Guns: To Have Or Not To Have! Where Do You Stand?

  

Guns: To Have Or Not To Have! Where Do You Stand?

Below is a video I want you the reader to see before you continue to read. I need you to understand what is going in this country right now. 
In no way am I endorsing nor am I in agreement with any conspiracy theories concerning Sandy Hook. 




As the so-called gun debate rages on, caught in the middle are many people who do not care to own a gun of any type. We all have to listen to these paranoid gun lovers who seem not to care about the loss of human life. They are always so worried about the government taking away their guns that they flat out lie spreading fear among their ranks. 
The truth is that President Obama has never, until now, made any attempt to change gun laws or regulate the sale of guns. Therefore, even before the Sandy Hook, Connecticut elementary school shooting where 20 children and 6 adults were left dead, all of the talk about the government taking away the peoples 2nd Amendment right to bear arms has been nothing more than propaganda spawned by paranoid delusions. 
No one really wants to bother, change, nor upset the U.S. Constitution. 

 As with every tragedy that takes place in America these days, it didn't take long for "truthers," racists, and other fringe people to concoct conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook massacre — myths that would be laughable if they weren't so offensive.

The most prominent concoction getting attention right now is the claim made by Press TV, the official state media outlet of Iran, that the massacre was actually the work of an Israeli death squad sent to America to punish President Obama for his lack of loyalty. Even worse, the implication is that the president would rather "take the punishment" and cover up this supposed deadly raid than defy his Jewish supporters or embarrass the state Israel. This story obviously plays on the worst fears of those who believe in secret Jewish cabals that run the world, but it's a pretty pathetic attempt at slander, even for Iran.

But that country's anti-Semitic leaders are not the only ones spreading unfounded stories about "what really happened" in Newtown. TalkingPointsMemo looks at the rumor that improbably connects the shooting to the LIBOR interest rate scandal. That started with the (true) report that the shooter's father works in finance, but morphed into the (false) rumor that he was scheduled to deliver some no doubt shocking testimony about the LIBOR debacle before the Senate banking committee. (There are no Senate hearings scheduled and the father was not being called to testify about anything.) You might remember that this exact same rumor was spread about the father of the shooter after the Aurora theater murders this summer — another incident that has gotten plenty of play among the conspiracy minded.

Yesterday, The Atlantic Wire also received a email spelling out several theories and mysteries about the case, many of them contradictory and each one more ludicrous than the next. Most revolve around the idea that the shooting was a "false flag" operation, designed to, among other things, dupe Americans into accepting a United Nations weapons treaty that will rob them of their gun rights. Who would want such a thing to pass? Depending on who you believe, it's the global banking industry, the Freemasons, and Barack Obama (who is also the anti-christ) acting on behalf of "his Illuminati Jewish handlers like Mayor Bloomberg of NY and Dianne Feinstein." Again, anti-Semitism finds a way in.

In most of the claims being passed around on numerous conspiracy websites, the shooter is merely a "patsy" meant to take the fall for a much larger operation, one involving as many as four other shooters. They were there not to kill children, but to kill the patsy in order cover their tracks. Standard operating procedure in black ops, of course.

Like many conspiracy theories, the myths of Newtown begin with a grain of truth and grow by way of a series of honest mistakes, unconfirmed rumors, and deliberate fantasy, then evolve into a kind of narrowly accepted allegation of some evil globe-spanning plot. Then there is the ideological bias that comes from those who may even buy into the official story, yet still manage to see nefarious intent wherever it follows. The idea of "one world government" encroachment via the small weapons treaty is a popular fear, but one that's been thoroughly debunked in the past. (The treaty is real, but hasn't been written yet, will never be ratified by the Senate, and has nothing to do with the Second Amendment.)

