Mass shooting at Orlando gay club

[HorseTears]

My heart is aching for our Florida brothers tonight in the midst of Pride month.  The situation's still unfolding, but this already appears to be an unimaginable tragedy.  This news may have been changed, or proven inaccurate by the time you read this original post, but there is a possibility of a hostage situation with the gunman reportedly having a bomb.  God, this is just awful.

 

CNN REPORT: Several People Shot at Orlando Gay Club

[madbrian]

Authorities are reporting multiiple deaths, and are calling this a domesric terrorist incidenr. There had been a hostage scenario, and explosive devices were found. Reporting around twenty dead, over forty hospitalized. 

[uncageg]

This is horrible. News also said it was Hispanic night at the club.  Wonder if this specific night was targeted.

[uncageg]

Just reported that 50 people have died.

[PalJoey]

It breaks my hear that this was during Pride, and on a Latino night popular with a lot of young Puerto Rican kids. Those families must be devastated.

And the shooter is reported to be Muslim, which means this will become a shIt-show of a million political agendas.

[South Florida]

"And the shooter is reported to be Muslim, which means this will become a shIt-show of a million political agendas."

Yep.  It's another gut punch. 

[South Fl Marc]

I was supposed to go to gay pride in DC today to take pictures for The Blade. Now all I'm going to do is sit by my phone waiting to hear from friends in Orlando. I can't stop crying. All my prayers go to Orlando to everyone affected by this horrendous act.

[South Florida]

Hang in there Marc.

 

[Broadway Joe]

Just absolutely awful, I can't even imagine the terror. Thoughts out to all the families and friends of the victims. Such a shame, I don't even know how you prevent something like this anymore when some nut job can just shoot his way though one of the doors. 

[Sam2]

^ Banning all guns would be a great start. What a devestating tragedy.

[ChildofEarth]

It weighs heavily on my mind that if I had made one other choice in my life, I could have been in that club celebrating Pride.

We need something, anything. At least take away assault weapons, there's no damn need for them.

[kdogg36]

PalJoey said: "this will become a shIt-show of a million political agendas."

Looks like that's already off to a brisk start in this thread, based on the last few posts.

 

[uncageg]

The fathef of the gunman has said he fells this was just an anti-gay act. Seeing that the shooter is Muslim, this will get swept into their religious beliefs and probably terrorism. The press I am seeing right now is trying to be very careful about the way they are reporting this.

Earlier it was reported that a lt of top political figures were making statements calling it terrorism.

[StageManager2]

Funny, they never call it "terrorism" when it's a white mass shooter, and oftentimes it usually is.

[wonderfulwizard11]

SM2, I agree with your sentiment, but it seems clear that this guy targeted queer people specifically and managed to kill 50 of us. How is that not terrorism? 

This is so infuriating in every way. And if I see one more post from some anti-gay politicians with their prayers, I will throw something. Don't pray for us when you helped this happen. 

[Liza's Headband]

Before someone in this thread is able to mangle the facts and make this horrific incident political, let's be very clear about two things:

1.) he has been on an FBI watch list for at least two years, officially considered an "ISIS sympathizer."

2.) he called 911 just before the attack and swore his allegiance to the Islamic State. 

That all but settles it. A hate crime AND an act of terrorism. Done. No need to keep on playing a game of semantics. That's what it was. Now, let's focus on the shortfalls of our intelligence agencies and how he was able to slip through the cracks, as well as continuing to push the need for a ban on all assault weapons. 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

This is horrible. A homophobic hate crime being used to fuel hated toward Muslims. Absolutely stomach-churning on so many levels. 

Looks like that's already off to a brisk start in this thread, based on the last few posts.

I don't see any political agendas here, only common-sense humanity. You being a self-professed libertarian, I shudder to think what your views on gun control are.

[Liza's Headband]

T

[PalJoey]

LIZA: ONCE AGAIN YOU ARE REPORTING ALLEGATIONS AS FACT.

 

Stop doing this just so that you can make yourself seem "smarter" or "more aware" than everybody else. This is offensive to all of us, and an insult to the dead.

 

You know perfectly well that the "pledged allegiance to ISIS" story comes ONLY from Congressman Adam Schiff, who said on CNN this morning that he has been informed by "intel officials" that the Orlando shooter pledged allegiance to ISIS.

 

STOP REPORTING ALLEGATIONS AS FACT. The facts themselves, as they are confirmed, are awful enough without your embroidery.

 

You know perfectly well that has NOT been confirmed.

 

[WhizzerMarvin]

It's been hard to stop crying while reading everything that happened last night. So many family members and friends of victims must be having one of the worst mornings of their lives. My heart goes out to them. 

[SNAFU]

Headband will be Headband, best just to ignore it.

 

[kdogg36]

Jay Lerner-Z said: "I don't see any political agendas here, only common-sense humanity. You being a self-professed libertarian, I shudder to think what your views on gun control are."

Well, I'd rather not make this thread about political opinions, which was my sole point in the previous post. 

 

 

[South Florida]

Go away Kdogg, just go away from this thread.

[Liza's Headband]

It actually has been confirmed now, PJ. But thanks for taking the time to ream me out for no reason whatsover. Get over it and move on with your life. 

[PalJoey]

.

[Jane2]

I had a friend who was at that club. Fortunately the first thing I saw this am on fb was that he was ok 

I read that this was the worst since 9/11