Free Republic

Blacksburg, VA – Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, issued the following statement: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the Virginia Tech University community, and to the families of the victims of what appears to be one of the worst mass shootings in American history. "Details are still forthcoming about what motivated the shooter in this case to act, and how he was able to arm himself. It is well known, however, how easy it is for an individual to get powerful weapons in our country. "Eight years ago this week,...

UPPER SOUTHAMPTON - Tom Burgess has been a registered Democrat in Upper Southampton for three decades. So he was more than a little surprised last week when he got a letter from the Southampton Republican Club encouraging him to switch parties before the May 16 primary. The letter was accompanied by a voter registration form with the Republican box already checked. “I was very insulted by the letter,” Burgess said. “Apparently, they don’t want any Democrats in the township.” Peter Rice, the Republican Club chairman whose name appears at the bottom of the letter, said it was sent out to...

EAST PALO ALTO (KRON) -- A former teacher at Willow Oaks Elementary School in Menlo Park is suing the Ravenswood School District. Emmit Hancock says he was discriminated against and harassed after telling students he was gay. He says the principal and other school officials undermined his authority in the classroom, took away his responsibilities, and ultimately forced him to resign. The school district denies that, saying he resigned because he disagreed with the discipline policy for children.