Much of the "second shooter" speculation was spurred by a man who was detained and released after being spotted in the woods outside the school. Numerous witnesses and TV stations reported seeing a man handcuffed and placed in a police car on Friday morning. After he was interviewed and released, police moved on to other matters, but the record was never fully cleared up and the event got lost in the larger story, leading many to believe the arrest was being actively suppressed. We admit it took a bit of digging to discover that others had figured out that the man in question was most likely Chris Manfredonia, the father of a Sandy Hook student, who attempted to sneak into the school after the shooting started. Police can be heard relaying his name over their radios, but few outlets managed to follow up with that detail.

All breaking crimes scenes are prone to confusion and rumor. This Sandy Hook shooting in particular was rife with false reports and misunderstandings—the most glaring being the early mis-identification of the shooter by police. The most sensational details spread quickly, but the corrections to those details rarely reach as far. For many of the "believers" attempts to correct the misinformation are merely proof of the larger cover up. This new strain of conspiracy mongering has its roots in the September 11 "truther" movement, but goes back much further than that, to the most ancient forms of racism and anti-Semitim and an almost mystical belief that there are forces beyond our control—that can also be conveniently blamed for all our troubles.

Oh, and there's one last stupid idea from those who think the Sandy Hook massacre was not a random act of violence. One of the most popular movies of 2012 was The Hunger Games, based on a book trilogy about a futuristic contest where 24 children are forced to fight to the death on television. The author of those books lives in Newtown, Connecticut.

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments     

Florida conspiracy professor suggests Sandy Hook massacre didn't occur, was cooked up by Obama to promote gun control

James Tracy, a communication professor at Florida Atlantic University, has drawn fire for suggesting the Sandy Hook school massacre didn't happen as reported and may have been part of a plot by the Obama administration.

Comments (170)

BY PHILIP CAULFIELD / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013, 9:30 AM

GRTV VIA YOUTUBE

James Tracy, a communication professor at Florida Atlantic, has sparked controversy for his writings and comments questioning the Sandy Hook school massacre. 

A Florida professor known for his fixation on conspiracy theories has questioned whether the Sandy Hook school massacre occurred and suggested it was a set-up by the Obama administration to promote gun control. 
Florida Atlantic University professor James Tracy raised the crackpot questions about the massacre on his blog and in interviews.
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"Regardless of where one stands on the Second Amendment and gun control, it is not unreasonable to suggest the Obama administration complicity or direct oversight of an incident that has in very short order sparked a national debate on the very topic—and not coincidentally remains a key piece of Obama’s political platform," the 47-year-old tenured professor of communication wrote on his blog, memoryholeblog.com.
RELATED: SANDY HOOK SHOOTER ADAM LANZA WORE EARPLUGS, SHOT UP CARS 
In another post, he wrote, "While it sounds like an outrageous claim, one is left to inquire whether the Sandy Hook shooting ever took place — at least in the way law enforcement authorities and the nation's news media have described."
Tracy also called a gut-wrenching public appearance by Robert Parker, the father of a first-grader who was shot to death, "contrived," and asked Florida's Sun-Sentinel newspaper, "Was this to a certain degree constructed? Was this a drill?"
PHOTOS: VICTIMS OF THE SANDY HOOK SCHOOL SHOOTING
"Something most likely took place," he told the newspaper. "One is left with the impression that a real tragedy took place."
Officials in Newtown slammed Tracy as an "embarassement" to his school and called on Florida Atlantic officials to fire him.

"Shame on you, too, FAU, to even have someone like this on your payroll," Newtown First Selectman E. Patricia Llodra, a former teacher, told FoxNews.com.

"Professor Tracy is an embarrassment to me as an educator and should be to you as well.  I can assure you, sadly, that the events here in Newtown unfolded exactly as are being reported, with the horrible outcome of the violent death of 26 innocent people, including 20 children.

"It is outrageous and an insult to all caring people to think that this man would chose this event as a stage for his outlandish conspiracy theories," she added, calling his statements "wrong, inconsiderate and insensitive."

