Today's edition of quick hits:
* President Obama spoke on reducing gun violence at an appearance in Minnesota today. He spoke to an audience dominated by law-enforcement officials, which itself reinforced a larger truth: the police support new laws on gun control and gun safety.
* On a related note, Greg Sargent has a good piece questioning the political utility of Republicans going up against cops in the fight over gun policy.
* The Associated Press is reporting that the week-long hostage standoff in Alabama has ended, and that the kidnapped child is alive. The kidnapper is dead, though preliminary reports do not yet say how he died.
* Extraordinary: "Speaking on camera for the first time since she survived an assassination attempt by the Pakistani Taliban last year, the young activist Malala Yousafzai began with the words, 'Today you can see that I'm alive.'"
* A case worth watching: "The Justice Department, along with state prosecutors, plans to file civil charges against Standard & Poor's Ratings Service, accusing the firm of fraudulently rating mortgage bonds that led to the financial crisis, people briefed on the plan said Monday."
* Chris Kyle's death is a terrible shame.
* Here's a tip for Michael "Heckuva Job" Brown: don't joke about the Superdome -- ever.
* I'm a big admirer of Samantha Power's work, and I'm sorry to see her return to private life.
* Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is taking a bold stand in support of Boy Scout discrimination.
* Some of the allegations against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) may be unraveling.
* John Sides challenges some of the assumptions surrounding political science and gerrymandering.
* I'd sure love to know what "ethnically challenged families" means.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.