Massacre in Orlando......

[Ultralight]

I heard on the news that the guy was tied to ISIS by the FBI and that he called 911 and shouted an Islamic prayer before committing this crime.

I also heard that the shooter himself was gay.

[Williamsmith]

HIPAA policies have been relaxed by federal decree to help identify the dead and wounded.

This is a massive tragedy all right. There doesn't seem to be any direct link with ISIL, though they're indicating approval for the bloodbath. Probably the shooter was just a garden-variety religious fanatic homophobe.

ETA: Or maybe he was just a violent homophobe, using religion/politics as an excuse.

"When you hear hoof beats behind you, think horses not zebras."

[JaneV2.0]

He was apparently an ISIL wannabe with a personal hatred of gays.

[iris lilies]

He was apparently an ISIL wannabe with a personal hatred of gays.

But ISIS is praising the shooter for his work, even though they put no resources into it.

edited to add:

and Westboro Baptist Church is praisng his work as well, so there's that.

[JaneV2.0]

But ISIS is praising the shooter for his work, even though they put no resources into it.

edited to add:

and Westboro Baptist Church is praisng his work as well, so there's that.

Yeah, the rabid fundy Christians are quoting Bible verses to justify execution of gay people, predictably. The Old Testament is hugely popular with those knuckle-dragging oafs. I don't think most of them have even read the New Testament, where Jesus says nothing about gay people at all.

[iris lilies]

Yeah, the rabid fundy Christians are quoting Bible verses to justify execution of gay people, predictably. The Old Testament is hugely popular with those knuckle-dragging oafs. I don't think most of them have even read the New Testament, where Jesus says nothing about gay people at all.

Are you talking about the Texas Lt.governor's quote?

[JaneV2.0]

Are you talking about the Texas Lt.governor's quote?

Primarily. There have been a number of legislators traveling to Africa to talk up anti-gay laws--that include executions--in the last few years.

[Ultralight]

Are you talking about the Texas Lt.governor's quote?

???!!!

[Alan]

Primarily. There have been a number of legislators traveling to Africa to talk up anti-gay laws--that include executions--in the last few years.

Really?

[JaneV2.0]

Really?

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/...gay-law-uganda

From the article:

Lively is not the only US evangelical who has fanned the flames of anti-gay sentiment in Uganda. As they lose ground at home, where public opinion and law are rapidly shifting in favor of gay equality, religious conservatives have increasingly turned their attention to Africa. And Uganda, with its large Christian population, has been particularly fertile ground for their crusade. Journalist (and past Mother Jones contributor) Jeff Sharlet has reported at length on the Family, a politically connected US-based ministry, which promotes hard-line social policies in the East African nation.

But, according to Ugandan gay rights activists, Lively has played an unparalleled role in fostering the climate of hate that gave rise to Uganda's anti-gay law. "The bill is essentially his creation," says Frank Mugisha, director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, a coalition of gay rights organizations. Mugisha's group has filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit in US federal court, accusing Lively of international crimes against humanity on the grounds that he and his Ugandan allies allegedly conspired to deprive gay Ugandans of basic human rights.