Florida Atlantic distanced itself from Tracy's comments.

"James Tracy does not speak for the university," university spokeswoman Lisa Metcalf said. "The website on which his post appeared is not affiliated with FAU in any way."

On campus, Tracy is known for promoting his cuckoo theories in a class, "The Culture of Conspiracy," the Sun-Sentinel reported.  

He's also expressed skeptisim about the Kennedy assasination, 9/11 and the mass shooting at the movie theater in Aurora, Colo., in July.

He told the newspaper he believed he was simply upholding his duty at a "scholar and public intellectual."

"Although some may see [my theories] as beyond the pale, I am doing what we should be doing as academics," he said.  

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/professor-draws-fire-sandy-hook-conspiracy-comments-article-1.1236230#ixzz2I0IVSZhO

E-Cigarettes: Are E-Cigarettes Better For Your Health? The Doctors Weigh In...

Are E-Cigarettes Better For Your Health? 

The Doctors Weigh In...

Posted on December 19th 2012.

Trials are limited. Act fast before they are all gone.

Katherine Heigl is one person we found who uses the electronic cigarette. You see her here speaking on the David Letterman show regarding how she enjoys using the electronic cigarette

If you haven't already heard, Electronic cigarettes have grabbed the attention of countless tobacco users worldwide. Everyone from movie stars to your neighbors are using them. But are they really a healthier and cheaper alternative to traditional cigarettes? Can they really help you quit smoking? Creators and product users now say you can enjoy a cheaper, healthier cigarette without the bad smells, second-hand smoke, or cancer causing chemicals. With these huge claims, we decided to uncover the electronic cigarette for our readers.

A few of the benefits claimed from using the electronic cigarette:

• No tar, tobacco, carbon monoxide, or ash.
• Get the same amount of nicotine as a regular cigarette.
• Each cartridge costs less than $2 and is equivalent to an entire pack of cigarettes.
• You can save over $1,000 each year.
• You won't "smell" like a smoker any longer.
• Different flavors are available.
• No more second-hand smoke.

We decided to see what expert medical doctors and product users had to say about electronic cigarettes, and the results were surprising. In fact, Joel Niztkin, Chair of the Tobacco Control Task Force for the American Association of Public Health Physicians concluded that "...if we get all tobacco smokers to switch from regular cigarettes to electronic cigarettes, we would eventually reduce the US death toll from more than 400,000 a year to less than 4,000, maybe as low as 400." (1)

It has even been suggested that while utilizing theelectronic cigarette, there is virtually no risk of getting cancer. These conclusions come from studies which show that nicotine is about as equally harmful to your health as caffeine. The real harm in traditional cigarettes comes from the tobacco smoke and the hundreds of additional added chemicals.

Four very well known doctors, from the popular TV show "The Doctors", have also studied the electronic cigarette and was featured as one of their top 10 key health trends.

"If you're one of the millions of people out there, you're addicted to smoking, there may finally be some hope for you..the electronic cigarette. 
It gives you nicotine but it doesnt give you any of the other 4000 chemicals that can cause cancener among other problems." - Dr. Travis Stork from "The Doctors" (2)
 

We also learned that the electronic cigarette is not encompassed by most smoking bans and regulations. With the lack of second-hand smoke, smokers are excited to find that many businesses, bars, and even air planes allow them to smoke e-cigarettes indoors. Many electronic cigarette users have also received special permission from their employers to smoke e-cigarettes in the work place.

In the United States alone, over 700,000 smokers have already switched to electronic cigarettes. The Doctors also interviewed Beverly, one of the many whose life has dramatically changed thanks to the electronic cigarette. She said that she smoked for over 15 years, and she thought that she would never quit. To her surprise though, when she tried electronic cigarettes she was able to quit smoking regular cigarettes two days later. "I was suspicious at first...but I have to say I am convinced, it's very good. Its a great alternative. it still gives you the action of smoking. I would as a smoker, reccommend it to smokers that are trying to give up (smoking)." - Beverly

We have received a number of positive testimonials such as this one and we feel that as more and more Americans are made aware of this new technology, that more and more smokers will make the switch. Our interviews and research have found that the electronic cigarette will quickly become the #1 choice for smokers looking to lead a healthier lifestyle. With the high cost of smoking traditional cigarettes, and with the danger cigarettes bring to your health, we give our recommendation and "thumbs up" to anyone looking to give these devices a try.

