Shooter targets Republican Headquarters

[Nambe]

The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON -- An unidentified shooter fired one bullet Thursday night into the front window of the Republican Headquarters in Huntington while the room was full of candidates and volunteers watching President Bush’s speech at the Republican National Convention.

The bullet left a small hole in the front window of the building at 1402 4th Avenue but caused no injuries. The approximately 25 people in the room said they were shocked that someone would do that but were determined to continue business as usual.

The shooting happened two minutes after President Bush began his speech at about 10:30 p.m., witnesses said.

"We heard a pop. We realized it was a gunshot and we were kind of scared," said Gayle Adkins, a Republican volunteer from Huntington.

A piece of the broken glass had nicked Adkins’ neck but left no injuries. ..


Find out who owns the media in your region.

[eriffle]

1. glad no one was hurt

However, how do they feel about gun control now?

[mike_c]

2. bullets are useless....

A whole nest of 'em like that, you've got to use garlic and holy water, and wooden stakes, of course....

[Dem2theMax]

36. I don't want anyone to be hurt,

but your post had me howling (not at the moon of course). ;)

[Endangered Specie]

3. Live by the sword, die by the sword...

I mean, these are the ones who want everyone to have as many guns as they want.

Oh so Gun control isnt such a bad idea now?

[iconoclastic cat]

7. And we're not saying that anyone deserves to be shot, of course.

But this is the kind of crap that happens when you allow any bozo to buy a high-powered firearm with no screening whatsoever. I find it impossible to believe that a freak who would shoot into a window to exact some kind of righteous revenge would not have a record of violent behavior that would exclude him or her as a consumer of anything more deadly than a jelly dildo.

[Radius]

45. Right

What about diesel and fertilizer control.
Or Nitric acid and sulphuric acid control.

All are precursors to much nastier things that bullets. Some moron could have driven a car into the building if they wanted to. You can't outlaw stupidity.

[iconoclastic cat]

4. Apt vampire humor aside, that really sucks.

Why the hell would someone do that? That is one disturbed individual. And yet, the Republicans can't seem to get their minds around sensible firearms legislation.

[LisaL]

44. Exactly.

The Ohio sniper was apparently a schizophrenic but was able to buy guns legally.

[Teaser]

5. Civil War one day.

We're just at the beginning stages of the kind of hate that leads to protracted civil war.

Hopefully we can nip it in the bud.

[Tamyrlin79]

6. Retaliation?

Didn't I hear reports that someone threw a rock through a window at a Kerry headquarters?

[Demonaut]

12. mebbe, is this what we have to deal with until Nov 2?

random acts of violence against parties?

[oasis]

38. At a Kerry HQ in the same city?

[AlCzervik]

8. Hey someone threw a brick through the window of the democratic HQ

the thread is in here somewhere. Like civil war is starting.

[iconoclastic cat]

13. Civil war. That's just great.

Thanks, Shrubby, for all the violence-themed rhetoric and mind-numbing images of carnage over the last few years. You've created an atmosphere where violence is now the accepted first course of action in problem solving. Good job.

On edit: Changed "Chimpy" to "Shrubby"

[AlCzervik]

17. i'm not condoning it, i just pointed it out

not 10 mins ago i read a thread about the democratic hg getting vandilzed.

[iconoclastic cat]

19. Sorry, chimpsrsmarter, by "Chimpy" I meant Shrub and his rhetoric.

Not you! You certainly are not condoning it.

[AlCzervik]

22. ok,you had me worried there.

actually i am worried about what this adminstration has done to this country, it's getting crazy.

[iconoclastic cat]

26. ShrubCo enabled this. To paraphrase, this is what nationalism looks like.

This kind of violence is predictable when you create a siege mentality among a population for and extended period of time. People snap.

[chromotone]

46. Civil war?! Did someone say "civil war??!!!"

Damn!, and my S&W is in the pawn shop, thanks to the Bush economy!

And thanks for changing "Chimpy" to "Shrubby." Shows respect for the office even though Chimpy doesn't! :hi:

[notbush]

15. You can "throw bricks" through my window.....

but shooting out my window while I'm in my house????
No exuse for that.

[markses]

29. The window blown out in State College PA was not done with a brick

But with some kind of projectile. And somebody was IN the Democratic HQs at the time. Just the facts here, my man.

[LeftCoast]

9. I don't like Republicans, but that's fucked up.

Being shot at is not cool. Have experienced that myself. Not cool, even to troglodytes who go to republican meetings.

[iconoclastic cat]

11. I must make one point about this, though:

These vitrolic campaigns--and yes, I mean both sides--could effectively dehumanize the "other side" to the point where an already unstable individual can talk themselves into believing that the "targets" are not actual human beings with families and feelings.

