no surprise that Heritage supports empowering consumers rather than government. We are, and have always been, champions of the free market and critics of government intervention. Thats why we are forcefully pushing back on the few outspoken individuals who seem to prefer an expedient answer rather than a principled solution.

Carlson also failed to acknowledge Heritage experts consistent criticism of technology companies, including Googles decision to withdraw from the Department of Defenses Project Maven and its work with communist China on a censored search engine.

He apparently missed Heritage President Kay C. James Washington Post op-ed blasting Google for caving to the radical left and disbanding its AI board simply because she, a prominent conservative leader, was asked to join it.

And he made no mention of Google-owned YouTube censoring a video produced by The Daily Signal, Heritages multimedia news outlet. On our public platforms and in a private meeting with YouTubes CEO, we made our position abundantly clear: We will not tolerate this type of censorship and will stand side by side with other conservatives experiencing similar challenges.

Heritage and its team of dedicated scholars are committed to pursuing public policies that make life better for all Americans. Heritage is the largest public policy organization in America with more than 500,000 members and has the No. 1 ranking from the University of Pennsylvania for impact on public policy. We wont be intimidatedor bullied as we continue to represent the interests of conservatives and all Americans.

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They want to silence you and mebut we stand up against the censorship – Mondoweiss

Posted: at 1:42 am

Mondoweiss readers, can you help us meet the challenge weve been offered this month? If we raise $100,000 from you and others by December 31, generous long-standing donors will match it with an additional $100,000.

We have less than two weeks left to unlock these funds. Can you donate today in honor of Elyse Crystall, Rabab Abdulhadi, and others fighting McCarthyism on campus? A gift of $40, $75 or whatever amount you can manage will make a difference!

If youve already donated this month, please accept our thanks! And read on to understand why activist professor Elyse Crystall supports Mondoweisss coverage of ChangeMakers.

As an academic and an activist, I believe justice in Palestine depends on changing minds in the U.S, which is the reason why Mondoweiss is of such value to me and I urge you to join me today in supporting their work.

You are, Im sure, well aware that while repression in Palestine increases, here in the U.S. we see greater awareness of the horrific conditions in Palestine. More people today understand that U.S. policy underwrites and U.S. taxpayer dollars fund the violation of Palestinian human rights. I have personal experience of how Mondoweisss coverage is critical in this process of increased understanding, and thats why Im asking you to contribute today.

Last spring my campus, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, came under attack when the Duke-UNC Consortium on Middle East Studies hosted a conference called Conflict over Gaza: People, Politics, and Possibilities. As the faculty advisor for our campuss chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), I was not entirely surprised. I know how long and hard campus groups have fought to destigmatize support for Palestinian rights and to dismantle the notion that criticism of Israeli state policies equals anti-Semitism.

A pro-Israel blogger generated controversy by distributing to local news media an edited video of a brilliant satirical performance by Palestinian rapper Tamer Nafar. Prompted by a local right-wing legislator, Trumps Department of Education (DOE) launched an investigation. Mondoweiss reported on the results, released in September. The DOE conditioned any future Title VI funds on our providing detailed information about how each activity of our program advances the national security interests and economic stability of the United States.

Obviously, this warning sought to intimidate all area studies programs nationally, and specifically Middle East studies, by making an example of ours. In response to the Trump administrations clampdown on our program, over 350 outraged professors nationwide signed a petition declaring their support for Palestinian rights and their refusal to be silenced. And Mondoweiss spread the word.

These attempts to silence Palestine solidarity in the U.S. have culminated in the Executive Order signed this month, aimed at providing easier legal paths for claims of anti-Semitism on campus. And you know as well as I that neither faculty nor students will go quietly in the face of this repressionand Mondoweiss will help alert the public at large of our resistance.

Over a dozen Israel-aligned groups make it their job to monitor pro-Palestinian academics, many of whom have been fired as a result. Pro-Israel groups tactics include media smears on Israels critics, labeling them anti-Semitic; efforts to rewrite university policies or state laws to penalize criticism of Israel; and pressure on donors and administrators. Im Jewish and still I feel the chill of censorship, and I know that the threat to those of Palestinian descent is much, much greater.

