Looks like there was a good guy with a gun after all

[Sue U]

Exactly on point.

I was gonna post a similar but drier commentary from those commies over at The Nation, which makes some additional points about Kirk's legacy and the aftermath of his killing, but I thought Pennacchia's piece better caught the what-the-fuckery of it all. But here's a link if you wanna: https://www.thenation.com/article/socie ... n-tragedy/

[MajGenl.Meade]

Thank you. Stolen liberally.

[ex-khobar Andy]

I couldn't have put a name to Kirk but I had read and knew of him and his ilk. I suppose what it amounts to is that had I been in a dark forest with him, and I had a gun, and I knew I could get away, I would not have pulled the trigger. If that makes me a wishy washy liberal and soft, then so be it.

I did post in the WaPo comments on the story:

I am seeing comments like 'liberals / leftists are celebrating Kirk's murder' - NO they are not. There may well be idiots at the far end of the line; but rational and thinking liberals /leftists (full disclosure: I am one) are not celebrating this murder. For two general reasons: basic humanity; and basic pragmatism.

I hope that the basic humanity never changes. Pragmatism is constant but a pragmatic act or a pragmatic response is not - it changes with circumstance.

[liberty]

I posted this, in response to his screen captures of Facebook profiles (not me) laughing at posts about Kirk's prior stance on gun violence as the price of 2A preservation:

Karla Mae Bosse
Kyle Carpenter It's unfortunate when somebody lives in such a way that people read their obituary with pleasure - that's a reference to Twain or Darrow, depending on which attribution you believe. Senator Mike Lee (R, Utah) made jokes about the assassination of Melissa Hortman and her husband and the attempted assassination of her MN legislative colleague and his wife. Every day that I'm on social media I see MAGAts death wishing liberals, cheering 'libruhl tears,' and there has been much mocking of Nancy Pelosi's husband's near death from horrific assault and also mockery of the victims of Jan. 6 etc. MAGAt anti-vaxxers by the dozens wished me death just a week ago because I posted on a public page thanking my governor for making the covid vaccine available to me, a very high risk person who lives and works with even higher risk people. You people have ZERO standing to cast judgments in this regard, sorry not sorry. (Also laughing at irony is not equivalent to cheering in my book, the emoji options being limited on social media.)

He posted this:

Kyle Carpenter
Karla Mae Bosse the only irony here is that Charlie Kirk has been proven unquestionably right
And make no mistake the voice that replaces Charlie Kirk’s isn’t going to be interested in debating.
The voice thing is Charlie Kirk rightfully will be pointing out that people like you are incompatible with American society

Looks like I'll be on the transport train to . . .

He's in the military, by the way. I'm sure there are tens of thousands just like him.

If you're referring to the percentage of liberals in the military, this is what I observed: Based on my experience, especially after the transition to an all-volunteer professional force, the military appeared to be heavily, if not entirely, conservative, or at least non-liberal. The best way I can describe it is that liberals in the military were a very small minority. Exactly how small, I can't say, because a lot of people don't openly express their political views. But among those who did, liberals were clearly a small minority. Before the end of the draft, the situation was very different, the military was more of a microcosm of U.S. society in general.

[Scooter]

If you don't want to be called Nazis, how about, gee, I don't know, not taking inspiration from Nazis.

[BoSoxGal]

We waited nearly 8 hours for a delayed briefing in which Kash ‘clown’ Patel stood mute and crazy eyed while a short video was shown and we basically learned they have very little of real substance to tell us after teasing ‘rapid developments’ in the case all day long.

Under this FBI, this shooter may go down as the D.B. Cooper of assassins.

[Joe Guy]

I knew Utah was an open carry state but I was surprised to read that if you have a concealed weapon permit, you can carry a pistol or even a rifle, concealed or open on on public university campuses there.

Which made me wonder, where were all the good guys with guns on 9/10?

[Scooter]

Trump is clearly consumed with grief over Kirk's death.

[ex-khobar Andy]

I watched the press conference this morning.

Several requests for prayers - and, from Governor Cox, one account of an unanswered prayer but I'm not sure why that was. I always assumed that Utah, being a LDS state, got more than its fair share of answered prayers which shows how much I know.

