Shootings at Mother's Day parade in New Orleans.

11 reported wounded, three suspects

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/12/us/louisiana-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

 

Most overrated, over-romanticized city in the country. Total of the wounded now up to 19.

 

There are a lot of great things about New Orleans that live up to the hype. If you love food, there might not be a better city in the country to visit.
Unfortunately, there's also a lot of places -- many of them only a block or two from some of the great haunts -- where you're taking your life in your hands simply walking down the sidewalk. Places where the most ardent anti-gun advocates would say, "Yeah, you might want to pack a piece when you go there."
You're right, Tap. The dirty little secret of New Orleans is that it's 25 percent awesome, 75 percent third-world shithole. But damn, that 25 percent is awesome.

 

Oh, this should be good.

 

I guess the safe thing to do would be to move someplace in the USA where people don't run around with guns.

 

Ok. Who is up for moving to Canada, then?

 

Well that rules out Chicago.

 

As an aside on Chicago -- the Trib had a front-page story (I won't link to it because you need a digital subscription to read it) about the loopholes that allow straw purchasers to go to the suburbs (or elsewhere) to buy guns for felons and gang members who otherwise could not. The big loophole is that any straw buyer can claim the gun is stolen or lost. The Illinois legislature is considering a bill that would require gun owners to report a lost or stolen weapon within 72 hours of noticing it missing, but it's stalled in committee. (The NRA is against this, as you if couldn't have guessed.) It's not impossible to prosecute someone as a straw buyer, but it's difficult without a mechanism requiring owners to report their guns missing. The idea is that by setting a deadline, gun owners who legitimately victims or loss or theft will be protected in case their guns are used in a crime, and it also gives police an easier chance at prosecuting straw buyers.

 

Image of shooter released:

If, like me, you were hoping the shooter would be a white male -- maybe a tea party member -- it looks like you're going to be disappointed.

 

Is that a small child on the steps just to the left of the shooter?

 

Sure looks like it.

 

That's frightening and sad on so many levels.