School shootings across the country teach lessons to defend Utah Students effectively
FASTER Utah offers affordable solutions for Lawmakers and Educators
Salt Lake City-- School shootings across the country have been teaching core lessons to prevent similar overwhelming tragedies in other schools. Wise lawmakers are encouraged to learn from these incidents to create opportunities where educators can protect themselves and their students from potential threats. Based on these lessons FASTER Utah is introducing one affordable solution for Utah teachers this spring.
As we fast approach the first anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, a recent report identifies the most effective variables to reduce similar threats in Utah. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission Report offers some insight and direction on preventing and mitigating mass murders in schools. Several significant factors have been identified to prevent similar tragedies.
The first point to consider is cost. The Safety Commission Report points out- “More funding is needed to ensure adequate school security and prevention measures, but cost will always be a factor in school-hardening decisions; therefore, districts need to establish priorities. It is recommended that districts implement a tiered approach to campus hardening that begins with basic harm mitigation concepts that are of little or no cost and those that may be implemented quickly.” FASTER Utah can help harden schools without massive capital expenses.
The second factor to consider is that genuine school safety is the end goal- not merely making people “feel” safe. Physical barriers and electronic devices can cost billions of dollars when retrofitting a large number of schools in Utah. Although these expenditures may seem worthwhile, Utah is already challenged to pay teachers and provide educational resources at the same level as other schools across the nation. FASTER Utah helps ensure we do not sacrifice quality education for security.
The MSDSC report gives insights into what may be the best answer for Utah schools. It notes, “Deputy Peterson responded to the area of Building 12 within approximately 1 minute 39 seconds after the first shots were fired. Prior to his arrival, 21 victims had already been shot, nine of whom were fatally wounded. It's clear that seconds matter and that School Resource Officers (SROs) cannot be expected to be the only protection for schools. Even if there is a rapid response by an SRO, it is insufficient to safeguard students and teachers without additional support.”
The report added, we “ should allow teachers who volunteer—in addition to those now authorized—who are properly selected, thoroughly screened and extensively trained to carry concealed firearms on campuses for self-protection, and the protection of other staff and students in response to an active assailant incident.”
All recommendations point to the answer that can save the most lives at a minimal cost. The FASTER program, pioneered by FASTER Saves Lives in Ohio, has a successful six-year record of training teachers and other school staff members. This program is being introduced to Utah educators this spring under the leadership of Brant Taylor and an extremely qualified team of instructors.
Taylor remarked, “We invite all school staff with concealed firearms permits to apply for a training scholarship at http://www.fasterutah.org. This training is scheduled during Spring Break on March 23, 25 and 26, 2019. School staff members interested in attending should take a concealed firearms class immediately if they have not done so already.” Some concealed carry classes are offered at no cost to educators. Taylor suggested contacting instructors early and asking if they provide free concealed carry classes to school staff to prepare them for FASTER Utah.
Taylor concluded, “We believe that FASTER is the most effective and cost-effective way to harden Utah schools. Many teachers and other school staff are already legally carrying firearms in schools. Giving our educators this advanced handgun and trauma first aid training will strengthen our schools from within. Similar to the Federal Flight Deck Officer and Air Marshal programs, potential predators will think twice if we advertise that trained school personnel are on site and have skills on par with law enforcement. FASTER Utah should make our schools less attractive targets to those tempted to murder school children to become infamous while committing suicide.”
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About FASTER Utah-- Brant Taylor and his team has been serving Utah with firearm and trauma first aid training for more than a decade. To learn more about the program, visit the website at http://www.fasterutah.org
Brant Taylor of FASTER Utah is available for interviews.
For more information about FASTER Utah, please contact Brant Taylor at 801-608-4095 or e-mail Brant at info@fasterutah.org
A special media event is scheduled at the P.M.A.A. Gun Range on January 24 from 1-4 pm. Please see the attached information to register a time to learn more about the program in person.
Hands-On Press Event for FASTER Utah
Members of the media are invited to a special introductory event to learn more about FASTER Utah and how it can help empower educators at no cost to those that participate in the program. It is a cost-effective approach to help prevent potential threats to Utah schools.
Date: January 24, 2019
Time: 30-minute personalized appointments from 1 to 4 pm
Location: P.M.A.A. Gun Range Gun Range, located at I 80 E. Exit 134, 1 Highway 65 S Salt Lake City, Ut 84109
Website: http://www.fasterutah.org
Schedule your Appointment: Please reserve your spot by calling Brant Taylor at 801-608-4095 or emailing him at info@fasterutah.org
Members of the media will have an opportunity to learn more about FASTER Utah and how it can effectively help prevent Utah schools from becoming soft and easy targets for criminals. We will discuss the cost-effectiveness of this program when compared to other options in protecting students in our schools.
