I have often said that the names of these horrible murderers are remembered better than their victims, which is worse than wrong. This has gone on from Jack the Ripper (an amateur by today's Brobdingnagian standards) to the present. We know Jack. We don't know who he killed.
This essay also discusses how someone so young -- or anyone -- be filled with so much hatred that they feel it necessary to just go out and kill total strangers.
A friend of mine asked this question in our living room, and I pondered his question for two days. I had an answer for him at last..."This guy is 21. Let's not look at what filled him with hatred, but what was MISSING in his life. Was he growing up in an abusive family? Amid domestic violence? Sexual molestation? Was he born with mental or physical disabilities? Quickly addicted to alcohol or drugs? Did the mistreatment he received get translated into him bullying other kids? Hurting animals? Disciplinary problems at school?"
My friend provided the answer. This killer had gone off his meds two weeks before. That explained a great deal.
Thanks so much, Stephen. I remember back in the 70s when a fellow poet at Nuyorican Poets' Cafe said that if he wasn't famous by 50 he'd kill a group of people. He was joking, but it wasn't funny.
I have a feeling that this is the MAGAt "civil war" in action. Domestic terrorism carried out by one or two people, bomb threats, violence and threats of violence at public venues (libraries, schools, churches, restaurants, shopping centers, etc.), and online bullying and trolling. Anything to make lives worse for anyone who disagrees with them and their ideology.
The resistance to reasonable gun control measures, the weaponization of the legislative process, and the crazy antics of Republican politicians at all levels of government only serves as a justification for the levels of violence that we are seeing from the MAGAt crowd.
This is coordinated, but much of is is designed to give MAGAt politicians and talking heads plausible deniability that their actions and words have any connection to the shootings and other acts of domestic terrorism. The Federal government, especially the DOJ, should start looking at the GOP as a domestic terror group instead of a political party.
I’m so sad, and furious, and exhausted. Republicans are so fixated on punishing the shooter, but it could never be enough -- justice doesn’t look like one racist being killed by the state instead of himself, justice looks like Jerrald De’Shaun Gallion spending the weekend with his little girl. I don’t need a future where the worst people in the world have a worse experience, I need one where Black people go on living their lives, being loved by their friends and family.
And if they MUST venture outside of their homes and into places where white supremacists might see them, they can wear special clothes to cover their skin. Including gloves and something covering their hair and face, I mean black people's hair and facial features are pretty distinctive and waaaay too triggering for a white supremacist. Something like a big drape that would go over their head, with just a little netted area to see out. We could call it a...a veil*! Yeah, that would work.
Of course, if the white supremacists somehow work out it's a black person under there and attack them *anyway*, it's still the black person's fault because they must have been *acting* too black or something and tipped the WS off. Or maybe they spoke, and *sounded* too black. Or maybe they said something outrageous, like "Why are you telling me to hide from violent racists instead of DEALING WITH THE VIOLENT RACISTS??".
I mean, they're asking for it really.
(more/s).
*I'm aware that many women who veil, particularly in Western countries, choose to do so. I intend no disrespect to them, their choices or their religion. My snark is aimed at the many authoritarian individuals and institutions who *force* AFAB people to veil against their will.
Saw his name on the news. Can't/won't remember it. Saw a photo, as well. Just by the image, you knew exactly what kind of person he was. Hoping there is a hell, and he has a very special place in it.
Come on Stephen, you know Florida law. If not discussing and celebrating the killer makes even one white kid feel bad for himself, that is a violation of Florida law.
We must celebrate both whites and Blacks and not let a little thing like who was racist and who murdered who get in the way!
The strange thing about what is “crazy” is that it’s often determined or influenced by what is most common in a society at any given time. Things outside of that norm are considered maladaptive, and therefore, dysfunctional or mentally unstable. If it weren’t for the disproportionate authority granted to the folks who perpetually push to stop all progress, and even drag society backwards, I think evolution would have us sorted out quite nicely. We would have a much better, more stable definition for what is considered mentally healthy and what is not. A majority of the populace do seem to have some basic agreements on the subject. But then there are the guns, and the bigots, and their enablers. And whenever it’s a white person doing the shooting, it’s somehow always a “lone wolf with mental illness.”
It’s just so unacceptable that Black people are under threat of violence or murder simply for existing. And too many people do accept it, because it’s so common to see it, or because they feel they can’t change it, or because they’re okay with it.
We are all mentally ill because we live in conditions that cause that reaction, in one form or another. We have systemic mental illness. But what is provable in court is different than what is diagnosable outside one.
A few months after Ax Handle Saturday, a Black woman named Johnnie Mae Chappel was shot and killed while she was going to buy ice cream for her kids on her way home from work. Duval County Sheriff's Office detectives solved the case-it was two members of the KKK who were out looking for a Black person to kill. However, the murder weapon disappeared from the evidence locker, the two detectives were reassigned and then fired, and the murderers got off. Turns out that the Chief of Detectives for the DCSO was also the Kleagle of the local Klavern.
And I learned about none of this going to school in Jacksonville.
