When anti-abortion people and organizations tell lies that foment violence, they don’t get to be shocked, shocked that violence occurs. When Cheryl Sullenberger, senior policy advisor to Operation Rescue and convicted clinic bomber, repeatedly tells some whacko where health care provider Dr. Tiller is, she can’t pretend to be surprised that the whacko shoots Dr. Tiller.
The legal definition of terrorism in the U.S., under 28 CFR 0.85(l):
All the attacks on Planned Parenthood, including the arson attacks, clearly meet this definition. It’s infuriating that the media (as well as most politicians) are reluctant to use the word for such acts.
And, no, publishing the names and addresses of people who make financial contributions for political purposes is not terrorism under any definition. To the contrary, such information is legally required to be public, which is why the courts have consistently denied attempts by various organizations to keep information on their contributors private. Obviously, that’s a far cry from publishing the names and addresses of people simply because they’re Muslim – or because they legally own guns – rather than because they’ve made financial contributions. As reprehensible as the former is, though, it’s still not terrorism.
The names of gun owners in by the paper in NY (I forget which one) meant that people like me wouldn’t have to ask if the kid they were playing with parents had a gun in their house. Since the prevalence of accidental killing by children playing with guns happens frequently, I had no problem with publicizing the list. It’s not like gun owners try to keep that stuff secret - heck people in states with open carry see these people all over - out in the open. IMO, they like people knowing they have guns. They think it makes them appear tough to others.
When my D was little I always asked if the family kept guns in the home and if they would show me how they were secured.
If they were not willing to answer and show me my D would not go to play there.
Most people never objected.
Is there any chance this can be discussed without the political parties being dragged into the discussion, and a mocking of some of the parents who post comments here. Would be nice not to get the thread closed.
Has it been released what weapon he used? I have not seen that anywhere, and usually when such weapons are used that is immediately put out into the media.
Also, is it the use of an “assault” rifle that makes someone a terrorist? Why is that a criterion?
I always asked too, but always felt uncomfortable doing it. Especially when they were people we had know for a long time. Only one person we knew had guns. He was a big hunter. He had them in a locked cabinet in the garage.
Maybe she wasn’t referring to this specific incident, cosmicfish, though this says “AK 47 style weapon” and another called it a “long gun” http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/report-active-shooter-near-planned-parenthood-colorado-springs That said, lets please not turn this into another gun thread.
It’s been released that he used a rifle; I don’t know what kind.
Jym, nobody has mentioned the political parties in this thread, other than in one description of the makeup of the Colorado Springs area. And I’ve made extremely clear that I’m mocking arguments made in social media – not here. CC isn’t considered social media!
Donna, read more closely, unless (hopefully) those posts have been edited or removed. If you are thinking my comment was directed to you, it was not.
So you think that avoiding inconvenience is a good reason to dox people? I can’t agree with that.
By the way, in 2013 (the last I could find) 69 children 14 and under died due to accidental firearm discharge, with another 107 between the ages of 15 and 24. While I absolutely agree that even 1 is too many, it is far fewer than many other causes that I doubt you question or check as vehemently.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_02.pdf
And they represent all gun owners? They are a small and vocal faction, their voluntary action does not mean that they justify any enforced treatment of the majority.
Well, so much for hoping this wouldn’t turn into another gun thread. Sayonara.
@cosmicfish, meh.
Truthfully, I don’t care one wit about the feelings of gun owners. And you are free to call me a hypocrite. There is only one reason to have a gun.
Only one reason to have a gun ? My friend is a dog breeder and has a gun to protect her dogs, sheep and geese from coyotes, so I assume that is the reason you refer to 
Disclaimer , I do not own a gun
@emilybee, your attitude is a big part of why gun nuts exist. When people say that all Christians/Muslims/gun owners/police/black people/whatever are “bad” that just turns more of them/us/you “bad”. All-or-nothing strategies don’t have a great track record for making things better.
The weapon the killer used doesn’t seem to be relevant here, as far as whether he’s a terrorist. If he intentionally shot up Planned Parenthood because he doesn’t approve of abortion, it’s terrorism whether he used a rifle, a shotgun, a handgun or a bow.
Actually when I thought about it , I have several friends and acquaintances who are legal gun owners and not one of them have used it in a way other than the intended purpose. Most of them hunt , some are in law enforcement and also own them privately. Some are owners for personal protection.
I realize that deer hunting is something that must be done to cull the herds , although I am not happy about it ( since I feed them in my backyard )
Stop. Stop it with the gun discussion. Everyone with an ounce of common sense in this country knows we have a gun problem. We also know nothing is going to happen about it.
But this? This is about terrorism. I’d bet my last dollar in THIS particular case that the weapon was irrelevant. This isn’t a disturbed kid shooting up his school on a whim.
No, I’d bet anything this was a fanatic who has bought into the domestic terrorism message about any one of a number of issues and like a cowardly waste of skin took it out on some of the most vulnerable of our society.
And the worst part? He will be venerated by many. Not as many as he would’ve if he got a doctor but by many none the less. There is a strong, vocal minority in this country who hope that people are too scared to go to, support, or work with PP.
“Only one reason to have a gun ? My friend is a dog breeder and has a gun to protect her dogs, sheep and geese from coyotes, so I assume that is the reason you refer to”
Yes, she uses her gun for that one reason - to kill something.
Never said they were bad. I only said they own a gun for one reason.
It’s interesting how certain people do drive-bys to force a turn into a gun discussion.