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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Jul 25, 2012
July 25, 2012
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What's the Buzz:
Gun sales in Colorado have skyrocketed since last week's "Dark Knight" massacre.
Since the shooting, background checks for people attempting to purchase firearms in the state are up more than 41 percent and there's also increased interest in concealed-carry permits.
One gun store employee, who called the effect "insane," said there were 15 to 20 people waiting outside when the store opened the Friday morning after the shooting.
The store's basic gun class is booked solid for three weeks straight, which is unusual, the employee says, adding, "When it happens in your backyard, people start reassessing --'Hey, I go to the movies.'" Another course, which is required to obtain a concealed-carry permit, is also overbooked.
Similar increases were seen in Arizona after the GABRIELLE GIFFORDS shooting, and in Virginia after the Virginia Tech massacre. (Maiman)Sucking the life out of the wire services:
CHRISTIAN BALE is a true class act. The "Dark Knight Rises" hottie went to Aurora, CO, to visit victims of the movie theater shooting that occurred during a midnight showing of the film early last Friday morning. With his wife at his side, Bale spent a few hours at the local hospital visiting the wounded, doctors and first-responders.
Bale asked that the media not be notified of the visit. A Warner Brothers spokesman claims he wasn't there to represent the company, just went as "himself." (Lee)Gossip Central:
MATT LeBLANC's career is back on. According to Star magazine, the actor, who's had great success with the Showtime show "Episodes," is filming the movie "Lovesick" with ALI LARDER. (Myers)
Everybody can relax... MIRANDA KERR and ORLANDO BLOOM are still a couple. The rumors were flying Monday after the Australian tabloid Famous declared the celebrity couple's marriage "OVER AFTER 23 MONTHS?" Their "proof" was separate pictures of the supermodel and the super-actor, each not wearing their wedding rings. But Miranda's representatives have assured the Daily Telegraph --and the rest of the celebrity-couple-loving world-- that "there is absolutely no truth in the headline or story."
Phone starter: Do you always wear your wedding ring in public? (Bartha)On the Beat:
A strange new wrinkle in texting scams: Death threats.
Australian authorities are hunting for crooks who are ordering victims via text to "pay up or die." The texts talk of a contract to kill the textee, who can undo the hit by paying $5-thousand following instructions via e-mail. "Sum1 paid me to kill you," read the texts. "Get spared. 48 hours to pay $5,000. If you inform police or anybody death is promised. Email me now."
Law enforcement agencies across Australia are certain it's the work of organized crime and not some random event. They simply purchased a contact list and started texting. Authorities are advising people to ignore and immediately delete the threats, and not panic, because "that's what they prey upon."
Editor's note: I'd text back and tell them to get in line.
--Dear hit man: I can't pay you now but let me get done with the Nigerian Prince, then we can talk. I'll have more money then. (Maiman) -
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