Kash Patel hurried to Utah to take personal charge of the investigation. I'm sure that went down well with the local chaps. It was due to Patel's direction - he told us so twice so it must be double-true - that the CCTV pictures were publicized. I'm so pleased he was there because they never would have thought that should be done, absent his insistence.

And he thanked the LEOs and the guys at the lab in Quantico and all the hard working FBI gents who had been up al night. He forgot to mention that the guy's dad (?) told him to turn himself in.

[BoSoxGal]

And guess what I'm doing this afternoon?

Signing up for an online NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Course, required for the MA LTC/FID application. Also shopping around local gun store websites for the used revolver I'm going to purchase as soon as I'm approved.

Of course I already have my US Army expert marksman qualification certificate from high school JROTC when I was 14, and I learned everything gun safety starting at age 7 and drilled into my head like Bible verse for years thereafter. But here in the Commonwealth the course is required (I'm grateful for that!) and a background check and potentially an interview with local law enforcement if they deem necessary. Given my sterling record and my prior concealed carry issuance in both MT and AZ, I think I should pass okay.

Thinking about picking up a used rifle as well and getting back into target shooting, I loved it as a kid and I was obviously a crack shot back then. I think refreshing these skills might also come in handy if we're going to devolve into civil war. There's a gun club around the corner from where I work and I could stop on my way home to practice on the rifle range.

The revolver is for protection because I've now had my life threatened multiple times on social media by people who Google my name, find my public (required) Bar membership information which includes my home address, post my home address and tell me to 'watch my back.'

I'm not going to be a sitting duck for any MAGA psycho who decides I'm not compatible with American society.

[liberty]

I just saw in the news that the state of Utah has identified what appears to be the suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination.

According to reports, the suspect is Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident. He appears to be a liberal fanatic, though he has not been officially designated as a Democrat. But not all liberals are Democrats.

It would be interesting to learn whatever else they've uncovered about this guy. However, regardless of the details, it looks like the fanatics are gaining ground.

Perhaps it's inevitable, but maybe, after we've Killed or murdered enough of each other, we can finally come to some reasonable compromise.

[Big RR]

Perhaps it's inevitable—but maybe, after we've Killed or murdered enough of each other, we can finally come to some reasonable compromise.

I used to think that, but now I'm not so sure. Most people would much rather just curse the darkness.

But do tell, what is a "liberal fanatic"?

[Scooter]

He appears to be a liberal fanatic

There is exactly zero, nada, zilch that has been made public that supports that characterization. The ONLY things we know about his politics is that his voting registration is unaffiliated and that he hasn't voted in at least the last two elections.

But so many in the blogosphere appear to know for a fact that he was "radicalized as a leftist" in the one semester he spent in college, etc.

[liberty]

And guess what I'm doing this afternoon?

Signing up for an online NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Course, required for the MA LTC/FID application. Also shopping around local gun store websites for the used revolver I'm going to purchase as soon as I'm approved.

Of course I already have my US Army expert marksman qualification certificate from high school JROTC when I was 14, and I learned everything gun safety starting at age 7 and drilled into my head like Bible verse for years thereafter. But here in the Commonwealth the course is required (I'm grateful for that!) and a background check and potentially an interview with local law enforcement if they deem necessary. Given my sterling record and my prior concealed carry issuance in both MT and AZ, I think I should pass okay.

Thinking about picking up a used rifle as well and getting back into target shooting, I loved it as a kid and I was obviously a crack shot back then. I think refreshing these skills might also come in handy if we're going to devolve into civil war. There's a gun club around the corner from where I work and I could stop on my way home to practice on the rifle range.

The revolver is for protection because I've now had my life threatened multiple times on social media by people who Google my name, find my public (required) Bar membership information which includes my home address, post my home address and tell me to 'watch my back.'

I'm not going to be a sitting duck for any MAGA psycho who decides I'm not compatible with American society.

Most likely, whoever you offended was merely blowing off steam.

It's only the fanatics who are truly dangerous, regardless of their political affiliation.

They're the ones you really have to worry about.

