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21 hours ago
What to know about the fatal shooting at a Utah 'No Kings' rally
SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah investigators sought help from the public as they worked to unravel who was at fault when a safety volunteer at a weekend 'No Kings' rally fired at an alleged gunman and inadvertently hit and killed a protester. The safety volunteer, who has not been identified publicly, fired three rounds at Arturo Gamboa, 24, who had allegedly brandished a rifle at Saturday's crowd in downtown Salt Lake City. The gunshots hit both Gamboa and protester Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, according to the Salt Lake City police. Gamboa, who did not fire his rifle, was arrested on suspicion of murder, accused of creating the dangerous situation that led to Ah Loo's death, police said. No criminal charges have been filed. A state judge on Thursday granted a request by prosecutors to extend Gamboa's detention without bail until 5 p.m. on Monday, while investigators continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing footage of the incident, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said. Investigators are also looking into whether the safety volunteer was justified in firing his gun, according to police. Police on Wednesday asked the public for more video footage of events surrounding the shooting. It is unclear what Gamboa intended to do with the rifle. His father Albert Gamboa, reached by The Associated Press on Tuesday, declared his son's innocence in a brief phone call: 'My son, Arturo Gamboa, is an innocent guy. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Utah is an open-carry state, meaning people who can legally own a firearm are generally allowed to carry it on a public street. 'Inevitably there are going to be instances like this one, which may or may not have been a misunderstanding,' said Timothy Zick, a William & Mary Law School professor who has written about the laws surrounding public protests. "It's hard to sort out who's acting lawfully with a firearm in the middle of an already crowded, sometimes chaotic protest space,' he said. The protest of some 18,000 people was otherwise peaceful. Here's what is known so far about the shooting: Thousands of protesters were marching through downtown Salt Lake City when, around 8 p.m., the safety volunteer and another man said they spotted Gamboa, who was wearing all black clothing, move behind a wall and withdraw a rifle from a backpack, according to a police news release. The two men drew their handguns and ordered Gamboa to drop the rifle, but witnesses said he instead moved toward the crowd and held his rifle in a 'firing position,' according to police. The safety volunteer shot three rounds, hitting Gamboa and Ah Loo. Ah Loo died after being taken to a hospital. Gamboa's wound was relatively minor, and he was arrested nearby by police, who found a rifle, gas mask and backpack in the area. Police said they do not yet know why Gamboa had the rifle or allegedly disobeyed the orders from the two men. The protest was one of hundreds nationwide Saturday against President Donald Trump's military parade in Washington, which marked the Army's 250th anniversary and coincided with Trump's birthday. The Utah chapter of 50501 Movement, which helped organize the 'No Kings' protest, said in a statement Monday that the man who confronted Gamboa was a military veteran and 'safety volunteer' meant to help maintain order. 'Our team of safety volunteers, who have been selected because of their military, first responder, and other relevant de-escalation experience, believed there was an imminent threat to the protestors and took action,' organizers said. The group did not give further details on the person's training or explain why he was armed. Sarah Parker, a national coordinator for 50501 Movement, which helped organize the 'No Kings' protests across the country, said all attendees, including those in safety roles, were asked not to bring weapons. It's extremely rare for safety teams, often called safety marshals, to be armed. Instead, they rely on calm demeanor, communication skills and relationships with police and protesters to help keep order, said Edward Maguire, an Arizona State University criminology and criminal justice professor. 'Arming marshals or peacekeepers is widely discouraged, as it tends to create more problems than it solves," Maguire said. Police said the permit for the protest did not specify that there would be armed security, and event staffers' roles were under investigation. Ah Loo was a successful fashion designer and former 'Project Runway' contestant who devoted his life to celebrating artists from the Pacific Islands. Benjamin Powell, a friend of Ah Loo's, said the 39-year-old was born in Samoa but lived in Utah for about a decade. Ah Loo, a self-taught designer known to many as Afa, devoted his life to doing 'good things for his neighbors and community,' state Rep. Verona Mauga, a close friend, told the AP. Their families were both from the small village of Lotopa in Samoa, she said. Ah Loo leaves behind a wife and two young children, according to a GoFundMe page for his family. Powell said he and Ah Loo were working on an August fashion show, which Powell said will now honor Ah Loo's unwavering commitment to his community.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
