12 June 2016

Mass shooting claims 50 lives in targeted attack

(this post has been edited and expanded)

We expected, at least anyone familiar with queer history did, a backlash against marriage equity in the U.S. Add the recognition of trans folk and you get entire demographics losing their minds.

The religious right regards us, as lgbt people, with utter, visceral loathing. In Canada, these extremists are held in check by the moderate majority. In the sothern US they ARE the majority. Not long ago, Ted Cruise and two other Republican presidential candidates raised their voices calling for the execution of homosexuals.

The only thing about this act of terrorism that surpises me is the religion of the murderer. Statistically, I expected southern Baptist.

from NBC:

"... The massacre — the worst mass shooting in the history of the United States — began when the gunman stormed the Pulse Nightclub about 2 a.m. ET with an AR-15 type rifle and a handgun

                    
The gunman called 911 before the attack, expressing fealty to ISIS. He twice had been investigated by federally authorities for alleged comments he made about terrorism, but both investigations were closed.
The names of the first victims identified in the shooting include seven men between the ages of 20 and 36 years old.
Mateen had security and firearm licenses and the gunman's weapons were legally purchased within the past week.
President Obama called the attack "an act of terror and hate." ..."

full NBC article with video here

from MailOnline:

"... ISIS has claimed responsibility for the deadliest mass shooting in US history and says the gunman who slaughtered at least 50 innocent party-goers in an Orlando gay club was one of its fighters...

Shortly before the attack, Mateen, who was born in New York to Afghan parents, called 911 and pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, law enforcement officials told NBC News.

And the terror group's Amaq news agency said on Sunday the Islamist militant group was responsible for the shooting.

'The armed attack that targeted a gay night club in the city of Orlando in the American state of Florida which left over 100 people dead or injured was carried out by an Islamic State fighter,' Amaq said.

U.S. officials cautioned, however, that they had no immediate evidence of any direct connection with ISIS or any other foreign extremist group, nor had they uncovered any contacts between the gunman and any such group.

read the full MailOnline article here

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