Mall Shooting
I guess, as a gun blogger, I should say something about it. A crazy guy walked into a mall with a shotgun (despite the mall’s signs saying that guns were not allowed – go figure) and started shooting people. He also had a handgun, which is illegal for him to own since he is under the age of 21. He killed five and injured four. He was prevented from shooting more people by an off-duty police officer, who also thankfully ignored the No Guns Allowed sign.
The shooter was named Sulejmen Talovic, a Bosnian immigrant and Muslim. There are allegations from the right that the media is intentionally not covering the fact that this guy was a Muslim and that he may have been living out some Jihadist fantasy.
Despite the laws the guy broke, the Brady Campaign is pushing for more laws.
The pro-gun side says concealed carry kept it from being far worse.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I’ve never carried in Trolley Square, so I don’t remember if it’s an official gun-free zone. But it was considered to be a pretty safe place until this happened.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
You realize, of course, that “Muslim” is not an ethnicity. It’s a religion. There are American Muslims and Bosnian atheists. Most Muslims have no interest in jihad, just as most Christians have no interest in protesting soldiers’ funerals with “God Hates Fags” signs.
So it could be that media is not reporting the shooters religion because no one is sure whether he was religious.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
It didn’t use to be posted against firearms; it must be a recent development. Sort of backfired, if you ask me.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Yes. Hence, me stating his Bosnian origin.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
True, but I’d say that the percentage of “most” in the former is like saying “most Americans voted for Bush in ’04” while the latter is hewing more to the traditional definition of “most”.
February 14th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Uncle, my understanding is that those under 21 but over 18 can legally *own* handguns, at least under Federal law. However, they can’t legally buy one from an FFL. But if, say, your parents give you a handgun on your 18th birthday, or you buy one from a private party, that’s perfectly legal (to the best of my knowledge).
February 14th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Yes. Hence, me stating his Bosnian origin.
Which does not imply that he is a Muslim. Is there actually any evidence that he was a religious person?
Tam, if a quarter of the Muslims in the world were into jihad, they wouldn’t have to hijack airplanes and sneak bombs into subways and markets. My comparison is apt.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Only a mention in an article i read this morning.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Was that article written by a reporter or by someone trying to manufacture a scandal?
February 14th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Can’t recall, will find it later.
Is it completely outside the realm of possibility that it could be a factor?
February 15th, 2007 at 10:00 am
[…] In this post, I mentioned that the nut job Sulejmen Talovic went on a shooting rampage was a Muslim. Then, I noted that the right wing blogs were wondering why this fact wasn’t mentioned much in the press. […]
February 16th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
HERE YOU GO!
Piss off persimmon!
February 17th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
This mall shooting reminds me of the Perimeter mall shooting back in 1990, except he wasn’t muslim just crazy. It is one of many reasons that I A) carry while at a mall and B) don’t visit the mall often.