[JSJ]

10. self-inflicted n/t

[yellowcanine]

16. No purple heart will be issued, not enough blood.

[iconoclastic cat]

28. Just a tad ghoulish there, yella.

[Gman]

14. Maybe that was the first shot

It may be that it was heard far and wide.

One thing that bothers me, especially after this week, is that I'm starting to think that with all the anger and hatred coming from the GOP that, if Kerry wins, they'll try to kill him. "They" meaning the RW. And its not like they haven't killed before.

When Clinton won in '96 I felt strongly the same way, that they would try to kill him. History has recorded that they did try to take out Clinton, only it was through impeachment.

If Kerry wins he will be in constant danger from these nuts.

[iconoclastic cat]

18. The violence won't be contained by party affiliation.

This act proves it. Cool heads are not prevailing.

[notbush]

25. This isn't a Democrat "thing"

It's wrong!!!!!!
The last 2 presidents that took or nearly took bullets were Repugs.
(Ford + Reagan)
There are those who rather than using their "freedom of speech" prefer to intimidate with violence.
It seldom happens, but it happens on both sides.

[drdtroit]

20. Shameful n/t

[Fleshdancer]

21. This doesn't make sense

Last night of the convention, the President is speaking, all the "big" names are in the arena. What's the point in shooting a bullet in the window at HQ? Granted, shooting anywhere at anyone is idiotic, but what could possibly be the point? Hurting a volunteer? Making a statement?

And doing this when NYC is practically in lockdown is just asking to be caught.

[iconoclastic cat]

24. I have a feeling that you are asking for a logical reason from a nutcase.

People who shoot into crowded rooms do not display the capacity for reasoned decision-making.

[Fleshdancer]

30. I think you're right

I don't really understand insanity.

[iconoclastic cat]

32. Selwynn and I actually predicted this exact sort of thing on a thread

about a week ago, but I can't find the thread.

[jpgray]

23. Rove. I bet he's bugging his own phones again too

Just like old times.

[countmyvote4real]

27. Gee, I wonder what pushed him over the edge? n/t

[Tight_rope]

31. See....it was probably a republican gone mad over loosing his job.

Just like those executives who jump out of the high rised offices in downtown Houston in the 1980's when oil went bust! They just can't stand being poor like the rest of us.

[Swamp Rat]

33. Could have been a right winger trying to stir up some shit.

Who knows, but it should demonstrate to conservatives, libertarians, and liberals alike that we need to enforce our gun laws better.

I'm glad no one was hurt and I hope they catch that SOB.

[LauraK]

34. I could see this coming, and more.

I've been volunteering for 'get out to vote' campaigns, Dem campaigns, and Green campaigns since I was in High School. I like people of all kinds and love to turn a frown into a smile, especially for those not agreeing with my effort. In the last two months, I have had several really bad experiences with republicans. I turn the other cheek and back away but the venom is striking. Now I only go out when I am with my friend for fear of violence. We both have advanced degrees in martial arts but being in public every day makes you vulnerable to backlash attacks if you do have to defend yourself. I not out there to fight, that's why we have gyms. I do it because it's fun and because I feel I am doing something positive for our community and our planet. I'll be glad when the extremists are out of our lives. Their extreme views are 'trickling' down to our community.

[ArnoldLayne]

35. I think they did it

to make the Democrats look bad. But I think a Civil War is possible I live in West Virginia but on the border with Ohio like Huntington. It's starting to get very bitter around here I noticed it last Sunday in Wheeling after the Bush rally there where I along with other anti- Bush protesters and Bush supporters come close to getting into a confrontation but we were pretty much outnumbered and the WV State and Wheeling Police kind of kept us separated and handled the situation very well considering how the police can be sometimes.:mad:

[oasis]

39. "They "did it. That gets my vote.

[Nambe]

40. I find that idea a little absurd but...

I find it very strange that the place wasn't cleared. If I had been there with friends or associates, I would have put them on the floor and drug them out if I had to until I knew more about the threat. Surely there would have been more than one person that would have taken the safety of the croud more seriously than watching any speech on TV.

[snippy]

43. It is odd that the place wasn't cleared. n/t

[expatriot]

37. when will Corporate Am.realize their ultraconservative henchmen are...

out of control in driving this nation into chaos? Now I am not condoning this violence but the frustration on both sides is very, very real.

this is not just partisan politics as usual, this is fundamental ideological divides that involve entire world views and every day life...

[jukes]

41. agent provocateur

is as, or more, likely than a liberal assassin.

[loudsue]

42. Libertarians and skin heads are REALLY pissed at the repuglicans....

Since the bush mafia has expanded government and run up the deficit so much, these groups are REALLY pissed off. I know a lot of folks would assume it was a Democrat who fired the shots, but I feel it's just as likely, or maybe MORE likely, that it was a gun-totin' anti-government or anarchist type.

Of course, we may never know! :shrug:

:kick::kick::kick: