Breaking: Gunfire reported at anti-Islam event at Garland ISD facility

[charlie and algernon]

Source: Dallas Morning News

A spokesman for Garland ISD has confirmed that gunfire was reported at an anti-Islam event at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland ISD.

Police believe two people were shot outside the facility where an art show centering on caricatures of Muhammad was being held, KXAS-TV (NBC5) reported.

There were reports that an officer was involved in the shootings, and police had sealed the doors to the center as SWAT personnel responded to the incident.

No one was being allowed to leave the facility, and Garland police were still working to secure the area. Nearby businesses, including a Walmart and Sam's Club, were evacuated.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20150503-breaking-gunfire-reported-at-anti-islam-event-at-garland-isd-facility.ece

[AngryAmish]

1. Texas Teabaggers causing trouble again.

[bigworld]

14. Yes I can blame them, if this played out as it seems

We have the right in the US to insult Jesus, Mohammed, George Washington, Santa Claus, whoever. They're being assholes by doing it, but for better or worse, that's what the first amendment is all about.

You don't go shooting up a group of people because you're offended by what they say. God help us if that's where we're headed.

[bigworld]

17. They're absolutely evil. I won't defend them.

But I won't support anyone shooting them for their views.

[GGJohn]

21. And they still have the fucking right to spout there filth

hate speech in this country is protected speech, I don't like it, but I will defend they're right to say it.

[Jackpine Radical]

42. Voltaire's position.

As Evelyn Hall, his biographer, summarized it, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

I'm on board with that. Well, except that part about "defend to the death." I'm not quite that nuts yet.

[Paladin]

127. You Goddamned well ought to support hate speech....

...considering your longstanding support of guns.

And the word you're looking for is "their." You're welcome.

[GGJohn]

131. Have no fucking clue what the fuck you're talking about. eom.

Buh bye.

[GGJohn]

165. Standing up for the 2A is hate speech?

Who knew.

[geek tragedy]

22. MIRT, clean up in Aisle 8. nt

[BojackFan]

73. Internet Winner

Nothing more to add.

[DallasNE]

87. Reluctantly Agree

But to call this "the high cost of freedom" (extra security guards) shows that they knew that what they were doing was like shouting "fuego" in a crowded theatre (enough would know what it means to cause a panic). Or shouting "pigs" at a line of cops. There would be known consequences. Death by cops is not a nice game to be playing so I view what this group was doing with extreme disgust. They were the troublemakers but once shots were fired the cops had no choice. If this continues then something will need to be carved out that prevents these provocative moves from being legal. Blasphemy as free speech is a stretch, after all.

[GGJohn]

89. Blasphemy as free speech is a stretch, after all.

Whaaaaa?
How the hell is it a stretch?
Blasphemy is free speech, period.
In this country, you don't have a right to not be insulted, nor do you have a right to suppress free speech with violence.

If you want to carve out laws that prevent blasphemy, then you start down that slippery slope of suppression of speech.
Sure you want to go there?

[get the red out]

132. I agree

And the same people who believe this would be very angry if "blasphemy" laws included not having the right to criticize Christianity.

[Codeine]

111. Fuck. That.

Blasphemy isn't free speech? Then is is no free speech in your world. Your world sucks.

[msanthrope]

135. Blasphemy is a victimless crime. nt

[Tom Ripley]

160. I like that!

Well done

[Adrahil]

118. Just.... NO

"Blasphemy as free speech is a stretch, after all. "

Are you nuts?

"Blasphemy" is the most important form of free speech. If you can;t speak out against imaginary gods, then you have no freedom of expression.

[The Green Manalishi]

119. Blasphemy as free speech is a stretch, after all.

Fuck that. And fuck anyone who believes that.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

140. I can say that your imaginary old man in the sky is a crock of shit. No problem.

[Arugula Latte]

141. Are you kidding?

Just because something has some supernatural connotation doesn't mean it should be put in a protective bubble. If anything, criticism of beliefs that are backed up by zero evidence is the best kind of criticism. People SHOULD call out others on unsubstantiated, fact-less b.s., particularly when this b.s. is used to oppress other groups of people, like women and gays.