While conducting this research, we found that E-Cigarette Brand E-Cig™ is offering a limited time Electronic Cigarette Free Trial kit, along with 14 nicotine cartridges (a month's supply). While supplies last, you only pay$4.95 for shipping and handling costs by using our link to see if this new breakthrough will help improve your life.

We thank E-Cigarette Brand E-Cig™ for providing the chance to "try it before you buy it" and a chance for thousands of smokers to make the switch. We encourage readers who currently smoke to give E-Cigarettes a try for their health and for the health of their friends and family. Make sure to order before January 11, 2013 tomorrow, to be guaranteed your Risk-Free Trial Kit. Click Here for all the details.

E-Cigarettes On The Doctors

For A Limited Time, E-Cigarette Brand™ Is Offering A Risk-Free* Electronic Cigarette Trial Kit To Our Readers

Here are some of the claims we were able to verify from our investigation:

ECO-FRIENDLY

• The E-Cigarette Brand™ E-Cigarette produces vapor mist that looks like smoke, instead of real smoke, and there is no need for ashtrays, because there is no ash created from the Electronic Cigarette.
• There are no cigarette buds to dispose, and therefore much less to recycle.

COST EFFECTIVE, BETTER ALTERNATIVE

• The costs of smoking traditional cigarettes are becoming too expensive. A normal pack of cigarettes costs between $4.00 to $6.00 (average$ 4.26). However, with the E-Cigarette Brand™ E-Cigarette most smokers can enjoy significant savings (based on source: http://www.cdc.gov).

SMOKE ANYWHERE, EVERYWHERE

• The E-Cigarette Brand E-Cig™ E-Cigarette can be used legally almost anywhere and everywhere, even where traditional smoking is prohibited.
• The E-Cigarette Brand™ ECig is not lit and smoke is not produced. The smoke that you see is strictly a harmless vapor mist.

Why E-Cigarettes ?

Judy Thomson, a mom of 3 children from Ohio, was an avid smoker for over 30 years. Over the years, her dependency on traditional cigarettes grew to become a major health hazard and Judy, desperate for an alternative tried many different things--over the counter medications, nicotine gum, nicotine patches, and even hypnosis. That's when Judy stumbled upon "E-Cigarette," a product that has changed her life. Now she enjoys the benefits of cigarettes without the harmful health effects.

Try E-Cigarette For RISK-FREE:

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NYPD Ordered By Judge to End Certain 'Stop-and-Frisks'

