Orlando massacre

My sympathy first to the victims and their family and friends.  

But this seems to be a perfect storm intersection of so many things.  Gun shooting in a gay club by a person who is Muslim. 

Sad. Everyone should pause before reacting in the usual manner, but they probably won't.

On a human-level, this is frigging awful and my sympathy also goes out to the victims, and loved ones. 

Politically, as this is where this has been posted, Trump is going to have a bloody field day with this. It plays directly into his hands, which plays directly into the hands of all Islamic terrorists.

Saw this on Twitter:

Omar Mateen, immediately, is a terrorist. Dylan Roof? Let's wait for all of the facts to come out, says the media and the authorities.

Perhaps this thread should be moved out of the "Politics" section.

Of course it is in politics.  We have the issue of gun control as an assault rifle was used.  We have the  possibility of Islamic inspired terrorism.  And,  while I usually do not like the term,  the possibility of a specific hate crime in the choice of a gay club as the target. 

We will see how the politics of this develops

Why is it so hard to decide, as a society, that there is not a single citizen who needs an assault rifle? It seems that much should be a goddamned no brainer. 

This is heartbreaking, sickening and I feel for the families of the victims and all those poor people terrorized like this.

I just heard that he was a security guard. Probably easy to get weapons.

project37 said:

Saw this on Twitter:


Omar Mateen, immediately, is a terrorist. Dylan Roof? Let's wait for all of the facts to come out, says the media and the authorities.

The police have described him as 'possibly' a radical Islamic terrorist. I would assume they have some information that needs further checking before saying it is a fact.

'

conandrob240 said:

Why is it so hard to decide, as a society, that there is not a single citizen who needs an assault rifle? It seems that much should be a goddamned no brainer.

I suspect the NRA stance is we should all carry assault weapons for defense.

BG9 said:

conandrob240 said:

Why is it so hard to decide, as a society, that there is not a single citizen who needs an assault rifle? It seems that much should be a goddamned no brainer.

I suspect the NRA stance is we should all carry assault weapons for defense.

I suspect the reaction from the left will be to decrease the rights of all citizens in response to terrorist attacks.

There was an armed police officer on site who engaged the shooter early in.  The officer was wounded and the shooter went back inside. Having civilians with guns,  many of who are drinking,  would just make a bad situation worse.  Plus I can not imagine a club knowingly letting people in with guns.  It is just too risky. 

If you know anyone in that area, they are apparently asking for blood donations- all blood types

The Orlando Blood Center just lifted the ban on donations from gay men, which is great.

Simply awful.

BCC said:

project37 said:

Saw this on Twitter:


Omar Mateen, immediately, is a terrorist. Dylan Roof? Let's wait for all of the facts to come out, says the media and the authorities.

The police have described him as 'possibly' a radical Islamic terrorist. I would assume they have some information that needs further checking before saying it is a fact.

Apparently he called 911 just before the shooting and associated himself with ISIS. I realize everyone is shocked that the Twitter outrage machine may have gotten something wrong, so I'll let you think on it for a minute.

project37 said:

Saw this on Twitter:


Omar Mateen, immediately, is a terrorist. Dylan Roof? Let's wait for all of the facts to come out, says the media and the authorities.

Not everyone on Twitter is brilliant, clearly.

So President Obama is still incapable of saying the "I"  word,  even with the confirmed 911 call.  Which very much does Trump a huge favor. 

.

ridski said:

On a human-level, this is frigging awful and my sympathy also goes out to the victims, and loved ones. 

Politically, as this is where this has been posted, Trump is going to have a bloody field day with this. It plays directly into his hands, which plays directly into the hands of all Islamic terrorists.

He's appreciating the congratulations and the 50 bodies aren't even cold.  Congratulations?!  This guy is a total loser.

conandrob240 said:

Why is it so hard to decide, as a society, that there is not a single citizen who needs an assault rifle? It seems that much should be a goddamned no brainer. 

This is heartbreaking, sickening and I feel for the families of the victims and all those poor people terrorized like this.

This, from a former artillery officer.  The right to bear arms is not (or should not be) unlimited. 

Jackson_Fusion said:

BG9 said:

conandrob240 said:

Why is it so hard to decide, as a society, that there is not a single citizen who needs an assault rifle? It seems that much should be a goddamned no brainer.

I suspect the NRA stance is we should all carry assault weapons for defense.

I suspect the reaction from the left will be to decrease the rights of all citizens in response to terrorist attacks.

I suspect people on both sides will want to over-politicize.  But it's good to know if I ever want to be a radical Muslim terrorist, I am already in a country where I can easily get my hands on some crazy weapons.  

bramzzoinks said:

There was an armed police officer on site who engaged the shooter early in.  The officer was wounded and the shooter went back inside. Having civilians with guns,  many of who are drinking,  would just make a bad situation worse.  Plus I can not imagine a club knowingly letting people in with guns.  It is just too risky. 

Thanks for being the voice of reason  

The "security firm" that the shooter worked for:

https://twitter.com/jeremyscahill/status/742080308439359489

I still cant't believe he tweeted out, after 50 people were slaughtered, that he appreciates the "congratulations".  What an absolute @#$hole!

Gunman legally bought 2 guns in last few days. - CNN.com.

paulsurovell said:

The "security firm" that the shooter worked for:

https://twitter.com/jeremyscahill/status/742080308439359489

Why the quotes?

ctrzaska said:

paulsurovell said:

The "security firm" that the shooter worked for:

https://twitter.com/jeremyscahill/status/742080308439359489

Why the quotes?

Here's the firm's page, "Mercenary Guns":

http://www.mercenaryjobs.org/mercenary-guns.html

in the vernacular of the Internets, ackshally, this is the firm's page.

http://www.g4s.us/en-US/

What use are assault weapons, really? Have they ever been used to stop crimes? Anything else useful?