Rep from VA Scalise shot in VA

[Steve C.]

Rep Steve Scalise and others were just shot in VA. No details yet....at practice for Congressional baseball game tomorrow. 4 other people shot..2 policeman...15-50 shots heard...just terrible news.

[javero]

Yep...just terrible.

[PalJoey]

 

Rep. Ron DeSantis said he was asked, “Are those Republicans or Democrats out there practicing?”

 

[javero]

VA Governor Terry McAuliffe showed up to the crime scene and seized the opportunity to deliver a spiel about gun control.  I was rooting for him to be the next potus but find his grandstanding somewhat tacky.

His exact remarks and "correction" were captured for posterity here.

[dramamama611]

Sadly, the only time anyone considers gun control is at these moments.

[South Florida]

Maybe for a millisecond Drama.

[madbrian]

The Trumps are already politicizing this, blaming everyone from the Public Theater to the liberal media.

[LYLS3637]

madbrian said: "The Trumps are already politicizing this, blaming everyone from the Public Theater to the liberal media."

 

Of course they are. But don't you dare blame conservatives for Charleston or Tuscon. Those were just lone wolves.

[ErikJ972]

madbrian said: "The Trumps are already politicizing this, blaming everyone from the Public Theater to the liberal media."

Has Trump checked with Alex Jones to see if this is another false flag operation?

[PalJoey]

 

CORRECTION: The jogger who asked the question and the shooter in jeans seem to be two different people.

 

[qolbinau]

Apparently he was a Bernie Sanders supporter and volunteer. 

[yankeefan7]

"Rep. Ron DeSantis said he was asked, “Are those Republicans or Democrats out there practicing?”

If the gunman survived and had a trial, would this have been considered a "hate" crime ?

[wonderfulwizard11]

Uh, no. That's not how hate crime laws work. 

It seems useful to add that the shooter had a history of domestic violence, which is a better indication than anything else that someone will resort to this kind of violence. It's a great thing no one was killed except the shooter, but this man shouldn't have had a gun in the first place. Sadly, all I bet this will result in is increased security for representatives, not meaningful legislative change. 

[javero]

The horse is out of the barn.  GOP Congressman Barry Loudermilk from the great state of Georgia wants concealed carry for law makers in DC.  Excerpt from the Washington Examiner follows.

Under Rep. Barry Loudermilk's proposal, members who are allowed to conceal carry a weapon in their home state would be able to in Washington. Loudermilk, R-Ga., said the problem is that the nation's capital does not recognize concealed carry licenses from other states.

Full article here.

[adamgreer]

Nope, all they should get are "thoughts and prayers."

[Cat Guy]

javero said: "GOP Congressman Barry Loudermilk from the great state of Georgia wants concealed carry for law makers in DC."

That's just what we need to curb gun violence.  More guns.

 

[yankeefan7]

"Uh, no. That's not how hate crime laws work. 

It seems useful to add that the shooter had a history of domestic violence, which is a better indication than anything else that someone will resort to this kind of violence. It's a great thing no one was killed except the shooter, but this man shouldn't have had a gun in the first place. Sadly, all I bet this will result in is increased security for representatives, not meaningful legislative change. "

Ok, how does hate crime work. I always thought if somebody expressed hatred for a particular group or in this case it was obvious that a group was being targeted it could be considered a hate crime. As for gun laws, I have never understood why common sense does not prevail. I own a gun, have no problem with waiting for a background check. I don't need a powerful assault weapon to protect my family. I think "smart guns" are part of the solution. If gun is stolen, they can't be used by another person. 

[kdogg36]

yankeefan7 said: "If the gunman survived and had a trial, would this have been considered a "hate" crime ?"

I think there are a few places where the victim's political opinion is included in the definition of a hate crime. I doubt that's the case in Virginia or under federal law. If it was, then this could very well have been prosecuted as a hate crime, based on preliminary knowledge of the situation.

[PalJoey]

 

There may be other places in the world where political belief is included in hate-crime laws but not anywhere in the United States.

 

[LYLS3637]

yankeefan7 said: ""Uh, no. That's not how hate crime laws work. 

It seems useful to add that the shooter had a history of domestic violence, which is a better indication than anything else that someone will resort to this kind of violence. It's a great thing no one was killed except the shooter, but this man shouldn't have had a gun in the first place. Sadly, all I bet this will result in is increased security for representatives, not meaningful legislative change. "

Ok, how does hate crime work. I always thought if somebody expressed hatred for a particular group or in this case it was obvious that a group was being targeted it could be considered a hate crime. As for gun laws, I have never understood why common sense does not prevail. I own a gun, have no problem with waiting for a background check. I don't need a powerful assault weapon to protect my family. I think "smart guns" are part of the solution. If gun is stolen, they can't be used by another person. "



Legally, hate crime laws work similarly to how anti-discrimination laws work. The crime exists when the victim is a member of a protected class (race, religion, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability). It's worth nothing that while sexual orientation and gender identity are included as protected classes in the federal hate crime statute, they are not included in federal anti-discrimination laws. 

Anyway, this investigation, so far, has not shown that these men were targeted because of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, so therefore, it would not be considered a hate crime.

[Steve C.]

I make the following post not as an incitement or inditement of violence or hate speech but for the record:

It should be noted and I proudly admire Special Agent Crystal Griner, as an out Lesbian and proud LGBTQ citizen that put her life on the line and was shot (in the ankle) protecting her detail, Rep. Scalise, an anti-same-gender marriage equality and anti-same-gender marriage adoption/parent advocate. Several reports state there could have been an even greater tragedy if not for her actions and bravery. 

I am so thankful she will be fine. She is a true patriot, as are the others involved. She and her wife live in Baltimore County MD.

From the Capitol Gazette:

http://www.capitalgazette.com/bs-md-crystal-griner-congress-shooting-20170615-story.html

[Liza's Headband]

Are we sure this wasn't kdogg...? 

[kdogg36]

Come on now, did you see the pictures of that schlumpy old guy? 

I oppose all political violence, at the very least because it will only produce a bigger backlash against freedom and privacy. In this case, the shooter harmed innocent people, which I have always condemned and always will.

However, I'm not going to waste any tears on a warmongering homophobe like Steve Scalise, nor should anyone else.

[Steve C.]

I totally agree with kdogg.

Any "Come to Jesus" moment about the shooting has already turned into a "Come to Jesus when you need to re-load" moment...and it came straight from 45's mouth, the next day. I can sympathize to a point, but won't shed any tears. (Again, these are my opinions and not to provoke).

Kathy Griffin: stop apologizing and do it again! "Julius Caesar Lives"

The NRA and right wingers have been selling Obama and "Killary Rotten Clinton" target practice posters with bullseyes drawn over their faces for years! One woman got rich selling them! Obama was hung in effigy severals times while in office. If the Trumps want to see "Hamilton" just throw them the book.