Here: The Abrahamic "God" of monotheism is a sociopathic, murderous asshole (if it existed, which of course there is zero evidence for). How do you like that "stretch"?

[christx30]

162. So when an Athiest says something

anti-Christian in response to anti-gay language, and the Athiest goes to jail or gets fined, thatll be awesome, right?

[Lucky Luciano]

15. If people defending their religion with guns get picked off,

...then they got what was coming to them.

We do have free speech and religion is not protected from that as it shouldn't be.

[kestrel91316]

19. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.

I learned that when I was 5 years old, along with the admonition to NEVER strike the first blow.

Violence is never an appropriate response to words. Even when the words and the person saying them are despicable.

A pox on the shooters AND a pox on the event, its organizers, participants, and supporters.

[geek tragedy]

20. Osama bin Laden couldn't have said it any better.

[hrmjustin]

23. Do you think this attack is justified?

[geek tragedy]

25. Check the post count.

Rw troll, either Islamophobic or ISIS-curious.

[hrmjustin]

26. Oh. looks like a job for mirt.

[GGJohn]

27. Why do some people think their right to free speech includes hate speech?

Uhhh, because it does?

Enjoy your stay, however long, (short) it may be.

[cosmicone]

33. Defending their religion by shooting?

Oh brother.

What about freedom of speech? You probably think Charlie Hebdo massacre was justified because someone's feelings got hurt?

We live in the 21st century -- not the 11th. Please check the calendar.

[totodeinhere]

36. Yes I blame them for committing violence.

They have no right to defend their religion using violence, period.

[Sexy Action News]

37. Are you defending shooting people over what they say? n/t

[7962]

43. Why not? We see it here all the time.

[BojackFan]

77. Free Speech-ophobia..

[leftynyc]

95. You bet I can blame them

Insulting whoever your G-d is IS protected speech and anyone who doesn't like that can either spend their days in a cage or they're free to leave and go somewhere their ridiculous views of speech are agreed with. These gunmen just proved the point of those assholes holding the contest.

[get the red out]

134. + 1000

Thanks!

[Shoulders of Giants]

110. "Can you blame the 2 victims for defending their religion against Islamophobes? "

Last edited Mon May 4, 2015, 10:02 AM - Edit history (1)

So you defending religiously motivated murder?

[Codeine]

112. Because hate speech is free speech, junior. nt

[dem in texas]

35. It was Pamela Geller - the Hate Lady and her Organization who put this event on

I live in Dallas and used to work in Garland I always like that town and I am sick that this has happened there. Why was the Garland ISD so stupid as to rent the building to such an awful hate group. Some people(and sadly a lot of them are Texans) live and thrive on hate!

[leftynyc]

96. And the gunmen did EXACTLY

what she was hoping for.

[Tom Ripley]

126. This is still only the second most lucky break Pamela Geller has ever received...

Geller’s Wealth from Corruption, Fraud; Dealership She Co-Owned Supplied Cop-Killer Getaway Car

Pam Geller’s N.Y. Times profile reveals her enormous wealth including a $4-million divorce settlement, a $5-million life insurance on the death of her ex-husband, Michael Oshry (her married name was Pamela G. Oshry), and a portion of the $2-million sale of the Hewlett Harbor home she jointly owned with Oshry. All of which allows her to live in luxury on an entire floor of upper Eastside condo.