New York News | NYC Breaking News

Judge orders NYPD to halt certain stop-and-frisks

By LARRY NEUMEISTER | AP 

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York City Police Department likely turned a blind eye to violations of the constitutional rights of thousands of individuals detained at private residential buildings in the Bronx in a stop-and-frisk program that's under assault in the courts, a federal judge said Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin said the department's "Operation Clean Halls" program — aimed at preventing illegal activity at buildings in high-crime areas — had apparently stopped people who were merely entering or exiting buildings and not acting suspicious.
Officers can continue to make stops under the program and Scheindlin ordered the department to develop and adopt a written policy describing limited circumstances when a person on a suspicion of trespass can be stopped. She also ordered the department to revise its training materials and programs to conform with the law, though she suspended the effect of these orders until the city can challenge them legally in coming weeks.
Scheindlin said the plaintiffs who presented evidence at a fall hearing had shown a clear likelihood of proving the city had shown deliberate indifference toward a widespread practice of unconstitutional trespass stops by police outside the buildings.
"While it may be difficult to say where, precisely, to draw the line between constitutional and unconstitutional police encounters, such a line exists, and the NYPD has systematically crossed it when making trespass stops" outside Bronx buildings, she said.
Scheindlin said she was not ordering the abolition or even a reduction of the program because it appears to be a valuable way to use police resources to enhance security in private buildings.
But police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said the ruling "unnecessarily interferes with the department's efforts to use all of the crime-fighting tools necessary to keep Clean Halls buildings safe and secure."
He noted landlords had requested extra police protection, and he compared it to Manhattan doormen "who routinely challenge visitors to their apartment buildings.
"Through 'Clean Halls,' the police have worked to provide a modicum of safety for less prosperous tenants," Kelly said.
City Corporation Counsel Michael A. Cardozo said there was no basis for federal court intervention and that remedial steps the judge proposed would place an unacceptable burden on the police department to adopt additional training, supervision, monitoring and reporting requirements.
Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, called the ruling "a major step toward dismantling the NYPD's stop-and-frisk regime." She said Operation Clean Halls "has placed New Yorkers, mostly black and Latinos, under siege in their own homes in thousands of apartment buildings."
The rulings came in a lawsuit brought by black and Latino residents who said police have a widespread practice of making unlawful stops on suspicion of trespass outside Bronx buildings. The ruling is an interim order before a trial on the lawsuit. The judge said her remedial proposals also will apply to another lawsuit that more broadly challenges stop-and-frisk practices.
McGregor Smyth of The Bronx Defenders, who worked on the case, said Operation Clean Halls has existed in some form since 1991. He said nearly every private apartment building in some Bronx neighborhoods is enrolled, leaving 3,261 buildings participating in the Bronx and 8,032 citywide. He said the program lets officers conduct regular floor-by-floor sweeps and engage in particularly aggressive stop, question, frisk and arrest practices.
It is not enough for a police officer to have a non-specific suspicion or hunch about a person to perform a stop and frisk, Scheindlin said. The plaintiffs have said the stops left them feeling violated, disrespected, angry and defenseless, she noted.
"The evidence of numerous unlawful stops at the hearing strengthens the conclusion that the NYPD's inaccurate training has taught officers the following lesson: stop and question first, develop suspicions later," Scheindlin said.
She said she was not ordering the abolition or even a reduction of the program because it appears to be a valuable way to use police resources to enhance security in private buildings.
The case Scheindlin ruled on is the narrowest of three challenging stop-and-frisk policies. It deals with legal issues raised after the city first adopted a stop and frisk law in 1964 that allows police to stop, question and sometimes frisk people they think might be doing something criminal, even if officers' suspicions don't meet the probable-cause standard for an arrest.

Read more: http://www.myfoxny.com/story/20532288/judge-orders-nypd-to-halt-certain-stop-and-frisks#ixzz2HUvu4fIY

Ferry Accident in New York City

NEW YORK ~ Fire and police officials say between 30 to 50 people were injured when a ferry from New Jersey slammed into a dock during this morning's rush hour in lower Manhattan. 

News reports say the Seastreak Wall Street catamaran ferry from Atlantic Highlands, N.J., banged into the mooring as it arrived. Officials say two people suffered critical injuries.

Some patients were carried out strapped to flat-board stretchers, their heads and necks immobilized. About a dozen passengers on stretchers were spread out on the dock, surrounded by emergency workers and firefighters. 

According to Fox5Live 59 people were hurt, two with critical head injuries, when a commuter ferry hit a dock in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday morning.  Passengers on the boat were sent flying as the boat violently crashed into the dock.









http://www.myfoxny.com/category/237033/live-video-on-myfoxny

Read more: http://www.myfoxny.com/#ixzz2HUpXkjDm

Rep. Gregory Meeks calls out Paul Ryan’s ‘no’ vote on Sandy relief bill

“Viewpoint” host Eliot Spitzer and Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., discuss the House’s vote on the first $9.7 billion in Hurricane Sandy relief. Meeks talks about how the funds will be used, the timeline for additional funds and Paul Ryan’s decision to vote against the allocation. Meeks “undoubtedly” agrees with Spitzer that Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan’s decision may be an attempt to garner the GOP’s presidential nomination in 2016.

