Special Report: Orlando Mass Shooting & ‘Kill the Gays’ Hypocrisy [UPDATED]

[there are updates to this post below]

As I watch Rick Scott (a.k.a. “Bald Donald“) address the media in the face of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, I hear the requisite line that’s been repeated over and over in recent years: “they’ll be plenty of time to address gun laws.”

Now exactly the time governor.

FROM WAPO: SHOOTER’S EX-WIFE REVEALS HISTORY OF ABUSE

Just to set the record straight: Governor Scott maintains an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association—the gun industry’s political lobbying organization.

As I watch this horror unfold, I’m reminded of regular reports Rachel Maddow has done on the association of some U.S. politicians with Kevin Swanson, otherwise tenderly known as the “Kill the Gays” pastor. I won’t repost his rantings here; just know that three GOP presidential candidates (who’ve since dropped out of the race) attended a bible jamboree organized by Swanson.

Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal and Ted Cruz all attended the National Religious Liberties Conference, shook Swanson’s hand and gave remarks to attendees. And yet after news broke this morning that 50 lives were lost at Pulse nightclub, the “prayer” response was fast from many of those same gun-pallin’ politicians.

Ted Cruz retweeted this message about blood drives:

Bobby Jindal has not tweeted about the event, but his Twitter banner image depicts his children in fatigues holding what appear to be rifles. Jindal also has earned an A+ rating from the NRA—as does Huckabee.

I’ll update here as events warrant.

UPDATE: Janet Shamlian’s report on families waiting for word on loved ones will win awards—it’s the most poignant reporting I’ve seen all year. I can’t find the video itself, so click through from the below link and give yourself the gift of watching.

UPDATE 2: I’ll be posting a photoshow of the peace vigil in Atlanta last night—attended by Mayor Kasim Reed and hundreds of concerned Atlantans. It was a wonderful show of solidarity with the people of Orlando and indeed the entire nation.

UPDATE 3: Adele dedicates her entire show to Orlando and Pulse Nightclub. “The LGBTQ community are like my soul mates since I was very young.”

UPDATE 4: Atlanta held an LGBT peace vigil at TEN Midtown in support of the people of Orlando. My post is here, and the YouTube photoshow is here.

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Here are some recommended Twitter follows of people reporting on this tragedy:

• Igor Volsky
• Judd Legum
• Michelangelo Signorile
• Nina Diamond
  
• Will McAvoy ACN