What to know about the fatal shooting at a Utah ‘No Kings' rally
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah investigators sought help from the public as they worked to unravel who was at fault when a safety volunteer at a weekend 'No Kings' rally fired at an alleged gunman and inadvertently hit and killed a protester. The safety volunteer, who has not been identified publicly, fired three rounds at Arturo Gamboa, 24, who had allegedly brandished a rifle at Saturday's crowd in downtown Salt Lake City. The gunshots hit both Gamboa and protester Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, according to the Salt Lake City police. Gamboa, who did not fire his rifle, was arrested on suspicion of murder, accused of creating the dangerous situation that led to Ah Loo's death, police said. No criminal charges have been filed. A state judge on Thursday granted a request by prosecutors to extend Gamboa's detention without bail until 5 p.m. on Monday, while investigators continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing footage of the incident, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said. Investigators are also looking into whether the safety volunteer was justified in firing his gun, according to police. Police on Wednesday asked the public for more video footage of events surrounding the shooting. It is unclear what Gamboa intended to do with the rifle. His father Albert Gamboa, reached by The Associated Press on Tuesday, declared his son's innocence in a brief phone call: 'My son, Arturo Gamboa, is an innocent guy. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.' Utah is an open-carry state, meaning people who can legally own a firearm are generally allowed to carry it on a public street. 'Inevitably there are going to be instances like this one, which may or may not have been a misunderstanding,' said Timothy Zick, a William & Mary Law School professor who has written about the laws surrounding public protests. 'It's hard to sort out who's acting lawfully with a firearm in the middle of an already crowded, sometimes chaotic protest space,' he said. The protest of some 18,000 people was otherwise peaceful. Here's what is known so far about the shooting: How did it unfold? Thousands of protesters were marching through downtown Salt Lake City when, around 8 p.m., the safety volunteer and another man said they spotted Gamboa, who was wearing all black clothing, move behind a wall and withdraw a rifle from a backpack, according to a police news release. The two men drew their handguns and ordered Gamboa to drop the rifle, but witnesses said he instead moved toward the crowd and held his rifle in a 'firing position,' according to police. The safety volunteer shot three rounds, hitting Gamboa and Ah Loo. Ah Loo died after being taken to a hospital. Gamboa's wound was relatively minor, and he was arrested nearby by police, who found a rifle, gas mask and backpack in the area. Police said they do not yet know why Gamboa had the rifle or allegedly disobeyed the orders from the two men. The protest was one of hundreds nationwide Saturday against President Donald Trump's military parade in Washington, which marked the Army's 250th anniversary and coincided with Trump's birthday. What are safety marshals for demonstrations? The Utah chapter of 50501 Movement, which helped organize the 'No Kings' protest, said in a statement Monday that the man who confronted Gamboa was a military veteran and 'safety volunteer' meant to help maintain order. 'Our team of safety volunteers, who have been selected because of their military, first responder, and other relevant de-escalation experience, believed there was an imminent threat to the protestors and took action,' organizers said. The group did not give further details on the person's training or explain why he was armed. Sarah Parker, a national coordinator for 50501 Movement, which helped organize the 'No Kings' protests across the country, said all attendees, including those in safety roles, were asked not to bring weapons. It's extremely rare for safety teams, often called safety marshals, to be armed. Instead, they rely on calm demeanor, communication skills and relationships with police and protesters to help keep order, said Edward Maguire, an Arizona State University criminology and criminal justice professor. 'Arming marshals or peacekeepers is widely discouraged, as it tends to create more problems than it solves,' Maguire said. Police said the permit for the protest did not specify that there would be armed security, and event staffers' roles were under investigation. Who was the protester who was killed? Ah Loo was a successful fashion designer and former 'Project Runway' contestant who devoted his life to celebrating artists from the Pacific Islands. Benjamin Powell, a friend of Ah Loo's, said the 39-year-old was born in Samoa but lived in Utah for about a decade. Ah Loo, a self-taught designer known to many as Afa, devoted his life to doing 'good things for his neighbors and community,' state Rep. Verona Mauga, a close friend, told the AP. Their families were both from the small village of Lotopa in Samoa, she said. Ah Loo leaves behind a wife and two young children, according to a GoFundMe page for his family. Powell said he and Ah Loo were working on an August fashion show, which Powell said will now honor Ah Loo's unwavering commitment to his community. ___ Bedayn reported from Denver. Associated Press writer Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, contributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
