topic Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case in Community Chat

Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Oznell — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:17:40 GMT

Media is now reporting that a list of specific names of lawmakers was found on the person of James Hodgkinson, would-be assassin of members of Congress in Virginia.

It is not unreasonable, under the circumstances, to think that it may have been some sort of "hit list". Some of the names have leaked out; don't know if he made any targeted trips to their offices or homes before the Alexandria, Virginia shooting.

Those people are probably very relieved that he didn't make contact with them.

This is a rather creepy development to think he may even have had particular names in mind. Will be interesting to see more and more of his past cyber activities and what they reveal.

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

tansy — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:30:11 GMT

It's not an unreasonable conclusion but there was no explanation of why those names were listed. We'll probably never know.

There is so much going on right now.

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Noel7 — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:33:48 GMT

He also had a hate thing going for a former female candidate.

It was all over his FB.

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Oznell — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:34:08 GMT

I think they'll find out more; I certainly hope so.

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Noel7 — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:38:41 GMT

He had a long history of violence and anger issues, using a gun to act out.

He was obviously very unstable. He was also an equal opportunity hater.

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

tansy — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:41:40 GMT

Mental health gun laws were loosened within the last few months and weren't our lawmakers legalizing silencers for some unknown reason?

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Oznell — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:57:13 GMT

These days they can learn so much from a person's cyber footprint, as it were, and he's left quite a "legacy" in that department.

I'm also thinking that a thorough airing of the crime of anyone who contemplates assassination because of thought disagreements may help to deter future individuals.

Not all, of course, but perhaps some. It is horrible when anyone is targeted of course, but to be targeted when you are trying to fulfill your constitutional obligations is an insidious encroachment on freedom.

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Perkup — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 01:14:04 GMT

Clearly this man has been hanging around the ball field for a while. It is known that he has been there sleeping in his car. That being the case, I don't quite understand why someone didn't check him out, given the practice field for politicians being right there.

Also it's clear he must have slipped in his rifle earlier than the shooting opportunity arrived. Maybe days before. If anyone had seen him with a rifle the day of the practice it would surely have been reported.

A shame to give up "fun" events that help people in need. But can we really afford to risk our politicians and other people of interest to "nuts"? I think it's time we have to stop these events before we lose any more important people to a country filled with extremists and idiots.

I say we need to begin a thorough investigation of people who are part of hate groups, whatever their basis. Clearly this man was an obvious hater per his facebook postings and his membership in a hate group. His guns didn't shoot anyone - HE did. Let's get people like him out of this free society. Freedom of speech has to have a breaking point. Even so called "stars" have to be held to a reasonable standard. Enough is definitely enough.

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

tansy — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 01:03:30 GMT

I'm remembering Gabby Giffords and how nothing was done after she was shot.

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Oznell — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 01:07:51 GMT

I was thinking of her case too. What a brave road back she has paved. I pray that Rep. Scalise, and the young lobbyist and the Capitol police will all find their way back in a way that is meaningful.

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Noel7 — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 01:10:00 GMT

@Perkup wrote:
Clearly this man has been hanging around the ball field for a while. It is known that he has been there sleeping in his car. That being the case, I don't quite understand why someone didn't check him out, given the practice field for politicians being right there.

Also it's clear he must have slipped in his rifle earlier than the shooting opportunity arrived. Maybe days before. If anyone had seen him with a rifle the day of the practice it would surely have been reported.

A shame to give up "fun" events that help people in need. But can we really afford to risk our politicians and other people of interest to "nuts"? I think it's time we have to stop these events before we lose any more important people to a country filled with extremists and idiots.

@Perkup

They already went ahead with the fund raising game last night and will continue next year.

Many of us here watched last night.

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Perkup — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 01:16:40 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:

@Perkup
They already went ahead with the fund raising game last night and will continue next year.

Many of us here watched last night.

Yes, I know. Thank God nothing more happened. But even though we hope to live in a free society, there have to be limits on even that freedom. Where does it end?

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Oznell — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 01:27:34 GMT

Perkup, we do have to beef up security, as we have been at a slower pace I guess over the last 20 years or so. But these people who are motivated to go into public service seem to want to continue being visible, and visibly unperturbed in public by the danger, whatever their private feelings. I'm hoping that prudent precautions are happening behind the scenes, some that we don't even know about...

We have to keep those prone to these kind of killings off guard. There also has to be ongoing public condemnations of addressing political differences through violence. I must say our friend from Vermont did this forcefully, completely distancing himself from any such course of action.

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Silver Fox1 — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 01:33:47 GMT

@tansy wrote:
Mental health gun laws were loosened within the last few months and weren't our lawmakers legalizing silencers for some unknown reason?

Yes, just what we need more crazy's with guns. What is wrong with the people we elect, but then again we keep electing them. I supose I'll get poofed for this - O'well

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Drythe — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 01:53:07 GMT

@silver fox wrote:
@tansy wrote:
Mental health gun laws were loosened within the last few months and weren't our lawmakers legalizing silencers for some unknown reason?
Yes, just what we need more crazy's with guns. What is wrong with the people we elect, but then again we keep electing them. I supose I'll get poofed for this - O'well

@Silver Fox1 @tansy

Not wanting to poof @Oznell 's thread, but I would SO love to emphasize your points!

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

RoughDraft — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 01:53:52 GMT

It's gotten to the point that no matter how much background information is discovered in these kind of insane acts, we are no better prepared to either defend outselves or, more importantly, prevent them from occurring.

This is the real world, not a segment of Criminal Minds. Very few of us are equipped to actually detect strange behavior that might develop into deadly outcomes. This particular man, although an angry bully with a "history" certainly couldn't be singled out as a threat or a raving maniac until he actually loaded the gun and started shooting.

Whatever the authorities discover about him or his cyber activity, their hands are virtually tied in what they can do to prevent these things from happening. So far, people can't be arrested for their thoughts.

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

Oznell — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 02:00:55 GMT

I do understand the angle that some of you are coming from. I'm coming from a somewhat different direction-- that of making a point that political violence is a particularly deadly enemy of democracy and speech, and therefore must be dealt with in a multi-pronged way. More and more, it seems to become acceptable to say of some public figures, that they deserve some kind of violence.

We need non-repressive ways of discouraging that, in my opinion...

Re: Latest Development in the Lawmakers' Baseball Team Case

goldensrbest — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 12:14:51 GMT

I think the only change will be they will get more security,the elected officials, the public will continue to be at risk.