Earlier in the year Mondoweiss shared with you the fight of my friend Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi, who was sued multiple times for creating a threatening environment on her campus. Her own university, San Francisco State University, retaliated against her because of her passionate pro-Palestine positions. At Fordham University, students attempting to form an SJP chapter faced an intense, two-year legal battle.

As campus activism continues to come under attack, more than ever we need you to stand in solidarity with us. They wont stop trying to silence us, leveraging their influence and weaponizing anti-Semitism.

We rely on Mondoweiss to tell the truth loud and clear and to help us track the movement for justice in Palestine in the U.S. and globally.

The students, faculty, and staff at our universities are ChangeMakers because right now U.S. campuses are crucial arenas in the struggle for Palestine. Campus advocates fight effectively with historical facts, critical analysis, and persuasive rhetorical skillsand that inspires others to fight. Thats one of the reasons why those who seek to defend the indefensible focus their efforts on universities.

Universities are under attack, and sometimes we win as the students at Fordham University finally did! These success stories inspire us all, and we are indebted to Mondoweiss for informing us of each others struggles and victories.

Please join me in supporting Mondoweiss, so that thorough coverage read by hundreds of thousands can continue to advance our work for real change. Your donation today makes a difference.

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Eddie Murphy Sneaks a Curse Word Past the Censors on Saturday Night Live – Comicbook.com

Posted: at 1:42 am

If you thought Eddie Murphys episode of Saturday Night Live would be amazing, you would be right. In fact, things are getting so crazy that the comedian managed to slip a curse word past the censors. A skit spoofing the Great British Bake-Off placed Murphy into a baking contest against some of the other cast members. A challenge concerning fictional characters led the star to make a version of Sonic the Hedgehog that ended up being scarier than the first live-action version that debuted this year. Murphy actually slipped in the word **** quick enough that nobody was able to bleep it in time.

From Mister Robinsons Neighborhood to Gumby all the hits were present in one way or another. The older Robinson drew raucous applause from the studio audiences. People on Twitter have been thrilled with the episode as Murphy has proved that he still has that fastball with the Gumby appearance as well. All in all the biggest episode of the year did not fail to disappoint as Lizzo did her thing on stage as well. It seems as though she wasnt scared off by all the fervor from her appearance at that Laker game recently. The dance moves were all there along with her amazing stage presence.

Murphy told Al Roker that fans could expect some throwbacks earlier this week during an appearance on The Today Show.

"We're talking about a Gumby thing. And we're talking about a Buckwheat thing," Murphy told the host. "And we're talking about a Bill Cosby thing, maybe. It'd be very funny. I don't know if would think it was funny, but it would be very funny."

"Mister Robinson, if we can come up with Mister Robinson," he mentioned. "Or Velvet Jones. I'm down for whatever as long as it's really, really funny."

The legend made everyone remember what the golden years of Saturday Night Live brought to the table.

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China censors viral clips of a rare university protest after the academy downgrades ‘freedom of thought’ – The Telegraph

Posted: at 1:42 am

China has censored online all mentions and video clips of a rare protest at a university after the institution dropped the phrase, freedom of thought, from its charter.

The new charter for Fudan University in Shanghai one of Chinas most prestigious now includes a pledge to serving the governance of the Communist Party and pushes academic independence below patriotism, leading to uproar among students and faculty.

The changes came to light Tuesday when the countrys education ministry said it had approved similar alterations for three universities.

Within hours, the Fudan charter amendments were trending online, with at least one hashtag generating at least a million views. Clips also circulated online showing students staging a flash mob protest on campus, singing the schools anthem, which includes the phrase freedom of thought.

Fudan professors also took online to express their alarm. Qu Weiguo, a professor of foreign languages, posted that he was very shocked to learn about the changes, which he said were made without consulting faculty.

But shortly after, such mentions and posts online were all deleted by Chinas active government censors, which routinely block news and information, and scrub the internet clean of any dissenting comments.

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China censors viral clips of a rare university protest after the academy downgrades 'freedom of thought' - The Telegraph

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