[BoSoxGal]

Just saw this post on Facebook; it sounds sickeningly legit considering the evidence that LEOs have shared. Also the shooter's grandmother has spoken to press and indicated that ALL of the family are MAGA/Trump supporters.

Oh, MAGA… turns out you DO have a Civil War on your hands. Charlie Kirk was most likely a casualty of MAGA on MAGA violence.
If you don’t know who Nick Fuentes is, congratulations on having a life. If you don’t know what a Groyper is—I almost envy you.
Nick Fuentes is a MAGA influencer and staunch antisemite. He has influence. He and Kanye West had dinner with Trump at Mar a Lago not so long ago. Nick’s most loyal followers are called Groypers. Groypers like to troll and threaten online and they frequently use phrases like “o Bella ciao” and “if you read this you are gay”… just like the ones etched onto the ammo used by the guy who shot Charlie Kirk.
Nick Fuentes and his Groypers have been having a heated feud with Charlie Kirk for some time now. This shooting MAY be a result of that feud. A case where the comment section got real.
I couldn’t prove this in a court of law right now. The evidence is circumstantial. But oh my god there’s a LOT of circumstantial evidence. I’d love to know what kind of statements the (alleged) shooter has made. And I’d love to see his internet history.
For his part, Nick Fuentes has gone silent and deep. He canceled his show yesterday and posted the attached picture preemptively disavowing any violence his followers may do. Or may have already done.
It’ll take the mainstream media a day or two to catch up to all of this. And Fox “News” probably won’t cover it at all, but be ready to hear the word Groyper a lot.

[Burning Petard]

Yes, Provo Utah is such a concentration of Woke fanatics. And by the way, just what is Stochastic terrorism? My online dictionary indicates it means it is so random, patternless, that it the sort of stuff that after the 9-11 attack was called 'non-actionable intelligience.'

Sort of give it name, pretend it means something, and then move on, unchanged.

snailgate.

[liberty]

Just saw this post on Facebook; it sounds sickeningly legit considering the evidence that LEOs have shared. Also the shooter's grandmother has spoken to press and indicated that ALL of the family are MAGA/Trump supporters.

Oh, MAGA… turns out you DO have a Civil War on your hands. Charlie Kirk was most likely a casualty of MAGA on MAGA violence.
If you don’t know who Nick Fuentes is, congratulations on having a life. If you don’t know what a Groyper is—I almost envy you.
Nick Fuentes is a MAGA influencer and staunch antisemite. He has influence. He and Kanye West had dinner with Trump at Mar a Lago not so long ago. Nick’s most loyal followers are called Groypers. Groypers like to troll and threaten online and they frequently use phrases like “o Bella ciao” and “if you read this you are gay”… just like the ones etched onto the ammo used by the guy who shot Charlie Kirk.
Nick Fuentes and his Groypers have been having a heated feud with Charlie Kirk for some time now. This shooting MAY be a result of that feud. A case where the comment section got real.
I couldn’t prove this in a court of law right now. The evidence is circumstantial. But oh my god there’s a LOT of circumstantial evidence. I’d love to know what kind of statements the (alleged) shooter has made. And I’d love to see his internet history.
For his part, Nick Fuentes has gone silent and deep. He canceled his show yesterday and posted the attached picture preemptively disavowing any violence his followers may do. Or may have already done.
It’ll take the mainstream media a day or two to catch up to all of this. And Fox “News” probably won’t cover it at all, but be ready to hear the word Groyper a lot.

I've read that he made negative comments about Trump and used the word 'fascist' frequently, which is often code for 'I hate Trump, MAGA, and probably Republicans.'

[Scooter]

I've read that he made negative comments about Trump and used the word 'fascist' frequently

Once again, absolutely ZERO basis for these fairy tales being spread in the right wing blogosphere.

[Joe Guy]

[MajGenl.Meade]

It's only the fanatics who are truly dangerous, regardless of their political affiliation. They're the ones you really have to worry about.

A perfect description of MAGAts and their Fuhrer, King Donald the Would-Be III. That's exactly who I'm worried about. And, like BSG, I intend to tool up. Regretting selling/giving away my previous 7-weapon stash 15 years ago