What isn’t as well-known, and was whitewashed from her Times profile, is that the basis of her wealth is a criminal enterprise. Michael Oshry, her ex-husband who died of an alleged heart attack in 2008, owned a large Long Island car dealership which operated a scam allowing buyers to purchase cars using fraudulent identities. Such a scam is perfect for organized crime and others seeking to use cars in the commission of felonies. In fact, one such vehicle was used by a former car salesman to murder two New York City police officers. An employee who discovered the scam was murdered execution-style.

http://www.richardsilverstein.com/2010/10/13/gellers-wealth-from-corruption-fraud-mayve-facilitated-cop-killing/

[Eleanors38]

139. I wonder if Ms. Geller is experiencing a flush of pleasure; you know... down there. nt

[840high]

44. here -

Robert Spencer posted to twitter that ‘Islamic State partisans’ are claiming responsibility for the attack

[Scootaloo]

75. Oh yeah, Robert Spencer is a trusted and reliable voice

I'm just going to take a guess that you don't know who Robert Spencer is, as thankfully he's not a household name. He's the founder of jihadWatch, a bullshit islamophobic "watchdog" organization that spends more time scaremongering and cheering for dead Muslims than watching much of anything. He's got quite a bibliography of anti-Islam screed, conspiracy theory, and yeah, incitement.

I would suggest taking anything he says with a block of salt and a bottle of tequila.

Please tell me you don't follow him on twitter.

[840high]

83. No idea who he is.

[Scootaloo]

84. of course not. But now you do

[shaayecanaan]

94. His organisation is considered a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League

http://www.adl.org/civil-rights/discrimination/c/stop-islamization-of-america.html

[840high]

142. Thanks.

[Sunlei]

129. someone paid? or who gave them the venue free? Curtis Culwell Center in Garland ISD

take a look at the venues events, list link from http://www.curtisculwellcenter.com/event_planning/index.cfm ... mostly ALL school events, how did a Hate Group get this venue? The state taxpayers pay for this facility use.

http://ebms.garlandisd.net/coe/coe_p1_all.aspx?oc=10&cc=COESEC

[TexasTowelie]

2. I've been covering the events leading up to this with posts in the Texas Group

so this comes as no surprise.

Islam debate returns to Garland ISD’s Culwell Center with Muhammad art event
http://www.democraticunderground.com/107824864

$10K Muhammad Art and Cartoon Contest at Garland Site of ‘Stand With the Prophet’ Conference
http://www.democraticunderground.com/107823447

WATCH: Protesters surround conference put on by Texas Muslims: ‘You are not Americans’
http://www.democraticunderground.com/107822943

[Cryptoad]

4. Just think what these Bigots and Hate Mongers can do when,,,

they control the White house, SCOTUS and Congress!

[840high]

47. See #44

[lib87]

3. Oh

Well, hope no children or peaceful people were hurt at this hate group's event.

[Cryptoad]

5. Thug Texans at it again!

[JeffHead]

6. Before we jump to conclusions, Who was shot by whom, and why.

Details we kinda need to know. Just saying.

[7962]

45. Apparently not, JeffHead

[840high]

48. See #44

[Scootaloo]

76. See #75

[mountain grammy]

7. Pamela Geller brings out the worst in everyone and everything..

That woman should follow her buddy Brietbart and explode in a huge gush of hate.

[TexasTowelie]

8. Two people were killed.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Shots-Fired-at-Prophet-Muhammad-Art-Event-302362751.html

Two men that drove up shot at a Garland police officer. Both men were killed while the police officer is at the hospital with a non-life threatening injury.

[romanic]

18. Thanks for the news.

So it seems the shooters were both shot dead.

[itsrobert]

9. Looks like the paper deleted all the comments to the article

I wonder if it was the disgusting comments by the teabaggers or was it because of people calling the teabaggers out for the disgusting comments?

[Hissyspit]

10. @AP: 1 officer, 2 suspects shot outside contest for cartoon depictions of Prophet Muhammad in Dallas

@AP: 1 officer, 2 suspects shot outside contest for cartoon depictions of Prophet Muhammad in Dallas, officer says http://t.co/oIBUz40kIj/s/qREY

[TexasTowelie]

11. Both suspects were killed.

[d_r]

12. see below

Last edited Mon May 4, 2015, 04:40 PM - Edit history (1)

[GGJohn]

24. Imagine that,

2 assholes tried to suppress freedom of speech.

[AuntPatsy]

28. freedom of what speech?

