Mass Shooting at LGBT Nightclub in Orlando

[allezfred]

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/worl...-mass-casualties-as-attacker-killed-1.2681528

 

[once_upon]

 

[Buzz]

Just woke up to this. Unbelievable. According to CNN the police are calling this an act of terrorism. They still don't know exactly how many victims there are.

 

[skategal]

CNN reporting 20 dead, 42 injured.

Horrible. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.

 

[AYS]

I don't even know what to say anymore. I saw a report of approx. 20 dead, 40+ injured.

 

[skatesindreams]

WFTV Orlando news page:
http://www.wftv.com/news/local/poli...after-shooting-at-orlando-nightclub/337929937

It is reported that this is being investigated from a variety of angles to determine the motive(s) behind this horror.

 

[AYS]

As always in the early going, you don't know what is accurate, but Reuters reporting this is being investigated as "domestic terrorism" event:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-f...CN0YY08B?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social

I guess we wait for them to identify the (dead) attacker, and then we see the hate-filled rhetoric spewed all over social media, weapon stockpiles, etc, and wonder what could have been done. I feel bitter and cynical.

My thoughts and wishes to the victims and loved ones.

 

[Angelskates]

Is a hate crime considered terrorism? My first thought when I saw this on the news was hate crime rather than domestic terrorism. I guess we'll get more details in the next few days.

I'm sadly unsurprised every time I hear of a shooting in the US. Unfortunately my first reaction is "again" - these shootings will continue to happen until something is done to control access to guns.

I really hope all of the survivors make it, and have (free) access to counselling. I can't even begin to imagine what they're going through.

 

[JJH]

My thoughts and prayers are with them.

 

[Wyliefan]

What an awful, awful thing. Praying for all involved.

I hear (via Floridians on Twitter) that blood is needed -- anyone who's there might want to go and donate.

 

[Nomad]

Is a hate crime considered terrorism? My first thought when I saw this on the news was hate crime rather than domestic terrorism. I guess we'll get more details in the next few days.

I'm sadly unsurprised every time I hear of a shooting in the US. Unfortunately my first reaction is "again" - these shootings will continue to happen until something is done to control access to guns.

I really hope all of the survivors make it, and have (free) access to counselling. I can't even begin to imagine what they're going through.

This. Although I can see how this could be viewed as an act of terrorism against the LGBT community.

 

[skatesindreams]

I really hope all of the survivors make it, and have (free) access to counselling. I can't even begin to imagine what they're going through.

Some agencies have already made counselling available.

 

[Really]

I have no words...

 

[Lorac]

Awful news. My heart goes out to the families of those killed and to the injured.I

 

[AYS]

Is a hate crime considered terrorism? My first thought when I saw this on the news was hate crime rather than domestic terrorism. I guess we'll get more details in the next few days.
.

As you say, I guess the experts will be weighing in based on details that emerge, but I don't think acts of terrorism and hate crime are necessarily mutually exclusive. Elements can fit both definitions. Some experts agree:

The FBI defines hate crimes as “criminal offenses that are motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender’s bias against a race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity/national origin, or disability that are committed against persons, property, or society.” Following the methodology of the GTD, we define terrorism as “the threatened or actual use of illegal force and violence by a non-state actor to attain a political, economic, religious, or social goal through fear, coercion, or intimidation.” The two behaviors are thus defined differently, but they are not by definition mutually exclusive.

Link is to a pdf:
https://www.start.umd.edu/sites/def...isofFactorsRelatedtoHateCrimeandTerrorism.pdf

 

[olympic]

Is a hate crime considered terrorism? My first thought when I saw this on the news was hate crime rather than domestic terrorism. I guess we'll get more details in the next few days.

I'm sadly unsurprised every time I hear of a shooting in the US. Unfortunately my first reaction is "again" - these shootings will continue to happen until something is done to control access to guns.

I really hope all of the survivors make it, and have (free) access to counselling. I can't even begin to imagine what they're going through.

Yes. This is a good question. Is it a hate crime of the most horrifying kind or is it a terrorist attack? Would they be the same thing in this situation?

My jaw dropped at the no. of casualties. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims

 

[PRlady]

CNN is reporting islamist link. That doesn't mean it's not an anti-gay hate crime, though, it could have been targeted for that reason.

 

[Deleted member 221]

I've been back in the US less than 24 hours, and the gun violence all over the news has been a shock to the system.

There are no words to describe this. Or the senseless assassination of Christina Grimmie, which happened a few miles away a few days ago.

What the hell is wrong with America?

I've given up believing anything or anyone will change the attitude toward gun culture in this country. How many people will die senselessly because of it?

 

[skatesindreams]

I shudder that candidate Trump; and others like him, will use this tragedy for their own purposes.

 

[caseyedwards]

This is really sad and tragic. RIP to all the victims. I hope the survivors get all the help they can. Too many guns with capacity to fire too many bullets.

Republicans can't use this to rally around trump but continue to seek ways to prevent his nomination. People say all the time Trump needs incidents like Islamic terror attacks.

 

[MsZem]

CNN is reporting islamist link. That doesn't mean it's not an anti-gay hate crime, though, it could have been targeted for that reason.

Yes, unfortunately that makes it an even more attractive target for some.

What is wrong with people? What can possibly make someone think that shooting innocent people is an appropriate manner of airing grievances and/or glorifying whatever god they believe in?

I hope that all those injured will recover and that the families and loved ones of those who were killed will draw comfort from the support they receive.

 

[Interludes]

It's being reported now that there are 50 dead This makes it the deadliest mass shooting in US history.

 

[skatesindreams]

The local news conference just confirmed 50 deaths.

 

[AYS]

OMG

 

[chantilly]

I think it can easily be classified as both a hate crime and domestic terrorism.
Although we don't know the details yet, I feel relatively confident that this guy will be a follower of radical Islam.
As homo sexuality is worse then sin to them, "they should be punished and struck down."
I think the USA needs to address gun control despite the s$$tstorm it will cause.
But the real tragedy is that it's probably too late.
The amount of stolen guns on the market is from what I have heard almost or even worse then what people can get legally.
If you want weapons in America you can get them.

 

[Buzz]

God help us all.

 

[rjblue]

I'm watching a CBS News update right now. A local Imam is currently pleading for them to not sensationalize this as Islamic terrorism. So far it seems to be one guy, not connected to anyone.

 

[chantilly]

Yes perhaps we should wait until the details unfold before jumping to conclusions.

 

[SHARPIE]

50 dead? Omg those poor people.

I keep seeing a lady on news updates tearfully trying to find out what has happened to her son.

 

[AxelAnnie]

CNN reporting 20 dead, 42 injured.

Horrible. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.

OMG that is horrid.