What to know about the fatal shooting at a Utah 'No Kings' rally
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah investigators sought help from the public as they worked to unravel who was at fault when a safety volunteer at a weekend 'No Kings' rally fired at an alleged gunman and inadvertently hit and killed a protester. The safety volunteer, who has not been identified publicly, fired three rounds at Arturo Gamboa, 24, who had allegedly brandished a rifle at Saturday's crowd in downtown Salt Lake City. The gunshots hit both Gamboa and protester Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, according to the Salt Lake City police. Gamboa, who did not fire his rifle, was arrested on suspicion of murder, accused of creating the dangerous situation that led to Ah Loo's death, police said. No criminal charges have been filed. A state judge on Thursday granted a request by prosecutors to extend Gamboa's detention without bail until 5 p.m. on Monday, while investigators continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing footage of the incident, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said. Investigators are also looking into whether the safety volunteer was justified in firing his gun, according to police. Police on Wednesday asked the public for more video footage of events surrounding the shooting. It is unclear what Gamboa intended to do with the rifle. His father Albert Gamboa, reached by The Associated Press on Tuesday, declared his son's innocence in a brief phone call: 'My son, Arturo Gamboa, is an innocent guy. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Utah is an open-carry state, meaning people who can legally own a firearm are generally allowed to carry it on a public street. 'Inevitably there are going to be instances like this one, which may or may not have been a misunderstanding,' said Timothy Zick, a William & Mary Law School professor who has written about the laws surrounding public protests. "It's hard to sort out who's acting lawfully with a firearm in the middle of an already crowded, sometimes chaotic protest space,' he said. The protest of some 18,000 people was otherwise peaceful. Here's what is known so far about the shooting: How did it unfold? Thousands of protesters were marching through downtown Salt Lake City when, around 8 p.m., the safety volunteer and another man said they spotted Gamboa, who was wearing all black clothing, move behind a wall and withdraw a rifle from a backpack, according to a police news release. The two men drew their handguns and ordered Gamboa to drop the rifle, but witnesses said he instead moved toward the crowd and held his rifle in a 'firing position,' according to police. The safety volunteer shot three rounds, hitting Gamboa and Ah Loo. Ah Loo died after being taken to a hospital. Gamboa's wound was relatively minor, and he was arrested nearby by police, who found a rifle, gas mask and backpack in the area. Police said they do not yet know why Gamboa had the rifle or allegedly disobeyed the orders from the two men. The protest was one of hundreds nationwide Saturday against President Donald Trump's military parade in Washington, which marked the Army's 250th anniversary and coincided with Trump's birthday. What are safety marshals for demonstrations? The Utah chapter of 50501 Movement, which helped organize the 'No Kings' protest, said in a statement Monday that the man who confronted Gamboa was a military veteran and 'safety volunteer' meant to help maintain order. 'Our team of safety volunteers, who have been selected because of their military, first responder, and other relevant de-escalation experience, believed there was an imminent threat to the protestors and took action,' organizers said. The group did not give further details on the person's training or explain why he was armed. Sarah Parker, a national coordinator for 50501 Movement, which helped organize the 'No Kings' protests across the country, said all attendees, including those in safety roles, were asked not to bring weapons. It's extremely rare for safety teams, often called safety marshals, to be armed. Instead, they rely on calm demeanor, communication skills and relationships with police and protesters to help keep order, said Edward Maguire, an Arizona State University criminology and criminal justice professor. 'Arming marshals or peacekeepers is widely discouraged, as it tends to create more problems than it solves," Maguire said. Police said the permit for the protest did not specify that there would be armed security, and event staffers' roles were under investigation. Who was the protester who was killed? Ah Loo was a successful fashion designer and former 'Project Runway' contestant who devoted his life to celebrating artists from the Pacific Islands. Benjamin Powell, a friend of Ah Loo's, said the 39-year-old was born in Samoa but lived in Utah for about a decade. Ah Loo, a self-taught designer known to many as Afa, devoted his life to doing 'good things for his neighbors and community,' state Rep. Verona Mauga, a close friend, told the AP. Their families were both from the small village of Lotopa in Samoa, she said. Ah Loo leaves behind a wife and two young children, according to a GoFundMe page for his family.