[GGJohn]

29. The right to belitte, insult a religion, be it Islam Judism, Chritianity, Buddism, whatever. eom.

[AuntPatsy]

38. Ok what does that have to do with the shooting?

[GGJohn]

40. So far it appears to be related to the anti islam event at that site. eom.

[AuntPatsy]

56. Appears is simply not good enough

[GGJohn]

61. Looking more and more like it's terrorism related. eom.

[AuntPatsy]

133. There are many forms of terrorism these days as well as far too many terroristic groups...

But I have to agree whomever did it should be labeled such...

[7962]

46. Just read post #12

[geek tragedy]

30. Blasphemy is protected here.

People are not allowed to kill blasphemers here.

That okay with you?

[AuntPatsy]

39. Still not sure what it has to do with shooting

[geek tragedy]

41. Why do you suppose the two perps shot up

a conference dedicated to insulting Islam?

[AuntPatsy]

55. I guess if they could talk I would know as would you the truth of it all

[geek tragedy]

108. .

http://az.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20110314_0000473.DAZ.htm/qx

Who ever could have guessed?

[AuntPatsy]

130. Hmm I wasn't aware this was a contest, but I'd like to believe the rule of law still

Appies in the USA such as innocent until proven guilty....I know it's a baseless belief but oh well...

[geek tragedy]

136. "innocent until proven guilty" is baseless and a cop out when the person is dead.

It's usually a dodge and a cop out anyways, since opinions about someone's guilty are not subject to that standard, which only applies to legal status.

[AuntPatsy]

145. We can agree to disagree.. Far too many judges circling the planet lacking true credentials...

[geek tragedy]

146. So, in your opinion, it's not fair to state that Stalin committed murder and other crimes?

Ditto Mussolini and Hitler?

After all, they never received posthumous trials . . .

[AuntPatsy]

159. Considering the amount of information that emerged concerning the histories of said

Individuals and the countless true legal minds that weighed in, I find they don't compare with the here and now of the situation we are currently discussing

[BojackFan]

74. And boom goes the dynamite.

[d_r]

158. Sorry i misunderstood

I hadn't read this yet http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/03/gunmen-shot-dead-in-texas-after-opening-fire-outside-prophet-muhammad-cartoon-show/

I misinterpreted it that two teabagger types had shot each other.

[wingzeroday]

31. Sounds like

Two socially conservative religious fundamentalists attempted to carry out an act of mass carnage but were stopped dead in their tracks.

[Gothmog]

32. Garland is not a big town

I have a client based in downtown Garland where the tallest building is two stories

This news is horrible

[Lobo27]

34. Wouldn't exactly call Garland small.

Population of about 230k. I live in Mesquite, so I'm close to all these happenings.

[malokvale77]

52. Correct...

I live in the Dallas corner where Mesquite and Garland join.

I am ashamed that this event was being held.

[Jackpine Radical]

49. If your understanding of your religion is such that it prompts you

to kill those who insult it, then you are a menace, and the rest of us have the right to defend ourselves against you and to deal with you in a way that will prevent you from inflicting any more harm upon us in the future.

And I am no fan of Islamophobes either.

[MisterP]

64. yeah, civilized people only punish speech with €30,000 fines

[Jackpine Radical]

66. Well, I never claimed to be civilized.

[malokvale77]

50. I am pissed...

that an "anti-Islam event" was even being held.

I really hate that this is what Texas has come to.

[GGJohn]

51. But you would agree that they have the absolute right to hold it? eom.

[malokvale77]

54. At an ISD?

No. Never.

[GGJohn]

60. It doesn't matter what the venue is.

I'm asking you if you agree that in this country, they have the right to this event?

[malokvale77]

65. The venue does matter.

It was built with tax dollars. Take it somewhere else.

[GGJohn]

70. So what if it was built with tax dollars,

the organizers paid to use that venue, but I'm asking you if they have the right in this country to stage this event?

[derby378]

79. I don't think that's even the issue

One has the freedom to be pissed at an anti-Islam event being held, whether the organizers have the right to hold it or not.

