We, the people need to take a long hard look at the kind of people we’re allowing to take the reins of power in this world:

A county sheriff candidate in New Hampshire made quite a few waves yesterday when he told WMUR that he would “absolutely” do what it took, including using deadly force, to stop abortions. “If someone is under threat, a full-grown human being, if they’re under threat, what should the sheriff do? Everything in their power to prevent them from being harmed,” said Frank Szabo. The Republican was talking only about elective and late-term abortions, he explained. “I would hope that it wouldn’t come to that, as with any situation where someone is in danger, but … that is an act that needs to be stopped.”

Szabo backtracked today, saying in a statement that his “comments about the use of deadly force against abortion doctors” were “unacceptable” and that he apologizes and retracts his words. “I let my passionate stance against abortion get the better of me,” he said, adding, “I honestly can’t imagine a situation where I would want to use deadly force.” He also walked back other controversial comments, including one in which he said the county sheriff doesn’t answer to anyone. He did not, however, address several other parts of the interview, like promising to arrest any doctor performing legal elective abortions or comparing abortion to slavery.

Three Delaware day care workers were arrested after police got hold of a “disturbing” and “shocking” cell phone video that, authorities say, shows two toddlers taking part in a fight the workers had organized.

Police said Tuesday that they arrested Tiana Harris, 19; Estefania Myers, 21; and Lisa Parker, 47, who have been charged with assault, reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child and conspiracy.

On Saturday, authorities responded to an unrelated incident and a person whom police would not identify showed them video of the 3-year-old boys fighting in March.

The toddlers were not seriously injured, but they were “clearly hurting each other,” said Dover Police Capt. Tim Stump.

Authorities have not released the video but say one day care worker said “No pinching, only punching” after one of the boys complained that the other had pinched him.

The video purportedly shows seven other children seated in the room with their backs to the fighting, according to police.

“It’s not like they didn’t know what was going on, and they were just encouraging them to continue,” Stump said. “One of the children attempted to run, but one of the teachers pushes him back into the fray.

What the hell?

This is so not the way:

The alleged shooter who wounded a security guard at the anti-gay marriage Family Research Council yesterday carried a bag from Chick-fil-A, according to the Washington Post; NBC reports he was carrying materials about Chick-fil-A restaurants. Floyd Corker, 28, reportedly volunteered at an LGBT center, CNN notes, and police say he made comments attacking the Family Research Council’s policies before firing his weapon. 

When did it become ok to shoot little children with tasers?

A 12-year-old girl was Tasered while shopping at a Missouri Victoria’s Secret by a cop hunting her mom. “He said, ‘Put your hands behind your back.’ I was just crying. I guess he got mad because then he took it out and just Tasered me,” said Dejamon Baker. “I fell on the floor and I couldn’t control myself. I kept on shaking.” One of the prongs of the zapper hit her in the chest. “It was stuck in there, so he had to keep on pulling, trying to pull it out,” she said. A spokesman for the South St. Louis County police said the girl was interfering with the arrest of her mom, who was wanted for outstanding traffic tickets. But he acknowledged it was a “unique” situation.

The relatives who locked an 11-year-old boy in a dog kennel (with biting dog) to spend the night, got to spend last night in a cage of their own. Only, this one was bigger and there was no dog biting them throughout the night. Still, it’s a start.

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In another unconscionable example of child abuse, a 12-year-old boy was rescued from a dog kennel in Cascade on Thursday morning after his father and cousin locked him in there - with the dog - on Wednesday night.

Neighbors, who heard the child crying out “He biting me! He biting me!” throughout the night, called the police after realizing the next morning that the child was actually inside of a dog kennel. These same neighbors have reported instances of child abuse before, but, unable to find proof of the abuse, the police always let the family off with a warning. 

(This makes the statement of Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson, in which he “encouraged the public to report any suspicious activities, especially of child abuse”, ironic and irritating.)

The boy, who appeared to be malnourished and underdeveloped for his age, was taken to the hospital where he’s being treated for dog and mosquito bites, malnutrition and exposure.