Members of the media are invited to discover some techniques that can save lives in a potential crisis. Techniques will include trauma first aid and firearm training relevant in school scenarios. Media will also be given a sample of firearms safety training. Feel free to bring questions and have fun while learning about FASTER Utah.
Federal Retiree Giving through the Combined Federal Campaign Surges Ahead
CFC Retiree Giving Up 297 Percent Over Previous Year in Mountain States Zone;
Charities Helping Furloughed Federal Employees Assisted by Generous Surge
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2019
Salt Lake City – Federal retirees throughout Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have nearly quadrupled the amount they gave to charities in the most recent Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) drive, according to data released today by the Mountain States CFC zone. The CFC, the nation’s largest and most successful workplace giving drive that annually raises millions of dollars for charity, first authorized the solicitation of federal retirees in 2017.
Approximately 25,000 of the nation’s estimated 2.6 million military and federal civilian retirees live in the Mountain States CFC zone. In 2017, federal retirees contributed nearly $20,000. That number has since ballooned to nearly $80,000 in the 2018 campaign, which ends in February.
While the CFC does not provide direct assistance to individuals, the added boost to the Combined Federal Campaign comes at a critical time to assist the many charities helping federal employees affected by the partial government shutdown. Many local food banks and other charities have experienced a big increase in the usual number of individuals seeking temporary assistance, which has put a strain on resources.
“We’re so grateful for the added support from retired federal employees,” said Michelle Stewart, co-chair of the Local Federal Coordinating Committe (LFCC), which oversees the Mountain States zone. “As the Baby Boomer population has begun to reach retirement age, the number of federal retirees has skyrocketed. For many years, these individuals demonstrated a remarkable commitment to charitable giving through the CFC, and it’s wonderful to see them continue that legacy of giving.”
Federal retirees have three options to contribute to a CFC charity:
Federal employees, retirees, and even federal contractors can create an account and sign up to give through the CFC at https://cfcgiving.opm.gov. Personal checks are also accepted with an accompanying paper pledge form, which can be found at www.mountainstatescfc.org.campaign-materials.
About the Combined Federal Campaign
Established by executive order in 1961, the Combined Federal Campaign is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, raising millions of dollars each year for local, national, and international nonprofit organizations. The mission of the CFC is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, cost-efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees and federal retirees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all. Since 1961, the campaign has raised more than $8.3 billion for charitable causes.
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HANDS LIKE HOUSES
RELEASE NEW MUSIC VIDEO "SICK"
WATCH AT http://smarturl.it/sickvideo
JANUARY 22, 2019 - CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - Hands Like Houses have dropped the official music video for their fan-favorite track "Sick" today. The video perfectly captures the Australian rockers fun and free energy as they zip through the desert while adding in the infectious live presence they have when performing. Vocalist Trenton Woodley has previously shared this is one of his top tracks on the album and is equally happy with the music video sharing "We had a blast shooting this video - just cruising around the Mojave in a sick old convertible. It was a great day - super chill, and I even left a little piece of myself there...my favourite tambourine in the world broke on set. I'm building a new one with some of the parts, but it broke my heart to carry it home in pieces. Sometimes you pay the price for a rad as hell music video. " Fans can check out the train, iconic tambourine and more at smarturl.it/sickvideo.
"Sick" is the 4th single from their recent album, -Anon., which was released last Fall via Hopeless Records. Produced by Colin Brittain (Papa Roach, 5 Seconds of Summer and One OK Rock), -Anon takes the unique sound Hands Like Houses have been cultivating over the past 10 years and injects it with a big dose of fresh, modern rock'n'roll. The most charismatic album of their career, their fourth record marries who Hands Like Houses are as individuals into an assured yet fun collection of songs that begs the audience to take a deeper listen. -Anon is available for purchase and streaming at http://smarturl.it/HLHanon.
On the track, Woodley continues by sharing "I think everyone knows the feeling of being taken advantage of - especially when you put yourself out there for someone, to have them want more, without even properly acknowledging what you gave them in the first place. Sometimes you can walk away, and other times you just have to take it in your stride because you're focused on something bigger. Entitlement is bullshit, but that's when you have to remember, with a wry grin, that other people don't control you."