[GGJohn]

82. Sure they have the right to be pissed off,

but they don't have the right to try to stop it with violence.

[christx30]

86. Agreed. A counter protest

like an actual human would have gotten their point across far better. But now they are just two soon-to-be-forgotten dead guys.

[GGJohn]

88. +1000.

[christx30]

113. Plus, now the Islamophobes can say

"See? They're trying to kill us. We're right."

[Quantess]

117. Winner winner, chicken dinner!

But I guess they are kind of right, at least in the case of a few extremists who think it's only right to kill someone who draws precious Mohammed.

[brooklynite]

104. It is precisely BECAUSE it was built with tax dollars that they have the right to hold it there

Because it was built with tax dollars, the institution only has the choice of offering it to NO outside group, or offering it to EVERY outside group.

[7962]

105. There you have it

[tammywammy]

53. Back in January there was an Islamic event held at the exact same place.

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/2015/01/17/islamic-group-faces-threats-protest-in-garland/21935317/

They gathered for a conference preaching peace, and stood united against the stereotypes.

The group, Stand With the Prophet Muhammed Against Terror and Hate, says its purpose is to break stereotypes. A fundraiser was held Saturday at the Culwell Center in Garland.

[malokvale77]

57. Are you comparing the two events?

Never the less, I do not approve of any religious event being supported by tax-payer dollars.

[tammywammy]

58. Your post leads one to think that they would only hold anti-Islamic events in Texas

I was just pointing out that the same place held a Stand with the Prophet event too.

[malokvale77]

63. If you read my post to you...

you would see where I said that I disapprove of any religious event being supported by tax-payer dollars.

Even so, an Islamic event promoting peace and understanding is far more desirable than an event suggesting otherwise.

Frankly, I would prefer that all religions would go the way of dinosaurs (extinct).

To be more blunt, I think dinosaurs would be preferable to religion.

[totodeinhere]

62. The event was not supported by taxpayer dollars. The organizers of the event paid to use the

facility and also paid for security.

[malokvale77]

67. It is a tax-payer built venue.

Religion has no business there.

"The organizers of the event paid to use the facility and also paid for security."

Fine job they did, right?

[totodeinhere]

69. It was not a religious event.

n/t

[GGJohn]

71. And the organizers were tax paying citizens and paid to use the venue

and paid for the xtra police presence.

[malokvale77]

78. I'm glad you think it OK to bring this kind of hate...

into our communities (as long as it was paid for tax paying citizens).

In the mean time the rest of us who live here get to clean up the mess.

[GGJohn]

81. I think it's ok to support the 1A, no matter how offensive the speech is.

You still won't answer my question, do you agree that the organizers have an absolute right to convey their message in this country?

[brooklynite]

122. You'd be just as offended if an atheist group held a meeting there, right?

I mean, it's just an "in your face" to the Christians in your community.

[leftynyc]

97. So you'd be against

an event like the Pope speaking at a venue like Yankee Stadium or those huge moonie weddings at Madison Square Garden? Pretty much all large venues are at least partially paid for by taxpayers.

And yes, they did an excellent job with security - a police officer was slightly hurt, the two gunmen are dead - without the security, there would have been many more dead.

[EX500rider]

154. "Fine job they did, right?"

Yes it does sound like security did a fine job, no civilians killed and both gunmen shot.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

59. Is there a FOX "News" banner asking if this is Isis crossing over from Mexico?

[Novara]

68. Sounds like this was essentially entrapment.

These hate mongers knew exactly they'd receive this sort of violent response. They planned this with the expectation that they would be "proven right" about the extreme branch of Islam. I'd like to see them charged.

[GGJohn]

72. Charged? For what?

Pissing of extremists?
We have in this country a right to free speech, no matter how offensive it is.
FFS, the shooters are to blame for their deaths, not Pamela Geller.

[leftynyc]

98. So naturally the gunmen

had to oblige them by giving them exactly what they were hoping for. And you'd like to see them charged with what? Everything they did was perfectly legal and in this country, you'll never have the right to attack people for not caring about your religion.

