pulse shooting in orlando, FL

[HKim]

@Corey

I do agree gun control isn't the main issue, but I'm not sure it's a LGBT issue either. It seems like a lot of news articles coming out say that the shooter frequented the club, participated in activities there, and was on a few gay dating services. Although it may be too early to draw conclusions at this point, the shooter could have been a homosexual himself.

It might be that, in the process of converting to Islamic extremism, he picked a target that he knew well enough to navigate through and one that had a large number of people in a small confined area. He worked for a security company, so he probably knew a lot of procedures necessary to secure a location and that might have led him to choose this particular target.

The main issue, in my opinion, is terrorism at this point. We're dealing with extremist enemies that desire to kill as many people as possible, regardless of whether they're military or civilians. This should encourage us to increase our vigilance as a nation.

[Rival Max]

@Corey

I do agree gun control isn't the main issue, but I'm not sure it's a LGBT issue either. It seems like a lot of news articles coming out say that the shooter frequented the club, participated in activities there, and was on a few gay dating services. Although it may be too early to draw conclusions at this point, the shooter could have been a homosexual himself.

It might be that, in the process of converting to Islamic extremism, he picked a target that he knew well enough to navigate through and one that had a large number of people in a small confined area. He worked for a security company, so he probably knew a lot of procedures necessary to secure a location and that might have led him to choose this particular target.

The main issue, in my opinion, is terrorism at this point. We're dealing with extremist enemies that desire to kill as many people as possible, regardless of whether they're military or civilians. This should encourage us to increase our vigilance as a nation.

I disagree with the last part. This is not an terrorist. The guy had no connection to isis. Weather he bought into what he read online is nother matter. This is about a society that has openly fought the rights of the LGBT community and allowed people this kind of hate to grow. The guy was a nut job. He was able to get a gun and he took out his act of hate. Lets not go giving our own Christian extremist more reasons to attack Muslim shop owners.

[HKim]

I disagree with the last part. This is not an terrorist. The guy had no connection to isis. Weather he bought into what he read online is nother matter. This is about a society that has openly fought the rights of the LGBT community and allowed people this kind of hate to grow. The guy was a nut job. He was able to get a gun and he took out his act of hate. Lets not go giving our own Christian extremist more reasons to attack Muslim shop owners.

Now that's going a little extreme, isn't it? I don't think it's out of place to call this an act of terrorism when President Obama says he believes it should be investigated as such.

The FBI is appropriately investigating this as an act of terrorism. And I’ve directed that we must spare no effort to determine what -- if any -- inspiration or association this killer may have had with terrorist groups.

I think that it's only logical to conclude that if this was an act of terrorism, the perpetrator must therefore be a terrorist.

Beyond that, I think we truly need to look at the facts here. I haven't seen much evidence that the shooter acted on hate against homosexuals, especially given the evidence he regularly visited the nightclub for years. If there was hate, it likely came from extremist views influenced by ISIS. If it was a personal matter, I wouldn't necessarily call it a hate crime depending on the cause.

I don't think we should avoid looking at facts just because they might be unpleasant or could incite action. It is the truth that will set us free.

[Rival Max]

Now that's going a little extreme, isn't it? I don't think it's out of place to call this an act of terrorism when President Obama says he believes it should be investigated as such.



I think that it's only logical to conclude that if this was an act of terrorism, the perpetrator must therefore be a terrorist.

Beyond that, I think we truly need to look at the facts here. I haven't seen much evidence that the shooter acted on hate against homosexuals, especially given the evidence he regularly visited the nightclub for years. If there was hate, it likely came from extremist views influenced by ISIS. If it was a personal matter, I wouldn't necessarily call it a hate crime depending on the cause.

I don't think we should avoid looking at facts just because they might be unpleasant or could incite action. It is the truth that will set us free.

The father of the shooter who killed 50 people at a gay nightclub in Florida said his son became enraged recently when he saw two men kissing — and that may have been what sparked the worst mass shooting in US history.

This was the first bit of news that came out.

Then what followed was a loose connection to terrorism. They have found actual evidence linking this guy to isis. But as a default to american logic. EVERYTHING has to be ISIS.

This was a hate crime.

[HKim]

The father of the shooter who killed 50 people at a gay nightclub in Florida said his son became enraged recently when he saw two men kissing — and that may have been what sparked the worst mass shooting in US history.

This was the first bit of news that came out.

Then what followed was a loose connection to terrorism. They have found actual evidence linking this guy to isis. But as a default to american logic. EVERYTHING has to be ISIS.

This was a hate crime.

Yet patrons at the nightclub said the shooter hung out there for years. He surely must have witnessed two men kissing several times while there. If he was so enraged at this action, why would he continue to return?

While his father may have insight into his son, it is still the speculation of one man. And even he did not expect the actions his son undertook that horrific night.

Meanwhile we have, as you said, evidence linking the shooter to ISIS. And a loose connection to terrorism is still terrorism. The FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism, not as a hate crime.

Unless we learn otherwise, I think this is the category we should focus on.