Violence Happened

 

God Dammit! 

There was a shooting toward T**** yesterday, and the world feels like it has gone cattywampus, if the world could be any cattywampuser than it already was. 

What we know: 

The Event

The former guy was at a open-air rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A Pennsylvania man, Thomas Matthew Crooks, had "bear crawled" up an industrial building less than 200 yards from the riser where T**** was talking and used his AR-15 to fire off several rounds. 

One round grazed T****'s right ear. An inch or two to the right, and we'd be having a much different conversation today. 

Two other rounds found innocent victims in the stands.

T**** ducked behind the podium and was instantly swarmed by a half-dozen Secret Service members, who ushered him offstage and into his waiting vehicle. Not before he asked to retrieve his shoes, though, and after he was able to raise his head high (WTAF, Secret Service??) and give a defiant fist-pump, mouthing, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" You can see the full video of the event here. 

Sadly, a bystander, Corey Comperatore, aged 50, was killed and another two were critically wounded. 

In the moments after Crooks got his rounds off, Secret Service snipers shot back and killed him on site. You can hear the gunman's three shots and the Secret Service's four shots (at least) in this video. I'm sure we'll have more and more evidence coming out in the next hours and days.

The Gunman

Crooks had no identification on him, but the FBI was able to pretty quickly identify him. He was white. He was 20 years old. He lived with his parents in suburban Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, which is not too far from the rally site. The weapon had been purchased legally by his father. No motive is known. Crooks was a registered Republican and had donated $15 to a Democratic cause when he was 17. He had graduated high school in 2022. He worked as a dietary aide in a local skilled nursing facility. He had no criminal history. At this point, we don't know much more.

The FBI has begun their investigation and found explosive material in his car that was parked nearby. They've conducted a search of his home; results are unknown at this time.

LSR's Thoughts

Sadness and Dismay

Firstly, I'm very sad for all of the families of the victims, including the family of the gunman. Violence is never, ever right. It's a sad day when someone dies from any kind of violence.

Violence is wrong. Gun violence is odious. Political violence has no place in our country.

Admittedly, one of my first thoughts was one that was shared by many of you. It's no secret that plenty of people believe we'd be better off if he was no longer around.

"A man reaps what he sows." – Galatians 6:7 

The blunt truth is that this type of violence has been ushered in, sadly, by the very intended victim. You can't marshal laws protecting high-powered semi-automatic firearms, mount and justify violent attacks on lawmakers in Washington, and continually use violent rhetoric without having gun violence happen. It's that simple. 

Just a week ago, MAGAt gubernatorial candidate from North Carolina Mark Robinson said this, in a church sermon no less: "Some folks need killing! It’s time for somebody to say it. It’s not a matter of vengeance. It’s not a matter of being mean or spiteful. It’s a matter of necessity!" 

This, just after Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts said,  “We are in the process of the second American revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be."

When it comes to you? Well, let the hypocrisy begin.

Will it change the political fabric?

I know collectively we started to panic. This will rile up his base - things will get worse - he just won the election.

I say balderdash! Politically, I don't think it will change much for the election. Yes, this is a great photo op (ever the showman, he had the presence of mind to pose for a photo as he was ushered off), and he'll milk every ounce of victimhood that he can out of the event.

His minions will be loud and feign indignation. They'll blame the liberals, Antifa, the woke. They'll whip up new conspiracy theories. More of the same. Whatever. It's just noise. 

Ear, no ear, or pierced ear, T**** hasn't changed. The issues haven't changed. Our work continues. 

More violence? I doubt it. If anything, security will be even greater for political events going forward. The Secret Service, who was to protect him with their very lives? They failed. It's a condemnation of them as much as all the rest. 

I truly believe that there will be no increased violence. How do I know? It's mostly just my Pollyanna heart. When there are two possibilities for an unknown, I tend to choose the positive one. When it's unknown, why not pull out the stops for hope? 

We must keep the fire under our hope. It will die only if we let it. Without it, we are truly paralyzed, and we can't afford that. Rest easy on that thought, Resisters, and let's pick up and keep going. 

Love to all. 

RESIST!