[brooklynite]

103. I guess we shouldn't open any more Planned Parenthood clinics, right?

It's like you're asking an anti-abortion protestor to blow it up.....

[leftynyc]

109. WTF are you babbling about?

I'm arguing for EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE. In this country, you have no right not to be insulted. These clowns had no right to commit violence for being insulted, the anti-abortion have no right to commit violence because they don't like abortion.

[leftynyc]

125. After some coffee

It does appear you were being sarcastic there. If so, my apologies but by now you should know sarcasm does not translate well online.

[7962]

106. That would be funny if it wasnt so ridiculous

Charge someone for having an event simply because there are people stupid enough to try to kill the people holding the event?

[Codeine]

114. People like you need to go away. nt

[Adrahil]

120. With what?

Your post is friggin' ridiculous. The whole POINT of freedom of expression is to protect speech that might offend.

[DallasNE]

149. This Is The Point Most People Are Missing

Is entrapment protected free speech. Is shouting fire in a crowed theatre protected free speech. The reaction would be the purpose in both cases.

[muriel_volestrangler]

150. No, most people know this was not 'entrapment' at all

'Entrapment' is when the authorities induce someone to commit a crime they would not have done so otherwise, with the purpose of arresting them for it. See #115 - with an actual legal definition of 'entrapment'.

[DallasNE]

155. But This Was An "artificially-provoked crime"

And that is the whole point. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it probably is a duck.

[muriel_volestrangler]

156. No, it was no more 'entrapment' than going to work in the World Trade Center

Gellar didn't know these people. She and the other organisers did not contact them in any way. They did not suggest to anyone the commission of a crime. Leaving your car in a parking lot is not 'entrapment' if someone subsequently steals it.

[Comrade Grumpy]

80. I hope the dead guys are named Billy Bob and Bubba.

[CBGLuthier]

85. Why?

Is it because you hate one kind of person more than another?

[Comrade Grumpy]

143. No. Because I'd rather it be just another night in Texas...

...than the kind of incident that would only further fuel Geller and her rabid ilk.

[hunter]

124. Is " Elton Simpson" of Phoenix, Arizona close enough?

http://www.bbc.com/news/32582683

[Comrade Grumpy]

144. Looks like he was acting on jihadi impulses. Which is what I hoped it wasn't.

[hunter]

148. I'm not buying that yet.

They could also be posers and lunatics.

[freshwest]

90. At a school, huh. Yuck. n/t

[Marrah_G]

91. The organizers wanted this to happen.

[starroute]

93. Pamela Geller is the one with the "Killing Jews is Worship" posters

The message of those is not merely anti-Islamic but seems designed to incite Muslims to kill Jews. So yes, I can believe they were hoping for something like this to happen.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/22/killing-jews-is-worship-posters-will-soon-appear-on-nyc-subways-and-buses/

[Blue_Tires]

92. What in fuck's name kind of SWAT team is this?

https://twitter.com/geertwilderspvv/status/595057786175655937/photo/1


And when did cops start wearing MARPAT woodland camo?

I like how only two of them have any markings identifying them as "police"

[mwrguy]

99. That' not MARPAT

it's Multicam

[Blue_Tires]

152. Thanks...I knew it wasn't really MARPAT

but that was the closest name I could think of...

[EX500rider]

147. "What in fuck's name kind of SWAT team is this?"

The kind a small town can afford?

I see no knee pads, no Kevlar helmets, no gas masks, doesn't even look like they have vests with the ceramic plate inserts, looks more just like load bearing vests..

Big town SWAT looks like this these days:

[quadrature]

100. Texas is bad JuJu

better idea ...France
for best success..Pakistan

[eringer]

101. Clever Cover for Entrapment

How convenient that there were a lot of real police at an art show available to gun down anyone that came by wielding a weapon. Just think, if there wasn't an art show, there would be no dead bodies lying on the ground all night for Fox News to cover.

[brooklynite]

102. right...and it wasn't like there was ANY precedent for violence at an event like this...

