Beltway Insider: Trump Bumps NRA; Parkland Deputies Ordered to Stand Down; North Korea Sanctions; Puerto Rico; Billy Graham

President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos hosted a forum, inviting more than 40 students, teachers and community leaders to the White House, one week after the Parkland Florida massacre claimed 17 lives.

According to Gallup, President Trump job approval, over the past week, increased by one percentage point to 37% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President remained constant at 59%.

Trump Takes on Gun Control

President Donald Trump, as most Republicans, maintains the Constitution as an Originalist believing the founders and those who drafted the Constitution created it as an everlasting document and the growth of government and any answers surrounding society were already written and can be found within the document.

The Second Amendment, states "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

This Amendment divides government and the right of the people. "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state," translate to the defense of the nation, from all enemies foreign and domestic.

The second statement, "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed," translates in its simplest form the right of the people to keep (within their homes without penalty or cost) and bear arms, which could translate to open carry of weapons which some states allow and others do not, shall not be infringed. If some states do regulate open carry than why not all?


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Protection and Assault; each of these words have entirely different meaning. Taking on the NRA was never a part of President Trump's plan. Unfortunately, the domestic enemies, the well-armed and deranged, in America, have decided to up the ante and create these horrific tragedies.

"Unfortunately, when horrific tragedies like this happen, everybody wants a quick and a simple answer, but there isn't one. But we want to make sure that we're addressing the problem. And we want to make sure that we're meeting and talking with as many people that not only are affected, but that play in this process as possible," said Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary.

Fringe Enemies; Fringe Gun Control

President Trump has agreed to revisit the issue of gun control and starting from the outside, the accessories used to modify rifles that increase the ability to fire rounds with the same speed as an automatic

"The President supports not having the use of bump stocks and that we expect further action on that in the coming days.  He ordered the Department of Justice and the ATF to review the regulation of bump stocks.  My understanding is that review has been completed and movement will take place on that shortly. But the President, when it comes to that, is committed to ensuring that those devices are — well, again, I'm not going to get ahead of the announcement, but I can tell you that the President doesn't support the use of those accessories," Press Secretary Sanders said.

This statement was meant with sharp criticism by Nina Loesch, NRA spokeswoman, "The five million members of the NRA have made their position incredibly clear. The NRA doesn't back any ban, the NRA has asked the ATF to do its job and make sure that these classifications are consistent," Salon.com reported.

The President, who is attempting to work out some modifications and oddly is meeting an uncompromising force equal to his own in the NRA, said, "It doesn't seem to make sense that you have to wait until you're 21-years-old to get a pistol, but to get a gun like this maniac used in the school, you get that at 18. I mean that doesn't make sense and frankly, I explained that to the NRA, they're great people," Salon.com reported.

"Unfortunately, we can't just flip a switch, but there is a process.  We are a law and order country, and the President is trying to do everything that he can under his capacity to address these concerns, and certainly when it comes to mental illness," Press Secretary Sanders said.

Broward Deputies Ordered To Stand Down

Two years before the February 14 massacre at Parkland, Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school, complaints were logged to crime tip line operators by more than one person close to admitted killer, Nikolas Cruz.

Over a two year period beginning February 5, 2016 through January 5, 2018, at minimum of seven tip line or tipster phone calls were made to several agencies in Broward County each of them dismissed. No federal intervention or investigation was initiated.

Three calls were made to Broward County Sheriff agencies, two to Palm Beach Sheriff and to the FBI Miami Field Office.

Cruz, himself, according to the Wall Street Journal and other media outlets who received the FBI transcripts from the calls made, called the tip line and spent nearly six minutes with an operator explaining his sorrow over his mother dying, his depression, which seemed to be overwhelming him.

With a trembling voice Cruz reached out for help in November 2017, explaining, on a recorded line "The thing is I lost my mother a couple of weeks ago, so like, I'm dealing with a bunch of [inaudible] right now."

