Gun Show Loophole: No background checks for assault weapons

Purchasing a gun comes with responsibility and takes time.  


Unless that purchase is made at a gun show.

Obtaining these weapons without undergoing a background check still exists at gun shows across the United States and, oddly enough, is not illegal.

Known as the gun show "loophole," these unchecked purchases are legally acceptable because private sellers are not required to perform background checks on the buyer.

On the east coast alone, 65 percent of gun related deaths are the result of gun shows in the state of Virginia.

And the numbers get shockingly larger.

In a two hour time span, 12 members of the Central Intelligence Agency purchased 5,000 fire arms at gun shows without an I.D. or background check, while those involved with the Columbine High School shootings purchased their guns at gun shows in Colorado.

Currently, democratic members of Congress have sent letters to the House of Representatives to support a bill that would change this policy.


 www.nra.org
www.stopviolence.com

World Food Programme calls for heroes to fight hunger

In June, 2009, the Food and Agricultural Organization reported that there are more than one billion people, worldwide, suffering from hunger and malnutrition.

Luckily, the World Food Programme (WFP) based out of the United Nations, is working to provide food to those suffering, with the intent of decreasing this number.

Now, the organization is searching for heroes to aid in their efforts.

Before April 20, the WFP aims to have at least 100 people that donate at least $15 to the cause.

Because the Haitian hurricane season is strengthening, and food supplies in Niger are becoming scares, the WFP needs the help of all individuals.

For just one $15 donation, three children can be feed school meals for an entire year, while a $100 contribution could provide clean drinking water for thousands of children.

Through the WFP, becoming a hero and saving a life is easy.

It just takes $15.

Bus tour teaches gang life

Walking in the shoes of another person provides insight to what that person is like.

What types of activities they do.

And perhaps, their goals and dreams. 

But when it is impossible to physically fit into the shoes of another person, it is possible to fit on one of the 56 seats on a Los Angeles bus.

On January 16, 2010 The New York Times reported on a new concept that teaches outsiders what life is like inside of a gang-populated neighborhood, for just $65 per person.

Through, what is called, the LA Gang Tours, tourists can literally travel into gang culture to see what that lifestyle is like, first-hand. 

Tourists sign consent forms to take the tour, but at the same time, gang members in the neighborhood have been contacted to limit violence during tour hours.

The goal of the bus tour is to educate and increase awareness about this culture, putting a face to what people often fear.  Once the culture becomes real, solutions can begin to be developed to help gang members.  

Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M81WtBGhO8 for a deeper look into the tour.

Artists struggle to truly reach audience

Being an artist isn't easy.

It requires inspiration, a message and a talent.

It involves taking something that has meaning to one person, and trying to make that same message applicable to a widespread audience.

And then having to respond to critiques from those that couldn't truly understand this form of personal expression.

Poet, Shane Koyczan exemplifies the difficulty artists face in trying to be perfect for their audiences, through his poem, "Beethoven."

This single piece of art demonstrates the struggle one of the world's most popular and prominent composers faced when creating music that had both meaning to the artist, and the audience.

It is through this struggle of self-sacrifice and self-destruction that artists attempt to reach both goals.