The other day I was thinking about the attack in Orlando and I have come to a personal conclusion, just my opinion, based on my observations. This was not a random attack on a random day at a random target by a random individual. Everything about this attack shows that is was planned out in every detail, there was a political purpose also. This attack was not just about killing Americans.
First, the timing. It was during Ramadan, a holy Muslim month. Isis has called for attacks to be carried out during Ramadan. Not only Ramadan, but it was during gay pride month at a gay bar. Homosexuals are executed in Muslim countries for their homosexuality.
Second, the place. With the current public debate regarding homosexuality in this country, Isis realized that by conducting the attack at a gay bar, the focus of the media coverage would be about homosexuality and not Americans in general. Isis could attempt to fuel this debate to divide Americans. This was an attack on Americans who happened to be homosexual, it was not an attack on homosexuals alone. Isis was successful. News coverage has been focusing on the attack being in a gay bar and not on Americans. Isis diverted the attention from the real target, the United States. Americans were killed, that should be our focus, not the victim’s sexual orientation, they were Americans.
Third, the choice of weapon. This terrorist could have simply walked in with a bomb(s) and killed many more people. The choice of weapon was carefully chosen. Isis is fully aware of the debate regarding firearms in this country and that the AR-15 (or a similar type), many times, is at the center of the debate. Isis knew that this would intensify the push to ban guns in general, the AR-15 specifically, in this country. What better place to kill people than in an unarmed country. What better place to kill people than in a divided country.
America, we need to focus. Right now Isis leaders are sitting back and enjoying the political success of this attack.
Mark Harwood
Sale Creek
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The idea that the attack in Orlando was specifically intended to remove our guns so we'd be easier to kill is laughable.
Firstly, our spineless Congress is in the pocket of gun lobbyists, and trying to get them to pass stricter gun laws is like trying to get them to ban drinking water. Nothing could be more futile.
Secondly, when has a civilian with a gun ever prevented a terrorist from killing? Not once.
The monster who killed those people in Orlando was a disturbed and dangerous man who was able to easily and legally purchase a weapon with which he could enact his own personal genocide on a whim. No civilian with any amount of firepower is going to prevent an attack with a gun that can fire 30 rounds in 10 seconds. That sort of weapon should never have been allowed into his hands, nor any one else who doesn't need it for law enforcement or military purposes.
Ray Ingraham
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Thirty rounds in 10 seconds? Mr. Ingraham needs to first quit listening to those who want to take away our personal weapons then go back and verify his own facts, maybe do some personal evidence gathering to prove that 30 rounds in 10 seconds number he cites. That's three per second. I challenge the average person to perform that feat.
The fact is that all of these horrible mass shootings occur in gun free zones, no weapons allowed and no way for the victims to defend themselves. It's provable the attackers made decisions to go where there were no personal weapons when they could just as easily have done their atrocities where weapons were allowed, maybe easier.
Crimes are prevented every day, multiple times per day, by civilians with personal weapons. The murderer who executed a Chattanooga Police sergeant wasn't apprehended by the police. He was stopped by a civilian with a .22 caliber handgun, put on his knees with hands behind his head until the police could get there by a civilian.
Asking "when has a civilian with a gun ever prevented a terrorist from killing" is the same as any other unprovable question.
Vicki Rodgers
Nine Mile, Tn.