His mental condition deteriorated over the holidays, as expected, with his fixation turning to his large collection of weapons. His fascination with guns, was also well evidenced and documented with postings on social media and reported when a picture of a "juvenile with guns" appeared on Instagram.

To the credit of the Broward County Sheriff Department they did follow up on this complaint logged, February 5, 2016, and determined Cruz did possess "a BB Gun and knives." The information went to his school counselor.

First person accounts of his post-holiday personality change, from depression and sorrow, to rage, anger and violent frightening confrontations which led those whom Cruz and his younger brother had moved in with after his mother had died, to also call the tip line.

Although her identity is redacted some media have chosen to maintain the anonymity of the identity, others like the New York Times did print the names of the callers. She is repeatedly called "ma'am by the operator and she explains, "I know he's – he's going to explode." She continued indicting Cruz said, he would "get into a school and just shoot the place up."

Involuntary Mental Evaluation

In the days since February 14, the mental condition of Nikolas Cruz has been widely discussed also. The failures of multiple agencies in handling the tips and in properly following protocol and procedure coupled with the failure to take the tips from all, including the killer himself, serious.

The seriousness of his potential to cause harm to himself or some one else which is, in some states the single determining criteria, to have someone involuntarily committed for mental evaluation.

Florida subscribes to the criteria under The Baker Act. 

The Florida Mental Health Act of 1971 (Florida Statute 394.451-394.47891 (2009 rev.)), commonly known as the "Baker Act," allows the involuntary institutionalization and examination of an individual.

The Baker Act allows for involuntary examination (what some call emergency or involuntary commitment). It can be initiated by judges, law enforcement officials, physicians, or mental health professionals. There must be evidence that the person:

• possibly has a mental illness (as defined in the Baker Act).

• is in danger of becoming a harm to self, harm to others, or is self-neglectful (as defined in the Baker Act).

Examinations may last up to 72 hours after a person is deemed medically stable and occur in over 100 Florida Department of Children and Families-designated receiving facilities statewide. Wikipedia

Broward Deputies Stand Down

In the days since the bloodbath at Stoneman Douglas which killed 17 students and staff members, further shocking reports indicate the Broward Deputies stood down.

According to local sources, four deputies of Broward County were ordered by Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel to stand down, the universal order given to not intervene in an ongoing situation of any magnitude.

Failing to enter the building where Nikolas Cruz was walking floor to floor firing his AR-15 into the classroom, bodies, has also become the center of the Parkland School shooting investigation which has already seen the suspension and subsequent retirement of Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson, an armed Deputy permanently stationed at the school did not enter the building and did nothing to stop or intervene in the carnage that was unfolding.

"When Coral Springs police officers arrived at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14 in the midst of the school shooting crisis, many officers were surprised to find not only that Broward County Sheriff's Deputy Scot Peterson, the armed school resource officer, had not entered the building, but that three other Broward County Sheriff's deputies were also outside the school and had not entered, Coral Springs sources tell CNN. The deputies had their pistols drawn and were behind their vehicles, the sources said, and not one of them had gone into the school. Some Coral Springs police were stunned and upset that the four original Broward County Sheriff's deputies who were first on the scene did not appear to join them as they entered the school, Coral Springs sources tell CNN," Jake Tapper, CNN Washington Correspondent.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school was outfitted with an extensive camera system. Broward deputies had the advantage as the whereabouts of Cruz, while he was moving from floor to floor was seen and known by officials.

The Broward deputies hide behind the safety of their vehicles, weapons drawn, locked and loaded, and made no move or effort to neutralize the threat. Apparently on orders.

North Korean Sanctions

President Donald Trump has taken the most serious action to date imposing a comprehensive set of sanctions targeting the entities that support the dictatorial government of Kim Jong Un with the intent of crippling his nuclear program.

Prior to the announcement, it was noted the North Korean government, and possibility in the spirit of the Olympic Games, had not initiated any testing of either nuclear missiles or ICBM's, Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles.