“That’s what really concerns me — people are playing politics with people’s lives. So some people are looking at it politically, what they may be able to do in a campaign going forward, or in 2016, and this should not be an issue that is a political issue. This should be an issue solely focused on helping American citizens. Because when you look at the individuals who were victimized by this storm, they are Democrats and Republicans. They are rich and they’re poor. So to see a vote like that is really concerning,” Meeks says, adding, “You never can tell where these storm’s will hit and what happens. When something hits a Wisconsin or an Ohio, where some of these other members voted ‘no,’ and it’s in their town and their people are affected — how are they going to vote then?”

Dead before their time: 'Final 24'

Few individual days define a human being as poignantly as the last one that he or she spends on Earth. 

Enter "Final 24," a fresh and revealing alternative biography series that unlocks the hidden secrets, psychological flaws and trigger events that led to the tragic deaths of eight global icons.

We have eight celebrities dead before their time. There are eight last days that lead to eight dramatic investigations and eight deaths that hold the key to these amazing lives.

Take a quick glimpse into "Final 24." You won't want to miss a single episode. 

Tupac Shakur, September 13, 1996
Check our schedule for show times

The most successful hip-hop artist of all time, Tupac Shakur has just finished shooting his latest video in Los Angeles. As the fearless and angry voice of urban America, the multitalented poet and performer has sold more than 75 million albums, has scored six Top 10 Billboard singles in as many years, and has emerged as a rich and powerful black man with scores of fans — and enemies. The ultimate gangster-rapper, Tupac says he will one day go out in a blaze of glory. In 24 hours, his prophecy will come true, and the inspired artist of the streets will be on his deathbed.  

Although reluctant about going to Las Vegas to play a gig, Tupac eventually relents and enjoys some high-stakes gambling before attending a heavyweight prizefight featuring his friend Mike Tyson. Pumped up by Tyson’s victory, Tupac is himself involved in a violent brawl and heads back to his hotel to freshen up. When Tupac finally arrives at the club for his performance, a white Cadillac pulls up and a gunman fires a heavy round of bullets at the rapper’s car. Mortally wounded with a punctured lung, Tupac dies six days later in hospital. He is only 25.

Sid Vicious, February 2, 1979
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Punk icon, suspected murderer and heroin addict Sid Vicious has just been released from Rikers prison in New York City. After a night of celebrating his freedom with friends and family, he wakes suddenly. Hell-bent on self-destruction, Sid ingests a massive amount of heroin into his recently drug-free body. Sid is discovered dead the next morning.

"Final 24" delves into Sid's past to uncover the series of events that led to his death, including a shocking revelation that sheds new light on his last day.

John Belushi, March 5, 1982
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Legendary comic actor John Belushi is on a drug-fueled binge in Los Angeles. He's far from those who love him and protect him from his own excesses.

John has been battling his drug addiction for seven years. Throughout the night, he ingests the massive amount of drugs that finally get the better of him. His body cannot withstand the toxic effects of the drugs. "Final 24" investigates the root of John's addiction and uncovers the events that led to his final reckless act.

River Phoenix, October 31, 1993
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After a tough day on set, Hollywood golden boy River Phoenix hits fashionable Los Angeles nightclub The Viper Room. He's looking forward to getting on stage and jamming with his friends. This is a moment he's been waiting for.

When the plan changes, a disappointed River ingests a lethal cocktail of drugs, staggers outside and collapses on the sidewalk. Paramedics are unable to revive him, and he dies shortly after. "Final 24" re-creates River's last day to tell the tragic tale of a young man whose short life was dominated by the constant pressure to perform.

