promoearn: Retired Supreme Court justice's unexpected advice on gun violence: Repeal Second Amendment

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Retired Supreme Court justice's unexpected advice on gun violence: Repeal Second Amendment

Former Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens sits

John Paul Stevens offers a controversial solution to end gun violence

Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who retired from the bench in 2010, on Tuesday called for the repeal of the Second Amendment, the constitutional right used to defend gun ownership. In a New York Times op-ed, Stevens — who was appointed by President Gerald Ford and emerged as a liberal voice on the court — said the weekend March for Our Lives demonstrations after last month's school shooting in Parkland, Fla., "demand our respect." More Second Amendment reads:

•	Wisconsin students are marching 50 miles to House Speaker Paul Ryan's hometown for action on gun laws
•	Tyranny? Many see the Second Amendment as a defense against their own government
•	President Trump's declaration that he's the best friend gun owners will ever have comes with a twist: Reduced gun sales

California is not happy with the new Census citizenship question

California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Tuesday for adding a citizenship question to the 2020 Census . (It's the first time the government has done that in 70 years!) The Golden State's attorney general, Xavier Becerra, filed the lawsuit, arguing that the citizenship question is unconstitutional and would intimidate immigrants from filling out the Census form. Not so fast, the Trump administration says. Commerce Secretary Wilbur said the citizenship information is needed to enforce the Voting Rights Act, which protects minority voters.

Speaking of California …

The controversy in Sacramento over the officer-involved shooting of Stephon Clark , an unarmed black man, took a new turn Tuesday. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra's office will provide "independent oversight" into the investigation, announced Police Chief Daniel Hahn, the city's first African-American chief who was sworn in less than a year ago. Clark, 22, was shot in his grandmother's backyard March 18 following a police pursuit. Clark's family and the NAACP have demanded that the investigation be turned over to the Justice Department.

•	News on another fatal shooting: No charges will be brought against two white police officers involved in the 2016 shooting death of Alton Sterling outside a Baton Rouge convenience store.

Did Kim Jong Un take a mystery train ride to China?

An armored train apparently bound for Pyongyang rolled out of Beijing on Tuesday, a day after arriving in China's capital. The mysterious convoy fueled speculation that reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had visited China ahead of proposed talks with President Trump . The 21-car train with green paint and yellow stripes was similar to the train that Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, took to China in 2011. So far, Chinese officials have been mum, and North Korea's state media has made no mention of a visit to China.

Larry Nassar's boss is arraigned

Former Michigan State dean William Strampel, the boss of disgraced gymnast doctor Larry Nassar, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of felony misconduct in office and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct for groping a female student and storing pornographic images on his computer, according to court records. The charges are the first related to the state attorney general's investigation of sexual misconduct at Michigan State University that was announced in January. What happens now? Strampel was released on $25,000 bail and ordered to avoid contact with victims or witnesses, plus he cannot travel out of state. A preliminary hearing is set for May 3.

More news to know:

•	Apple unveiled a $299 iPad —the lowest cost ever — targeted to appeal to students and educators.
•	Walmart says goodbye to Cosmopolitan. The retail giant will remove the women's magazine from checkout lines at 5,000 stores across the country amid the Me Too movement.

The Short List is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.