Newsweek
27-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
How Trump AI Law Could Spark a constitutional Crisis
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Trump's big beautiful bill may have passed the House, but experts have told Newsweek that the legislation's provisions on artificial intelligence could face an even greater challenge in the courts. The bill impacts a huge range of policy areas and industries, but its ban on states' ability to enforce AI regulations could be one of the most legally challenged parts, as it arguably contradicts existing state laws. The Context The more than 1,000-page bill passed 215-214 following days of negotiations. Republicans Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio voted against it, joining every House Democrat. The bill, which includes about $4.9 trillion in tax breaks, was passed after weeks of negotiations and talks with Republicans, some of whom were concerned about constituents losing critical benefits and others who called for further budget cuts. What To Know Despite attempts during the Biden administration to create an AI Bill of Rights, the U.S. does not have any federally binding laws about how AI should be regulated. If signed into law, Trump's bill would be the first on a federal level to dictate how states should treat artificial intelligence, after Trump abolished Biden's executive order on AI ethics and safety standards in January. The bill calls for the end to all state AI regulations, and bans states from enforcing existing regulations, reading: "No state or political subdivision thereof may enforce any law or regulation regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems during the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act." Here's the problem: several states already have AI regulations, and many more could be on the way. Utah, California, and Colorado have all passed laws addressing rights and transparency surrounding AI development and usage, and 40 bills across over a dozen states are currently in the legislative process. Margaret Hu, a professor of Law at William & Mary Law School and director of the Digital Democracy Lab, told Newsweek that Trump's bill could clash with states' status as "laboratories of democracy," which could see parts of the bill challenged in the courts if passed. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty "Prohibiting or limiting states and local governments from regulating AI would likely face an immediate challenge in the courts," Hu said. "Under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, Congress can pass legislation that preempts states from regulating in specific fields. But in the absence of a comprehensive scheme of AI regulation or specific AI system regulation in federal law, the Constitution reserves broad regulatory authority for the states." "States are 'laboratories of democracy.' In the context of a field as new as AI law and policy, states and municipalities have been 'AI law laboratories of democracy.' If and when an omnibus AI law is passed by Congress, then Congress can say: we're now regulating the field at the federal level and states should not interfere or pose an obstacle to federal regulation. "But that's not where we are right now. It's highly problematic constitutionally for Congress to say: 'we don't want to regulate AI and we don't want states to regulate AI either.'" What People Are Saying Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Wednesday that it would be unlikely that the bill would see any serious changes in the Senate, saying: "When it comes over here, I think [Speaker Mike Johnson] would like to see as little change to the product as possible, because they've cobbled together a delicate balance over there. "The Senate will have its imprint on it." What Happens Next Trump's bill is now headed for the Senate, which it will need to pass before the president can sign it into law.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Here's how many times Latter-day Saint leaders mention Jesus Christ at general conference
President Russell M. Nelson spoke for just under 15 minutes at the October 2024 general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He referred to Jesus Christ 86 times. Maybe that should not surprise anyone, given that President Nelson is considered by members to be not only the church's president but a living prophet, apostle and special witness of Christ. For decades, however, some outsiders and critics have accused church leaders of referring more to the church's founding prophet, Joseph Smith, and his successors in general conference talks than to Jesus Christ. 'Other Christians think, in their perspective, that we pay more attention to or more often speak about 'the Brethren' rather than the Brother,' said Darius Gray, an independent Latter-day Saint historian and former journalist. The Deseret News reviewed the 34 talks given at the church's October 2024 general conference to count the number of times speakers referred to Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith and President Nelson. 'My guess is that they referred to Jesus dozens of times, Joseph Smith half a dozen times and President Nelson somewhere in between,' said Nathan Oman, a church member and historian and professor of law at William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia. The actual totals surprised even longtime Latter-day Saint historians and writers. Total references to Jesus Christ — 1,604 (an average of 47.2 times per talk) Total references to Joseph Smith — 104 (3.1 times per talk) Total references to President Russell M. Nelson — 92 (2.7 times per talk) 'That's a wonderful, heartening statistic,' said Terryl Givens, senior research fellow at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute of Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University. 'It has been subject to conversation that one hears in many quarters that one hears more references to President Nelson than Jesus Christ. 'This puts the lie to that claim and suggests that there has been a conspicuous recentering of Christ in leadership talks, and that's something that I think the church needs to hear.' Gray laughed in wonder at the count. 'I'm somewhat surprised and very, very edified,' he said. 'It's been a complaint among some members and an accusation among others in the Christian family, so I'm just thrilled to hear that.' Oman said that while he underestimated the magnitude of references to Jesus Christ, he was not caught off guard. 'I've been listening to general conference for 49 years and that's my experience,' he said. 