So, why did his family do this to him? (I ask, as if there could possibly be a reason)

His father (who, along with another relative, has been charged with child cruelty) said it was punishment for “not listening” and being stubborn. His grandmother (who has since been released) said they were simply trying to keep him out of trouble because he’s a “troublemaker” at school. 

I shudder to think of how she punished her son.

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In case you hadn’t heard (because I haven’t posted much local news this week), an 11-year-old Chaguanas girl was raped and impregnated by her father. 

Nowhere in the article linked above does it say what they’re going to do for her, aside from the (purposefully?) vague: “counselling and medical treatment”.

So, Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, human rights activist and head of the T&T Coalition Against Domestic Violence, is pointing out the obvious: that no 11-year-old should have to bear a child, let alone an incest-rape baby.

Now, abortion is illegal in T&T unless a doctor says that the health of the mother and fetus are at risk, so this should be a no-brainer, right? The child’s not even sexually mature yet. Her pelvis isn’t developed enough for labor. As long as she’s not too far along (please, don’t let her be too far along), why not do it?

Because, according to Mahabir-Wyatt, “you also have to take into account stringent religious bodies. There will be some religious groups against any kind of abortion.”

Yeah, I’m not following that logic, either.

And then there’s Delores Robinson, programme officer at Advocates for Safe Parenthood: Improving Reproductive Equity, who says we should leave it up to the 11-year-old girl (why not, she’s old enough to get pregnant, right?) or her mother (who may have been complicit in the rape) to decide. 

Oh, and this commenter:

Isn’t T&T trying to stop its citizens from killing each other? What has the child carried by an 11 year old rape victim done that he/she deserves to be killed? Is the crime of the unborn child that he/she is not yet a recognized human being?

Hear that, little girl? Suck it up and bear the child of your father because, while it is blameless, you obviously are not. It’ll be good practice for becoming the long-suffering broad-shouldered creature that every God-fearing woman should be. And why not? You’ve got to pay for your portion of that ancient apple, too.

Better hope it’s a boy.

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I am deeply bothered by this man’s sentiments, but I’m not surprised that someone could possibly feel that way, given the kind of insane rhetoric that I’ve heard after past tragedies (the nonsense being spouted after the Haitian earthquake springs to mind). What really disturbs me, though, is that this guy is allowed to hold public office. THAT is a problem.

Ladies and gentlemen, Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert:

“You know what really gets me, as a Christian, is to see the ongoing attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs, and then some senseless crazy act of terror like this takes place,” Gohmert said.

“Some of us happen to believe that when our founders talked about guarding our virtue and freedom, that that was important,” he said. “Whether it’s John Adams saying our Constitution was made only for moral and religious people … Ben Franklin, only a virtuous people are capable of freedom, as nations become corrupt and vicious they have more need of masters … We have been at war with the very pillars, the very foundation of this country.”

Ernest Istook, the host of the show and a former Oklahoma congressman, jumped in to clarify that nobody knows the motivation of the alleged Aurora gunman. Gohmert said that may be true, but suggested the shootings were still “a terrorist act” that could have been avoided if the country placed a higher value on God.

“People say … where was God in all of this?” Gohmert said. “We’ve threatened high school graduation participations, if they use God’s name, they’re going to be jailed … I mean that kind of stuff. Where was God? What have we done with God? We don’t want him around. I kind of like his protective hand being present.”

Gohmert also said the tragedy could have been lessened if someone else in the movie theater had been carrying a gun and took down the lone shooter. Istook noted that Colorado laws allow people to carry concealed guns.

“It does make me wonder, with all those people in the theater, was there nobody that was carrying a gun that could have stopped this guy more quickly?” he asked.

Did  you hear they identified the (alleged) shooter in the Colorado incident? He’s just 24 years old and police still don’t know why he would do such a thing. 

If you haven’t been keeping up see the details below:

In the early hours of this morning, during a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises”, James Holmes allegedly walked into the theater, tossed a tear gas canister and opened fire, killing 12 people and wounding dozens (some estimates say 50). 

Some of the victims had no clue what was happening, as they thought the shooting was part of the movie’s sound effects.

Tragic and senseless.

President Obama has called for a day of reflection.