Mass Shooting at LGBT Nightclub in Orlando

[rfisher]

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.

What makes people shoot down an airplane with infants on board? What made the gunmen in Tel Aviv start shooting people out at a restaurant? Or a nightclub in Paris? They all justified their reasons in one way or another.

I have a good friend who lives in Orlando. She said the locals are rallying to help as best as they can.

 

[caseyedwards]

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.

He could be a lone wolf Islamic terrorist.

 

[oleada]

This is absolutely horrific. When is America going to wake up about guns? The poor victims and their families

I read that blood supplies in the area are low and desperately needed, particularly type O and AB. If you are in the area, please donate if you can!

 

[skatesindreams]

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

It doesn't sound as though the news about this will be hopeful/good.

 

[genevieve]

WTF. How does one person create such carnage?

June is Pride month across the US. There will be a lot of scrambling to increase security at events.

This is too awful

ETA: glad to see that a college friend of mine who lives in Orlando has posted - he was not at Pulse last night.

 

[BittyBug]

What a sickening tragedy.

 

[rjblue]

Ugh. If it is a Christian man who commits a mass shooting, he is mentally ill. If it is an Islamic man, he is a terrorist. It matters.

Why is this not being reported as a hate crime against gay men? The media are making shit up because the perpetrator has an Arabic sounding name.

 

[skatesindreams]

The local television outlet I'm watching is being very careful not to do that, rjblue

Why is this not being reported as a hate crime against gay men?

I wonder about this, also.

 

[snoopy]

Reports say the shooters father says it was a gay hate crime. His son got mad when he saw two gay men kissing in Miami.

 

[nlloyd]

Horrifying. My thoughts go out to the families and friends of those killed, to the wounded and their families, and to the LGBTQ community in Florida. So much carnage is a reportedly short period of time.

Agree that if this is a hate crime, it should be labelled as such.

 

[skategal]

I was just watching CTV headline news and they had an expert on saying mental illness rather than Islamic ideology was probably to blame.

I know there are other opinions out there though. I'm also watching other channels with other experts saying radical Islam.

I guess it remains to be seen.

I'm still shocked over 50 dead.

What a senseless tragedy.

 

[genevieve]

Ugh. If it is a Christian man who commits a mass shooting, he is mentally ill. If it is an Islamic man, he is a terrorist. It matters.

Why is this not being reported as a hate crime against gay men? The media are making shit up because the perpetrator has an Arabic sounding name.

Exactly.

The attempted NYE arson at a prominent gay club here was also perpetrated by a man with an Arabic name (US citizen of Libyan descent), but it was fortunately not portrayed as anything but individual hate. Although I bet it would be different if he had been successful.

 

[AYS]

The anger in this world is suffocating. Every life taken in this disgusting way is tragic, but the sheer magnitude of a mass attack like this one is unfathomable and overwhelming.

 

[Fridge_Break]

This is so disgusting. One of my former co-workers from college now lives in Orlando and likes to go out to the clubs. I noticed he likes the club that was the target on Facebook.. he's quite active on social media and I had a not so good feeling when I saw he was last active yesterday morning. Luckily just a few minutes ago he marked himself as "safe" on Facebook. Beforehand I was thinking that with it being a Saturday night, there was a good chance that he was there.

Thoughts and prayers are with Orlando this morning.

 

[lmarie086]

Horrible news to wake up, and we wake up to this kind of news far too often.

My thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims, and to the survivors.

 

[Frau Muller]

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.

Now reported as 50 dead + 53 injured. CNN and Fox reporting that gunman was Omar Saddiqi Mateen, US-born man of Afghani heritage. Family member (dad?) reported that Mateen became upset when he saw men kissing in Miami a month ago.

 

[VGThuy]

This was not the news anyone should to wake up to. I'm heartbroken and physically numb.

 

[Lorac]

How this isn't a hate crime I don't know what is. So horrific and sad

 

[my little pony]

i'm on the train to go to my local pride right now. i hope people aren't scared off.

 

[Frau Muller]

CNN reports urgent need for blood in Orlando area hospitals, via blood centers!

Details on this website:
https://www.oneblood.org/media/press-releases/urgent-need-for-blood-after-mass-shooting.stml

Let's please help, if we're anywhere near Orlando.

 

[jenny12]

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

Wow! Devastating.

 

[skatesindreams]

The lines of blood donors are stretched around the block, now.

 

[Spun Silver]

Horrible, horrible, horrible.

 

[Kruss]

During the press conference, they asked that all blood donors do so through blood centers instead of going to the hospital.

This is absolutely terrible. My prayers go out to everyone affected on every level, the families and loved ones of those lost, the continued healing of the injured, and the healing of those who witnessed and experienced this devastation. Sad, sad day.

 

[ballettmaus]

I was just watching CTV headline news and they had an expert on saying mental illness rather than Islamic ideology was probably to blame.

It makes me mad that so many mass shootings are explained away with mental illness. If this truly was a hate crime then it is not a mental illness. Hate is not a mental illness, whether it is obsessive or not. No one has ever claimed that the Ku Klux Klan are a bunch of mentally ill. Why do those who kill out of hate suddenly "become" mentally ill? I find that saying it's mental illness is always an attempt at excusing the crime. In my opinion, there is no excuse. Ever.

My heart goes out to the families!

This year is just so crazy and heart-breaking

 

[Fan123]

I don't think this has anything to do with gun control, but a hate crime against the LGBT community AND terrorism from a radical Islamic individual. Violence that is related to radical Islamic ideology is not limited to an international group, a directive from any terrorist groups, etc. The killer is reportedly a US citizen, with ancestry from Afghanistan. The FBI already knows there are many radical Islamists living across the country. We will know more through the killer's computer, phone and other communications in the days to come.

 

[Buzz]

Cannot imagine the pain of a mother looking for her missing child.

 

[floridaice]

Reports say the shooters father says it was a gay hate crime. His son got mad when he saw two gay men kissing in Miami.

And he drove to Orlando from Port St Lucie because he saw someone in Miami kissing? His parents sound clueless to who their son was.

 

[Jammers]

Sounds like the religion of peace has struck again with it's barbaric 7th century mentality.

 

[skatesindreams]

Sounds like the religion of peace has struck again with it's barbaric 7th century mentality.

Comments such as these are not helpful.