'The language is Jesus-soaked, so the fact that it's more than 10 times the number of references doesn't surprise me at all.' Another Latter-day Saint scholar said he could imagine April conferences delivering even more references to Jesus Christ because they regularly fall on or around Easter. In fact, this spring, President Nelson and his counselors in the First Presidency have encouraged an increase in Easter celebrations among church members. 'We are in the spring Easter season, right when we celebrate in more detail the life and especially the Atonement of Jesus,' said John W. 'Jack' Welch, a founding director of Scripture Central. 'There's no other church that is blessed with the commandment to gather in general conference twice a year, and we come together and we hear the most important things talked about. For us to have an Easter celebration every year is, I think, very rich, and it indicates what we really hold most sacred.' Speakers mentioned Jesus Christ an average of 47 times per talk in the October conference. President Nelson referred to Christ four times in one memorable portion of his talk. 'Here is my promise to you,' he said. 'Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find him in the temple. You will feel his mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of his gospel.' The only speaker who mentioned Christ more often than President Nelson was President Jeffery R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who referred to Christ 108 times. President Holland used the names 'Jesus Christ,' 'Jesus' or 'Christ' a total of 19 times. He referred to Christ as 'this Refuge from the Storm,' 'the Headmaster' and 'our Messenger of Salvation.' Many references were utilitarian. For example, in addition to calling Christ 'our Perfect Role Model' twice, 30 of the 74 references by President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, were to 'he,' 'him' or 'his,' necessary and common references throughout the conference. Many speakers referred to Christ as they quoted scripture or other church leaders. A reference by President Holland to Jesus Christ as 'the great Jehovah of the Old Testament and Good Shepherd of the New' is an example of why the Deseret News did not use AI or a computer database to review the conference talks. Latter-day Saint theology holds that God the Father and Jesus Christ are separate and distinct beings. The words 'God' and 'Lord' often are used regularly by leaders and members to refer to either Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ. October conference speakers referred to God the Father 700 times, the Deseret News found. The analysis may not be perfect. If anything, however, it likely undercounts references to the Savior when making determinations between 'God' and 'Lord.' Context was critical to understanding the references to deity. For example, one of the 70 references to Christ by Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles noted, as President Holland did, that Latter-day Saints believe Jesus Christ is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. 'The Pharisees' reaction to Jesus was clear evidence that their presumptuous attitude left no place in their hearts for the Savior's words and God's way,' Elder Soares said. 'In response, Jesus wisely and courageously declared that if they were true covenant children of Abraham, they would do the works of Abraham, especially considering that the God of Abraham was standing before them (italics added) and teaching them the truth at that very moment.' Oman said listening for context is part of Latter-day Saint culture. 'One of the weird things about Latter-day Saints is we do almost all of our theology in sermons,' Oman said. 'Russell M. Nelson is not writing theological treatises. Latter-day Saints have written theological treatises in the past, but I don't think there's any general authority that's tried to write a theological treatise since (Elder) Bruce R. McConkie. 'So when general authorities talk theology, the genre, the medium that they use to talk theology is almost always a sermon, but in sermons you're oftentimes sort of theologically imprecise. Sometimes the purpose of the sermon is to clearly explain doctrine. Someone like President Oaks is trying to be precise and clear about doctrine, but I think there are other folks for whom that's not really their main goal. 'What they're trying to do is motivate people to feel the spirit and connect to God, or warn people about this particular danger or temptation or something like that. They have rhetorical tasks in their sermons where an enormous amount of theological precision just isn't particularly important.' Where speakers used 'they' and 'their' to refer to both the Father and the Son, the Deseret News counted a reference for both. The same was done for a handful of instances when speakers referred to the Trinity and the Godhead. President Nelson's emphasis on using the correct, full name of the church led to a couple dozen references to Jesus Christ. The Deseret News found that many of the references to Joseph Smith and President Nelson were to their teachings about Jesus Christ. Church leaders and members generally quote the current church president because he is set apart to receive revelation for the church and act as Christ's spokesman on earth. In some ways, criticism has been abating, said Welch, author of 'Charting the Book of Mormon,' which includes charts about names for Christ used by Book of Mormon authors, including 'First-Fruits' and 'the Very God of Israel.' 'Those making those criticisms (about references to Christ) haven't been listening to conference for the past 10 years. This is an old criticism,' he said. 'It goes back to the days when the less-friendly people wanted to brand us as not Christian, even though the name of the church is the Church of Jesus Christ.' In the past, some critics tried to exclude Latter-day Saints from some interfaith groups. Today, Latter-day Saints work broadly with other faiths around the world on efforts ranging from religious freedom legislation to humanitarian aid and more. Other names for Christ used by church leaders in October included 'God of Hope,' 'Rescuer' and 'Master Potter.' One other reference stood out in the Deseret News review of the talks on the church's website. Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who is from England, maintained the British spelling of 'Saviour' in the written version of his talk. Regardless of the names used for Jesus Christ, Gray said he was thrilled to learn that he had been spoken of so often. 'I am happy to hear that,' Gray said. 'I am more than happy to hear that.'
