JULY’S GUN VIOLENCE July 19, 2016 | Libbie Wilcox Sources: Richard Fausset, Frances Robles, and Christine Hauser, “Baton Rouge Gunman ‘Was Targeting Officers,’ Police Say,” NY Times, July 18, Phil Hesel, Elsha Feildstadt, Matthew Grimson, “Hundred Arrested in Protests Over Police Shootings in St. Paul, Baton Rouge,” NBCNews, July 10, July Shootings To Date This Month, Marked by Shootings of and by Police Officers, Finds Community Members and Police Full of Unease Alton Sterling Shot and Killed by Police – Baton Rouge, LA 37-year-old Sterling was tackled to the ground shot and several times outside a convenience store. Two white police officers were responding to a call that he was threatening people with a gun. Initial reports indicate his gun remained in his pocket until the police removed it from his body after he was shot. Philando Castile Shot and Killed by Police – Minneapolis, MN 32-year-old Castile was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop. Castile’s fiancé, whose young daughter was in the car, live streamed the aftermath of the shooting on Facebook. Castile informed the officer he had a gun and permit. He proceeded to reach for his license and registration, resulting in the police officer shooting him four times. Paramedics did not arrive at the scene for over ten minutes and the police present did not administer first aid. Five Police Officers Shot and Killed by a Sniper – Dallas, TX During protests over killings of young black men by police officers, five officers were shot and killed by a black, 25-year-old US Army Veteran. Six officers were injured. Police later killed the suspect using a robot bomb. 21 Cops Injured and 102 Protesters Arrested – Saint Paul, Minnesota Over the weekend, protests against shootings by police erupted across the nation as tensions increased between the Blue Lives Matter and Black Lives Matter movements. Three Police Officers Killed and Three Injured by Former Marine – Baton Rouge, LA Police responded to a call about a suspicious man carrying an assault rifle down the highway. When they arrived, he opened fire killing three officers. The suspect, a 29-year-old black man who was a former Marine and served in Iraq was killed at the scene. Police say the gunman was targeting law enforcement officers. July 5 July 6 July 7 July 17 July Analysis The nation awoke to news of violence consistently last week, heightening tensions before the Democratic and Republican Conventions Attention turns to Cleveland and Philadelphia to see what Trump and Clinton have to say about the recent tragedies

JULY’S GUN VIOLENCE July 19, 2016 | Libbie Wilcox Sources: Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell, “Latest Gun Control Bid Falters in Congress, Democrat Sit-in Ends,” Reuters, June 24, 2016; Cameron Joseph, “Congress to Take Months-Long Recess With No Action On Gun Control, Fight Against Zika,” NY Daily News, July 12, 2016; Gregory Korte, “Obama to Cut Short European Trip After Vicious Attacks on Dallas Police,” USA Today, July 8, Timeline of Efforts Made by Lawmakers and Candidates to Address Violence Despite GOP and Democratic proposals to Change Gun Laws, No Legislation Has Passed Democrats Staged a Sit-in Protest on the House Floor for 26 hours After executing a widely watched and discussed sit-in protesting gun violence, Democratic lawmakers failed to get Republicans to vote on two gun control measures, although they declared victory due to the attention the sit-in brought to the issue. Obama Cuts European Trip Short Following Death of Five Dallas Police Officers The President condemned the shootings of Sterling, Castile, and the police officers. He returned early from Spain to attend a memorial in Dallas and to work with police officers and racial justice movement leaders to address the injustice in the criminal justice system. Congress Officially Breaks for Recess Without Passing New Gun Legislation Congress had a long list of unfinished business including Zika funding, however against the backdrop of this summer’s violence most notable was their lack of consensus on gun control or police protection. Cleveland Police Union Asks for Suspension of Open Carry Laws in Aftermath of Police Shootings Due to heightened racial and political tensions, security is a pertinent concern at the Republican National Convention. Cleveland’s largest police union called on Ohio Gov. John Kasich to tighten gun laws during the convention. Kasich said he is unable to suspend open carry laws. July 10 July 17 June 23 July 15 Obama’s statements regarding the shootings in Dallas focused explicitly on the need for gun control, eliciting criticism from Republicans

JULY’S GUN VIOLENCE July 19, 2016 | Libbie Wilcox Sources: Christine Rushton, “Republicans Accuse Obama of Pushing Gun Control Agenda After Dallas Shootings,” LA Times, July 8, 2016; Gregory Korte, “White House Meeting Brings Together Police, Civil Rights Leaders,” USA Today, July 13, Timeline of What to Expect in the Coming Weeks With Lawmakers Unable to Pass Legislation, Eyes Turn to Obama and the Presidential Candidates Republican National Convention Day One: Make America Safe Again Day one of the RNC Convention kicks off with the theme, Make America Safe Again, focusing on immigration, foreign policy, and military growth as the nexus of increasing safety for US citizens. Democratic National Convention Day Two: A Lifetime of Fighting for Children and Families Day two of the DNC Convention will feature Mothers of the Movement, the mothers of black men and women killed by police violence. They will address gun violence and the need for police reform, focusing on the tension between communities of color and police. Congress Does Not Resume Until After Labor Day Congress is not in session for the rest of the summer, so any action before September would most likely come from the President, who has indicated he is focusing closely on race relations in his final months in office. July 18 July 26 ?