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Breaking News U.S.

Murder Charges Filed in Florida Infant Starvation Death

murder charges, infant starvation death, Florida
murder charges, infant starvation death, Florida

Murder charges have been filed against the parents in Florida in the case of an infant starvation death. The 22 day old baby died from starvation and both parents of the infant have been charged with first degree murder. For most people the thought of neglecting a newborn in any way is unacceptable, and to allow an infant to starve to death is inexcusable. According to the assistant chief of the Lakeland Police Mike Link”She suffered tremendously over the 22 days that she was alive.” According to police the photographs of the baby are very disturbing, and the medical examiner determined that the baby girl was murdered by starvation due to neglect. When the infant was weighed in death she weighed roughly two and a half pounds less than at birth, and she had not been fed much for the previous 24 hours before dying.

First degree murder charges in the Florida infant starvation case are warranted according to the medical examiner, and an infant lost her life because she was not valued or loved by her mother. After being confronted with the facts the mother of the infant admitted that the baby had not been fed much during the day long trip to Florida, and that it was difficult to feed the infant because they would have to exit the highway in order to do so. The baby girl had an appointment with a physician before the trip but the mother failed to keep the appointment. The male half of the couple, Roy Stephens, is not the biological father of the infant and did not have much to do with the baby according to the mother. Two other children aged 1 and 2 were also with the couple, and these children were taken into protective custody.

 

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Breaking News U.S.

Walmart Shooting by Toddler Under Investigation

Walmart, shooting by toddler
Walmart, shooting by toddler

A shooting by toddler in the middle of an Idaho Walmart has left a community in mourning, and a 2 year old boy without his mother. The woman who was shot was a researcher and scientist at a nuclear facility, and she had her nieces with her as well as her 2 year old son while shopping at the store. News reports state that the woman and her husband were both gun enthusiasts, and the weapon was in a purse designed for concealed carry gun owners. As a permit holder Veronica Rutledge was legally allowed to conceal carry, and somehow her toddler removed the weapon from the purse and shot her in the head in the Walmart store. Rutledge was 29 years old when she died, and her father in law told reporters that she was very responsible as a gun owner.

The shooting by a toddler in the Hayden Walmart store is still under investigation. Walmart stores are known for their 24 hour around the clock availability but the local store was closed overnight while the accidental shooting was investigated an the accident scene was cleaned up. The saddest part is that at some point in the future this 2 year old boy will realize that he shot and killed his own mother. The toddler should not have had access to a loaded weapon, and any parent knows that a two year old will get into everything. Veronica Rutledge’s family is in mourning right now and the local community has been vocal in their support and sympathy.

 

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U.S.

Families of Newton School Shooting Victims File Gun Manufacturer Lawsuit

gun manufacturer lawsuit, Newton school shooting
gun manufacturer lawsuit, Newton school shooting

The families of some of the Newton school shooting victims have filed a gun manufacturer lawsuit, claiming the Bushman AR-15 gun maker is responsible for wrongful death and negligence. In the USA it is difficult to determine how this case will turn out, because the 2nd amendment of the United States Constitution gives Americans the right to possess firearms. Adam Lanza, the shooter, committed suicide after killing a number of children. The lawsuit claims that the Bushmaster AR-15 rifle is a military rifle so it should not have been sold to civilians, however the government of the USA has not banned the sale of these weapons. Many feel that the families of the Newton school shooting victims are looking for someone to blame, and since Lanza is no longer alive the gun manufacturer lawsuit helps to fill this need.

The gun manufacturer lawsuit filed by Newton school shooting families may be thrown out of court before it goes anywhere, or the judge could decide to let a jury decide the issue instead. According to Josh Koskoff, the attorney on the case, “The AR-15 was specifically engineered for the United States Military to meet the needs of changing warfare. In fact, one of the Army’s specifications for the AR-15 was that it has the capability to penetrate a steel helmet.” What is missing from the statement is the fact that a number of gun manufacturers make a civilian model of this rifle including Bushmaster. Is it appropriate to hold a company which manufactures a product responsible for how consumers use that product? Under that theory knife makers could be held responsible when someone stabs another.