Hunter S. Thompson, February 20, 2005
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Hunter S. Thompson was an author trapped in the body of a rock star. Thompson's constant questioning of authority and wild antics made him a hero for a generation of rebels across the globe. But in the end it wasn't enough.

A lifetime of alcohol and drug abuse was taking its toll. At 67, with a broken leg and two hip operations under his belt and in chronic pain, Thompson could no longer live up to the legend he'd created. On February 20, 2005, he decided to end it all with one of his favorite possessions, a Smith and Wesson .45. "Final 24" charts the life of this troubled genius and uncovers why a bullet to the head was the only way out.

Marvin Gaye, April 1, 1984
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On his last day alive, soul superstar Marvin Gaye is depressed and paranoid. He has abandoned his latest tour and is holed up at his parents' house in Los Angeles. His excessive drug use escalates, and with it, the tension in the home. Soon, his lifelong power struggle with his father explodes in a violent climax as Marvin provokes his father into shooting him twice.

"Final 24" delves into the Prince of Motown's violent childhood to uncover the root of Marvin's strained relationship with his strict father and to understand his struggle with drugs.

John Kennedy Jr., July 16, 1999 
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American royalty and a cultural icon, John F. Kennedy Jr.'s promise of living out his political legacy was cut short over the Atlantic Ocean one July night.

Kennedy's death and the deaths of his wife and his sister-in-law were the result of a series of bad decisions Kennedy had made over the course of his last day, a day plagued by stress. "Final 24" examines the string of errors that led to his tragic demise.

(Photos from Getty Images)

Steubenville, Ohio, Rape Case On New Website

Protesters gathered in front of the of the Jefferson County Courthouse in Steubenville, Ohio, Jan. 5, 2013. A county sheriff under fire for how he has handled a high school rape investigation faced down a raucous crowd of protesters on Saturday, telling critics no further suspects would be charged in a case that has rattled Ohio football country. REUTERS

By The Associated Press 
Published: Saturday, January 5, 2013, 7:56 p.m.

Authorities investigating rape accusations against two high school football players in Steubenville, Ohio, started a website on Saturday, an extraordinary step designed to combat the misperception “that the football team runs the city,” the city manager said.

A timeline of the case, beginning with the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old girl at a party in August 2012, is posted on the site. Summaries of Ohio law relating to the case and facts about the local police force, including statistics on how many graduated from Steubenville schools, are included.

Interest in the case ballooned last week when hacking collective Anonymous leaked a video of Steubenville high school athletes mocking the 16-year-old victim and making crude references to the alleged rape.

“It‘s disgusting. And I‘ve had people calling, numerous people call here, upset,” Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla told ABC News. “It really is disgusting to watch that video.”

Anonymous has called for more arrests, but Steubenville police have said their hands are tied.

Occupy Steubenville, a grass-roots group, estimated that 1,300 people attended a rally on Saturday outside the Jefferson County Courthouse, where rape victims and their loved ones gathered to share their stories.

The father of a teenage rape victim was met with applause when he shared his outrage.

“I‘ve tried to show my girl that not all men are like this, but only a despicable few,” ABC quoted him as saying.

One aim of the Steubenville website, City Manager Cathy Davison said, is to combat the perception that the high school — home of the “Big Red” sports program — controls politics in a small city where special prosecutors and a visiting judge are handling the case because local authorities knew people involved with the football team.

“When people are saying that our police department did not follow procedure, that the football team runs the city, that is not the case,” Davison said. “They went by the book. Everything was handled in an above-board fashion to make sure that the case can benefit from the fullest extent of the law.”

Authorities investigated the case and charged two 16-year-old high school athletes in August.

The teenagers are scheduled to go on trial next month.

Read more: http://triblive.com/usworld/nation/3244893-74/case-steubenville-rape#ixzz2HDIULadq 
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