After heavy touring with bands such as Bring Me The Horizon, A Day To Remember, Beartooth, and Pierce The Veil, Hands Like Houses embarked on a headlining tour supporting the new album in the US with support from Emarosa. They are currently headlining their biggest rooms ever in Australia, and will be hitting the road in the US again in Spring 2019.
-Anon Track Listing
1. Kingdom Come
2. Monster
3. Sick
4. Overthinking
5. Through Glass
6. Half-hearted
7. No Man's Land
8. Black
9. Tilt
10. Bad Dream
Hands Like Houses has been heralded by top tier press including Billboard, Loudwire, Radio.com, Rocksound, Alternative Press and more. Over the last few months, the band has seen incredible success worldwide with impressive radio and streaming playlist adds with "Monster" landing a #1 spot on SiriusXM's Octane channel, bringing in over 1 Million streams on Spotify and garnering a coveted add to Apple Music's A-List: Hard Rock playlist. The single has also been chosen as the official theme song for WWE's pay-per-view the "Super Show-Down" and has also been heard on Monday Night Football.
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Born and bred in Canberra, Australia, Hands Like Houses - comprising of Trenton Woodley (vocals), Alexander Pearson (guitar), Joel Tyrrell (bass), Matthew Parkitny (drums) & Matt "Coops" Cooper (guitar) - are one of Australia's biggest rock exports. The band has sold an impressive 100k+ record sales worldwide, boasts 85 million combined worldwide streams, and embarked on 15 full US and nine UK tours on the books, and three back-to-back sold out headline tours across Australia. Their critically acclaimed third album Dissonants impressively debuted in the Top 10 Billboard Independent Albums, Hard Music Albums, Alternative Albums and Rock Albums charts and #7 on the ARIA Chart (Australia).
Follow Hands Like Houses
Website: www.handslikehouses.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/handslikehouses
Twitter: www.twitter.com/handslikehouses
Instagram: www.instagram.com/handslikehouses
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/
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TrumPutin: Who’s tired of winning now?
by Tom H. Hastings
513 words
One of the most brutal dictators on Earth, Vladimir Putin, is a happy despot these days. His boy Trump has been performing even better than commanded. Yes, we know from past pondering that Putin was getting some of the joy he ordered up, but consider how his smirk is now an uncontrollable grin as he reflects on our Trump-inflicted nation, his enemy:
· Longest shutdown of the US government in history. Putin’s wish is Trump’s command.
· Trump, it turns out, made several shady backdoor attempts to get the US out of NATO, Trump’s Ultimate Wishlist Premier Item.
· Trump’s tariff trade wars are enhancing the negative economic impacts of the government shutdown that contributes to a generalized and worsening US global economic position, thus strengthening Russia’s position.
· While the media are focused on the big items, Trump’s minions are weakening environmental laws, lowering educational standards, wrecking agricultural markets, harming national health care, and attacking our time-honored free press. In short, the best of what the Founders tried to write into our Constitution is now being actively degraded at virtually every turn, another big win for any foreign power trying to become a regional or even global hegemon, Putin’s dream, certainly.
· Iran’s stock is now rising as it appears to be the reasonable partner to the EU and all the other signatories to the Iran nuclear deal that Trump pulled out of, and of course the other despot client of Putin’s in the Middle East—Basher al-Assad—is sitting pretty with Trump’s stumble-wobble in Syria. Putin wins again, completely due to Trump. The list goes on.
A growing number of analysts are noting that Putin is going to get tired of winning (remember Trump’s moronic campaign claim that “you”—that is, his base supporters at his 2016 rallies—will win so much you’ll get “tired of winning”?).
Does Trump really answer to Putin competently or is he just so incompetent that he just happens to be achieving everything that a hostile foreign power could want? Does it really make a difference? How much more of Trump’s “winning” can Americans take? Washington Post analyst James Hohmann sums up the view on Russian hacking and attacking the American electorate in 2016:
We don’t know exactly how much Moscow spent supporting influence operations to impact the U.K. and U.S. elections in 2016, but it seems hard to overstate how good the Kremlin’s return has been on what Western intelligence agencies believe was a relatively modest investment.
So, we must ask ourselves and each other—and our federal elected officials and the judicial branch—what are we going to do about it? When? Do we come to a red line soon? What should it be?
One such line for me is the Mueller report. If it’s not released to the public, I’m ready to offer some nonviolent resistance. I hope to learn what others regard as a red line, beyond which Putin’s boy in the White House cannot go without evoking a nonviolent people power uprising. It may turn out to be the ultimate answer to such a massive failure by government.
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Dr. Tom H. Hastings is PeaceVoice Director and on occasion an expert witness for the defense in court.
