Colorado shooting suspect was an Iraq War vet who posted alt-right Pepe memes on social media

[Snarkoleptic]

Another dangerous right wing terrorist with a gun.

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/01/colorado-shooting-suspect-was-an-iraq-war-vet-who-posted-alt-right-pepe-memes-on-social-media/

Matthew Riehl, the man accused of killing a suburban Denver sheriff’s deputy and wounding four others, is a veteran of the Iraq War who is also fond of posting alt-right memes on his Facebook account.

Forbes writer J.J. MacNab discovered Riehl’s Facebook page, in which he identifies himself as “Matt Gonzo,” and where he has posted multiple memes featuring Pepe the Frog, the cartoon that has been appropriated as a symbol for white nationalists.

--snip--

Other of Riehl’s Facebook posts include calling former President Barack Obama a “lying piece of sh*t” and shared posts from alt-right website Breitbart News.

As the Associated Press has reported, Riehl seemed to have a grudge against local police officers, and posted multiple complaints about the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department on YouTube./blockquote]

[ClarendonDem]

1. Murderers come from all over the political spectrum

[bluedigger]

3. Apparently he had a beef with the University of Wyoming's Law School up in Laramie as well.

Lot of issues.

A man who was fatally shot after reportedly firing on five deputies in suburban Denver was the subject of a warning to University of Wyoming students two months ago.

Matthew Riehl was shot to death Sunday after shooting at the deputies, killing one.

The Nov. 6 email from Assistant College of Law Dean Lindsay Hoyt told students to notify campus police if they say Riehl or his vehicle near campus. The email included a photo of Riehl and his car.

UW spokesman Chad Baldwin said Monday that the school in Laramie, Wyoming, was investigating social media posts in which Riehl mentioned the College of Law and some of its employees. The posts did not contain any direct threats.

Baldwin says security on campus was increased for several days.

Riehl graduated from the College of Law in 2010.

https://the-journal.com/articles/79718-the-latest-wyoming-students-warned-about-colorado-shooter

[Hoyt]

4. Some other photos indicate he was a gun-stroker as well.

[Botany]

5. Somebody else likes "Pepe Memes" too

[thbobby]

6. Idiots with guns

Every nation has the idiots. We have the guns for the idiots to use.

[BigmanPigman]

7. Ditto!

[bitterross]

8. Frankly, I'm surprised we don't have more vets snapping.

It is sad. I wonder what the whole story is. I will have to do some reading about this. I have not yet.

[Victor_c3]

9. I dont at all mean this as an attack on what you said

- and I totally agree with you, that I’m surprised we don’t see more vets “snap”.

However that is a sentiment that really bothers me as a veteran with severe PTSD. The general gist I get from people is “thank you for your service, but don’t tell us about what you did or your problems. Your PTSD scares us.”

I joined the Army in ‘97 with the intent that I would be a part of a force for good. I saw our mission in the Balkans during that time as a justified use of our military. We were trying to stop genocide and restore order to a broken nation. I never dreamed I’d be a part of a war like that we perpetrated on the Iraqi people.

I had an experience with a fairly violent suicide attempt. My wife called me a “killer” during an argument in an attempt to hurt me at my core. I completely snapped, cut both of my wrists multiple times and sprayed my blood all over her while she called 911. After that my wife, my parents and the rest of my family, neighbors, and coworkers all thought I was a dangerous person. The only person I’ve been a danger to is myself. I’ve never laid a hand on anyone outside of a combat situation, yet the stigma sticks.

Vets with PTSD who are at a risk of snapping is an unfortunate byproduct of turning normal and good people into killers by sending them to war. Sending troops into combat is something that we need to do more sparingly. I’m not going to say that no war is justified, but those wars that are justified are few and far between. Iraq certainly wasn’t justified in my opinion.

Most people are very two-faced. They say that they support the troops until they are actually in a situation were one needs some real help. Then they turn their backs. Their support usually goes as far as maybe waving a flag during a parade, putting a wounded warrior sticker or yellow ribbon on their cars, or buying a major appliance during a Memorial Day sale.

I’ve found a few people I can count on, but none of them are family or civilians. Some people at the VA really go out of their way to help and I have a few friends who are veterans (many of which suffers from severe PTSD like me) who would do anything.

Anyways I’m sorry if I seem like I’m taking anything out on you. The people on DU are generally supportive and give a damn about making our nation better - that’s part of why we join DU.

[Tobin S.]

11. Hi Victor

That's one of the main problems with mental illness in general. The mentally ill are much more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators, but much of the public has it the other way around in their heads. That stigma is a real and damaging thing. It's good posts like you just wrote here that help combat that stigma. I urge you to write about it whenever you feel it is appropriate. You express yourself very well. I write and talk about these matters when I can as well. I have bipolar disorder.

[flamin lib]

12. Good post. Deserves a three of its own. Needs to be said and even more

needs to be heard.

[malaise]

13. Excellent post

One of my nephews (an Iraq veteran) feels the same way.

[mountain grammy]

15. Good luck to you, I hope you get all the help you need.

In Colorado, cannabis has been approved for PTSD. The VA docs are on board. My husband uses the Denver VA for medical needs. He does not have PTSD, thankfully, but likes talking to the other vets. Several have mentioned the relief they get with cannabis and the treatment from the VA, which in Denver is pretty good.
The sad truth is, considering the high rate of veterans' suicide, it appears if someone "snaps" they're much more likely to harm themself.

[bitterross]

16. I don't feel the least bit attacked. You have very good points.

I was on my phone or probably would have typed more. I would have talked about the way that vets get used and thrown away.

The GOP is the worst about taking care of people after they have used them. They don't give a damn about the unborn child once it is born and they don't give a damn about vets once they return home. By the time you and others have been all used up and then need some well-deserved assistance you become a "taker" to them. They don't care about you once you served your purpose for them in foreign lands.

If you can't find a job due to your PTSD and need health care or food stamps they call you a taker and abuser of the system. When, in reality, it is them abusing you and all the others.

They made a huge show about the VA and how it was behind in care when Obama was President. Now, it doesn't seem all that important to them. That is, until they decide to make it worse and make it so bad that people will accept their solution of privatizing it. Which will not help. It will only increase costs and not really provide better care.

Bottom line. The GOP doesn't care about people at all. Not really about children, not really about vets. Not really about anyone who is a part of their wealthy little circle. We really are at the "let them eat cake" point of the history of this country.

[Victor_c3]

17. Ive heard a great summary of the Republican Party from someone else on this forum

Unfortunately, I don’t know who to credit for saying this first.

The Republican standpoint on any issue can be summed up with two words “fuck ‘em”

Poor people? Fuck ‘em
Elderly people? Fuck ‘em
People without health insurance? Fuck ‘em
Veterans? Fuck ‘em

Etc...

[john657]

18. Truer words were never spoken.

Great post brother.

[mountain grammy]

10. and yet the Justice Department doesn't see the threat from right wingers

but Black Lives Matter, now there's the threat. Yeah right!

[James48]

14. Sad to link this to veterans

Most of us veterans are nice people- and have a history of serving others.

I help fellow veterans as well.

This isn’t a veterans issue- it’s another kind of issue-

[maxsolomon]

19. The Right provides a lens through which alientated white men can focus their grievance.

Last edited Tue Jan 2, 2018, 02:22 PM - Edit history (1)

This is only going to get worse.