Yep, there was a literal armed coup d'etat in the town that was my father's hometown where I learned North Carolina history when I was in seventh or eighth grade. Of course it was never mentioned. I didn't find out about it until about twenty years ago.
No, you can't learn about that in school. It might lead someone to think that there was – gasp – RACISM going on, and that makes White people feel bad.
Fun fact, if you've been involuntarily committed, you are banned from buying a gun. It's one of the questions on your required federal background check for a firearm.
You CAN legally purchase a gun after a Baker Act hold. There might be cases where people are involuntarily committed after a Baker Act hold where they might be banned from being able to legally purchase a gun, but even then, there are potential remedies for the prospective gun purchaser longer-term.
It varies by state I believe. CaffeenMan, who works at a FL psychiatric facility, said that a Baker Act commitment doesn't necessarily preclude firearms ownership. The sheriff made clear that the weapons were purchased legally.
The weapons were purchased legally, which proves the profound inadequacy of our gun laws. It's time for a complete top-to-bottom redrafting of our gun laws.
There are some ways around it, but generally that question unambiguously asks if you've been involuntarily committed. My guess is he hid it as it happened when he was a minor
Possibly, but Baker Act is a three day hold for evaluation and if you "pass" then you get to go on as if nothing happened. This is my interpretation of CM's comments, I claim no expertise here.
When our opposition on this issue is willing to dismiss the teachings of Jesus Christ as too liberal an approach for today's society, but remains unwilling to alter an amendment to the constitution, what is there for us to do?
I get the impression that the screen shot of Angela Carr was taken when she was telling a good story, perhaps about some interesting or silly customer she'd run into. Or maybe her grandkids.
It was so horrible that the name and ideas of the shooter were out there and the victims names were not. I guess this has something to do with notification of next of kin, but very sad. Good young men and a beautiful grandma dead because of organized hate.
Excellent essay.
I have often said that the names of these horrible murderers are remembered better than their victims, which is worse than wrong. This has gone on from Jack the Ripper (an amateur by today's Brobdingnagian standards) to the present. We know Jack. We don't know who he killed.
This essay also discusses how someone so young -- or anyone -- be filled with so much hatred that they feel it necessary to just go out and kill total strangers.
A friend of mine asked this question in our living room, and I pondered his question for two days. I had an answer for him at last..."This guy is 21. Let's not look at what filled him with hatred, but what was MISSING in his life. Was he growing up in an abusive family? Amid domestic violence? Sexual molestation? Was he born with mental or physical disabilities? Quickly addicted to alcohol or drugs? Did the mistreatment he received get translated into him bullying other kids? Hurting animals? Disciplinary problems at school?"
My friend provided the answer. This killer had gone off his meds two weeks before. That explained a great deal.
Thanks so much, Stephen. I remember back in the 70s when a fellow poet at Nuyorican Poets' Cafe said that if he wasn't famous by 50 he'd kill a group of people. He was joking, but it wasn't funny.
Huh. German poets usually die of syphilis or go insane some other way.
I have a feeling that this is the MAGAt "civil war" in action. Domestic terrorism carried out by one or two people, bomb threats, violence and threats of violence at public venues (libraries, schools, churches, restaurants, shopping centers, etc.), and online bullying and trolling. Anything to make lives worse for anyone who disagrees with them and their ideology.
The resistance to reasonable gun control measures, the weaponization of the legislative process, and the crazy antics of Republican politicians at all levels of government only serves as a justification for the levels of violence that we are seeing from the MAGAt crowd.
This is coordinated, but much of is is designed to give MAGAt politicians and talking heads plausible deniability that their actions and words have any connection to the shootings and other acts of domestic terrorism. The Federal government, especially the DOJ, should start looking at the GOP as a domestic terror group instead of a political party.
Thank you for this.
I’m so sad, and furious, and exhausted. Republicans are so fixated on punishing the shooter, but it could never be enough -- justice doesn’t look like one racist being killed by the state instead of himself, justice looks like Jerrald De’Shaun Gallion spending the weekend with his little girl. I don’t need a future where the worst people in the world have a worse experience, I need one where Black people go on living their lives, being loved by their friends and family.
Black people were targeted at...
Tops Friendly Market
Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Dollar General
Other minorities were targeted at night clubs, schools, concerts, etc.
Our permissive gun laws are enabling white supremacy.
Solution: Lock up all Black people so White people won't see them and get uncontrollable murderous emotions.
What? It works for women!
/s
And if they MUST venture outside of their homes and into places where white supremacists might see them, they can wear special clothes to cover their skin. Including gloves and something covering their hair and face, I mean black people's hair and facial features are pretty distinctive and waaaay too triggering for a white supremacist. Something like a big drape that would go over their head, with just a little netted area to see out. We could call it a...a veil*! Yeah, that would work.
Of course, if the white supremacists somehow work out it's a black person under there and attack them *anyway*, it's still the black person's fault because they must have been *acting* too black or something and tipped the WS off. Or maybe they spoke, and *sounded* too black. Or maybe they said something outrageous, like "Why are you telling me to hide from violent racists instead of DEALING WITH THE VIOLENT RACISTS??".