[7962]

107. Some of these responses are f'in amazing.

I think half of DU has gone off the rails....

[muriel_volestrangler]

115. For fuck's sake, people should know what 'entrapment' is before using the word

"The inducement, by law enforcement officers or their agents, of another person to commit a crime for the purposes of bringing charges for the commission of that artificially-provoked crime.

http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/E/Entrapment.aspx

No, doing something that people might be pissed off with is not 'entrapment'. 'Entrapment' would have been talking to the 2 guys, saying "that exhibition - pretty bad, huh? You could drive up to it, shoot them, and get away, I bet ...". This is no more 'entrapment' than opening a jewelry store is 'entrapment' for robbery.

[Adrahil]

121. So... would you consider an "art" show mocking Jesus "entrapment?"

Frankly, I'm in the camp that one made-up wacky religion isn't any better than the next. I'[m not a "poke 'em in the eye" kinda guy, but it seems to me that calling this "entrapment" is silly beyond words. No one made the nut cases attempt an attack.

Just assholes being assholes.

[GGJohn]

123. Take this shit to the CT group where it belongs. eom.

[geek tragedy]

137. "entrapment" does not mean what you think it means nt

[Psephos]

151. "She shouldn't have worn that short dress."

You're peddling the same brand of bullshit.

[PersonNumber503602]

161. If the gunmen didn't try to shoot the place up then there wouldn't be any bodies

lying on the ground. As much as I dislike people who hold and attend events like this, the only ones who could have for sure prevented the gunmen from shooting people were the gunmen. Sure, maybe if this particular event was not held then there wouldn't have been any shooting at that time, but there is no controlling what else could have eventually set the gunmen off. Their internet presence suggests that they were ticking time bombs. In the end, they were the only ones who could have 100% prevented themselves from trying to shoot people who said mean things about their religion.

[Quantess]

116. Oddly enough she makes a valid point.

She (Geller) said Sunday night that the shooting showed how “needed our event really was.”

If by that she means that freedom of expression is being threatened.

[Sunlei]

128. So who paid for the venue? Thats a very expensive location to lease for an event.

Who approved the Hate Groups reservation of the facility?

Curtis Culwell Center in Garland ISD

http://www.curtisculwellcenter.com/event_planning/index.cfm

[hollowdweller]

138. So wonder what they hoped to prove?

I mean I'm not really thinking right wingers really support freedom of speech other than their own.

Was it to rally the other wingnuts from the safety of the US??

Or was it to actually bring on something like this in order to further stereotype US muslims like the ones in France??

If #1 they failed since there was gunfire.

#2 with the help of some wingnut muslims they succeeded.

[Psephos]

153. Trying perhaps to prove we still have Constitutional rights to free expression? n/t

[Extropist]

157. It was a response to the “Stand With the Prophet in Honor and Respect” event.

There was an Islamic-oriented event, “Stand With the Prophet in Honor and Respect” [ http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/garland-mesquite/headlines/20150118-protesters-picket-islamic-conference-in-garland.ece ], that occurred in the Culwell Center not too long ago, and there was a lot of talk in the area about staging a "counter" event. Conservatives did protest the Islamic event (as is their right, however silly their grievance), but, unlike here, no-one shot anyone.

[cyberswede]

163. Why would anyone need to counter an "honor and respect" event?

...oh...in Geller's case, it's because she's an anti-Islam bigot.

[PersonNumber503602]

164. They're ignorant bigots.

It's frustrating how ignorant morons feed each others hatred for each other.

[Extropist]

166. Yep, basically because bigotry.

It's the sort of knee-jerk "not in my backyard" reaction you'd kind of expect.

Despite the (somewhat disingenuous) name, though, the Islamic event actually sought to capitalize on outrage surrounding depictions of Muhammad in an unfortunately culturally isolationist way - among its speaker list was Imam Siraj Wahhaj, unindicted co-conspirator to the 1993 WTC plot. So while there were some very real and reasonable complaints that could have been cited, the right-wing reactionary modus operandi was used instead.