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Un, who had been regularly testing his arsenal over the past three months, is not expected to stop his repeated demonstrations of strength as he reveals his arsenal causing regional disruption and concern.

This action targets the deceptive shipping practices that have enabled the Kim regime to fund its dangerous weapons programs.  Our actions target shipping and trade companies, vessels, and individuals across the world who we know are working with North Korea's behalf.  Specifically, we are sanctioning 27 entities, 28 vessels, and 1 individual, all involved in sanctions evasions schemes.

Today's actions will significantly hinder North Korea's ability to conduct evasive maritime activities that facilitate illicit coal and fuel transports, and limit the regime's ability to ship goods through international waters.

Our actions are part of the ongoing maximum economic pressure campaign to cut off sources of revenue that this regime derives from U.N. and U.S. prohibitive trade to fund its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

We are also issuing a global shipping advisory, in conjunction with the Coast Guard and the State Department, to put everyone on notice of North Korea's illicit maritime tactics and underscore the significant sanctions risk of engaging in maritime business with North Korea.

Kim Jong-un's nuclear program serves one goal: to keep him in power, even as his people starve and suffer.  The United States will not sit idly by while he threatens American allies and territories.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin

Puerto Rico Extension

President Donald J. Trump made additional disaster assistance available to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico by authorizing an extension of increased Federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.

On September 26, 2017, President Trump authorized a 100 percent Federal cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for 180 days from the date of the declaration.

Under the amended order, the time period for 100 percent Federal funding for debris removal, including direct Federal assistance, has been extended for 90 days, and the time period for 100 percent Federal funding for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, has been extended for 60 days.

The Reverend Billy Graham

"Melania and I join millions of people around the world in mourning the passing of Billy Graham.  Our prayers are with all who worked closely with Reverend Graham in his lifelong ministry. He was one of the towering figures of the last 100 years, an American hero whose life and leadership truly earned him the title "God's Ambassador." In the wake of the September 11th attacks in 2001, America turned to Billy Graham at the National Cathedral, who told us, "God can be trusted, even when life seems at its darkest," the President said.

Born November 1918, to a Presbyterian farm family in North Carolina, Franklin William Graham, Jr., experienced a "normal" childhood for the time. It wasn't until a tent revival that an itinerant preacher somewhere preached a message of saving grace and Graham who was in the audience heard the message and accepted the invitation, something he had probably heard for many years and yet on that day, the words rang true and fell on good soil and took root. Graham was 16.

At that point he was fully dedicated to the cause of Christ. Not that those decisions were easy or without wrestling in the midnight hour, and yet when the sun rose Graham continued on his path. Attending Florida Bible Institute, Graham had told stories of practicing preaching in a swamp, before setting out armed with only faith and the word of God.

An evangelical preacher, Graham would take the pulpit be it a wobbly, single legged, podium or unmovable solid oak pulpit, and in seconds the man, with movie star looks, would begin to preach an unfiltered, pure word of God's saving grace. Telling the masses, who embraced the faith of Jesus Christ, their sins could be forgiven and they could be born again.

God's message spoken through Graham found its way into the hearts of millions globally, from the beginning of his worldwide ministries, in 1954, with a three month London campaign that reached more than two million and changed the perception of Graham from a god-con to a man of God. His invitation to meet the Queen also helped.

From that point forward he embarked as often as time, health, and finances, would allow to every part of the globe, preaching to nearly 140 nations over the next fifty years including Moscow, China, and North Korea. Graham ended his "stadium" events in 2005 in New York City sponsored by 140 local churches.

Final arrangements have been announced by the family with a procession carrying the evangelical preacher from Ashville, North Carolina to Charlotte, the home of the Billy Graham Museum. Graham will lie in repose. A service, that includes invitations to President Donald Trump and all former presidents, is planned. (Reprinted in part from a previous published article).

For more information on President Donald Trump:www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.gov, Wikipedia.com,

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