I mean, they're asking for it really.
(more/s).
*I'm aware that many women who veil, particularly in Western countries, choose to do so. I intend no disrespect to them, their choices or their religion. My snark is aimed at the many authoritarian individuals and institutions who *force* AFAB people to veil against their will.
It is noteworthy that DeSantis only spoke against "people" possibly targeting the Black college nearby.
"People" as opposed to what? Cows? Parrots? Oak trees? Meteors?
He would not actually say that those "people" had any common defining characteristic - he would not ackcowledge what drives them.
The Right is expunging a racist history , yes, but it is also erasing the racist present...
I still haven't learned the killer's name. May eventually come across it. Making no effort to. Fuck him.
Saw his name on the news. Can't/won't remember it. Saw a photo, as well. Just by the image, you knew exactly what kind of person he was. Hoping there is a hell, and he has a very special place in it.
Come on Stephen, you know Florida law. If not discussing and celebrating the killer makes even one white kid feel bad for himself, that is a violation of Florida law.
We must celebrate both whites and Blacks and not let a little thing like who was racist and who murdered who get in the way!
How many times do the words "MAGA" and "Trump" appear in the dead asshole's manifestos?
The strange thing about what is “crazy” is that it’s often determined or influenced by what is most common in a society at any given time. Things outside of that norm are considered maladaptive, and therefore, dysfunctional or mentally unstable. If it weren’t for the disproportionate authority granted to the folks who perpetually push to stop all progress, and even drag society backwards, I think evolution would have us sorted out quite nicely. We would have a much better, more stable definition for what is considered mentally healthy and what is not. A majority of the populace do seem to have some basic agreements on the subject. But then there are the guns, and the bigots, and their enablers. And whenever it’s a white person doing the shooting, it’s somehow always a “lone wolf with mental illness.”
It’s just so unacceptable that Black people are under threat of violence or murder simply for existing. And too many people do accept it, because it’s so common to see it, or because they feel they can’t change it, or because they’re okay with it.
We are all mentally ill because we live in conditions that cause that reaction, in one form or another. We have systemic mental illness. But what is provable in court is different than what is diagnosable outside one.
A few months after Ax Handle Saturday, a Black woman named Johnnie Mae Chappel was shot and killed while she was going to buy ice cream for her kids on her way home from work. Duval County Sheriff's Office detectives solved the case-it was two members of the KKK who were out looking for a Black person to kill. However, the murder weapon disappeared from the evidence locker, the two detectives were reassigned and then fired, and the murderers got off. Turns out that the Chief of Detectives for the DCSO was also the Kleagle of the local Klavern.
And I learned about none of this going to school in Jacksonville.
Yep, there was a literal armed coup d'etat in the town that was my father's hometown where I learned North Carolina history when I was in seventh or eighth grade. Of course it was never mentioned. I didn't find out about it until about twenty years ago.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmington_insurrection_of_1898
No, you can't learn about that in school. It might lead someone to think that there was – gasp – RACISM going on, and that makes White people feel bad.
Fun fact, if you've been involuntarily committed, you are banned from buying a gun. It's one of the questions on your required federal background check for a firearm.
Baker Act isn't an involuntary commitment though. It's a hold for evaluation. If one is released at the end of the hold, no harm no foul.
You CAN legally purchase a gun after a Baker Act hold. There might be cases where people are involuntarily committed after a Baker Act hold where they might be banned from being able to legally purchase a gun, but even then, there are potential remedies for the prospective gun purchaser longer-term.
It varies by state I believe. CaffeenMan, who works at a FL psychiatric facility, said that a Baker Act commitment doesn't necessarily preclude firearms ownership. The sheriff made clear that the weapons were purchased legally.
The weapons were purchased legally, which proves the profound inadequacy of our gun laws. It's time for a complete top-to-bottom redrafting of our gun laws.
There are some ways around it, but generally that question unambiguously asks if you've been involuntarily committed. My guess is he hid it as it happened when he was a minor
Possibly, but Baker Act is a three day hold for evaluation and if you "pass" then you get to go on as if nothing happened. This is my interpretation of CM's comments, I claim no expertise here.
That is a possibility too.
When our opposition on this issue is willing to dismiss the teachings of Jesus Christ as too liberal an approach for today's society, but remains unwilling to alter an amendment to the constitution, what is there for us to do?
Replace them all with Democrats.
I get the impression that the screen shot of Angela Carr was taken when she was telling a good story, perhaps about some interesting or silly customer she'd run into. Or maybe her grandkids.
It was so horrible that the name and ideas of the shooter were out there and the victims names were not. I guess this has something to do with notification of next of kin, but very sad. Good young men and a beautiful grandma dead because of organized hate.
And gun industry profits, which must be protected at ALL costs.
And the idea the Right needs to be able to vote with bullets...
This so utterly heartbreaking and enraging and demoralizing and everything all at once.