I’ve waited till now to talk about the horror that happened in Orlando till now to let thing settle out a little. It seems to me that one. Of thing things that is being talked about is if this was a “Hate Crime” or an “Act of Terrorism”. First off, under the law there is no reason why it can’t be both. Often people do things that are more than one thing. I’m sure you all can come up with examples on you own so I shan’t bother too.
What happened in Orlando was a crime who’s motive was hate pure and simple. Weather it’s purpose was also to inspire terror for political or religious reasons we may never know. The perpetrator does not seem to have left any manifesto tell us why he did what he did nor what he wanted to accomplish by his actions. With out this it becomes very hard winkle out just what his motivations were. To help you out here are some thoughts. Of mine.
From several of his statements the investigators have so far deduced that he, the perp, a deep and abiding disgust of male homosexuals, that is Gay Men, and that he was deturmand to do something about them. Given this it is easy to say he did commit the crime of premeditated homicide and his motive was hatred of Gays. This means we can feel safe in charging him with both the crime of Homicide and with the crime of “Hate Crime”. (One point here is I don’t know enough about Florida law to say if this would be separate charges or if “Hate Crime” is just a mitigating factor)
Now on to if what happened was an “Act of Terror”, as the law understands it. First let me make it very clear that I do not Beale for one instant that a great deal of Terror has resulted from the events in Orlando. It harcons back to the bad old days of the closet for the LGBT community. I feel sure that if this had been a night club for Catholics, or for Backs, or Native Americans, et al, we should have no trouble at all in jumping to the conclusion that this was an “Act of Terror” but because it was “Gay’s” we stop and wonder. This is a debate we should not be having, I say that ANY mass murder is ‘prima facia’ an act of terror and should be treated as such. If you wan’t to say it wasn’t then it is up to you demonstrate that it wasn’t.
We may never know if the purpose of the Orlando Mass Murder was to instill terror in the LGBT community. An, except from a leagal standpoint it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that terror has been instilled and these fellow American need our help. We need to show them we understand their fear, and anger. That we are just as horrified by what as happen as they are and we are going to do everything in our power to help them. To this end I say the following:
To all those Christians who preach hatred, loathing, combination to the LGBT Americans I say this
“Get thee behind me Satan
You may thank you are doing God’s work but you are not.