 

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Breaking News U.S. World

Did Sony Cave to Hackers Over the Interview?

Sony, hackers, The Interview
Sony, hackers, The Interview

Recently even President Barack Obama has waded into the debate over the hackers who threatened Sony over the release of the comedy The Interview, which features James Franco and Seth Rogen. A few days ago Sony announced that the movie would no longer be released in theaters on Christmas Day because there was concern by many theater owners about the safety of the patrons due to threats that were made. It is suspected that the hackers are from North Korea, the country whose leader is supposed to be assassinated in the movie. There was immediate push back and criticism of the decision to cancel the release from celebrities in Hollywood, government officials, and even the President of the United States of America.

Many have accused Sony of giving in to hackers by canceling The Interview, and President Obama accused the studio of giving in to terrorist threats. Sony is fighting back though, and studio executives have stated that they did not cancel the release but that most theater owners refused to show The Interview on Christmas Day. The movie producer has stated that they are looking at other ways to get the movie out there, and they issued a public statement saying that they want anyone who wants to view the film to be able to watch it. Bit Torrent has offered to act as a distributor for the movie using it’s paid subscriber service but so far they have not received an answer. Hopefully the hackers do not win and the movie is eventually released.

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U.S.

Was Torture By US Authorities Justified? Opinion Polls Say Yes!

torture by US authorities, opinion polls
torture by US authorities, opinion polls

A recent report about torture by US authorities has many people divided. After the 9/11 attacks on the USA the American government authorized what was termed enhanced interrogation techniques, which is now publicly recognized as torture tactics. The recent release of the report on the methods used has shown that the authorities did not gain significant information or get details that prevented another terrorist attack. In spite of this recent opinion polls show that roughly half of the citizens in the USA believe that the torture by US authorities was justified. Enhanced interrogation techniques listed in the report included water boarding which simulates drowning, rectal rehydration, sleep deprivation, physical violence, and even threats of sexual assault and threats made against the families and children of the prisoner being detained.

Many believe that torture by US authorities after the 9/11 attacks is justified, but if these techniques did not improve security and there was no significant information obtained then the methods were not necessary. International condemnation of the USA and the torture methods used were quick to follow the report being released by the American government. Opinion polls asked 1,000 adults in the USA whether the torture was justified, and almost 50% agreed that the methods used were justified because of the attacks on September 11. In a surprising twist less than half of the respondents to the opinion polls believed that the report on torture should have been released, with many answering that the report should have been kept secret.

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Breaking News U.S.

Police Manhunt for Pennsylvania Murder Suspect Intensifies

police manhunt, murder suspect
police manhunt, murder suspect

The police manhunt for a Pennsylvania murder suspect who is wanted for killing 6 people has intensified. What makes the story eve more of a tragedy is that the 6 people who were killed were family members of the murder suspect, including a 14 year old niece. 35 year old Bradley William Stone is a veteran of the Iraq war, and the police manhunt for him is focused on Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Police have advised residents in the local community to stay inside and to keep their doors locked until the murder suspect has been apprehended. Law enforcement warns that Bradley Stone should be considered armed and dangerous, and residents should not make any attempt to apprehend Stone if he is spotted.

Stone is considered the prime murder suspect and a police manhunt has been started. The victims in the case are Stone’s relatives and family members from his previous marriage. It is suspected that Stone shot and killed his ex wife, her mother, her grandmother, his own 14 year old niece, and two other family members before he took off. At a news conference District Attorney Risa Ferman stated “As we stand here right now, we don’t know where he is.” After the shooting spree Bradley Stone took both of his young daughters away from the scene and left them with neighbors in the area. That means that the girls have lost their mother and their father right before the Christmas holidays, as well as their grandmother and great grandmother.