The purpose of this blog is examine and refine the concept by profiling Jared Lee Loughner
Ok, first off this blog is not accusing anyone of being an assassin. Therefore, don’t get your knickers in a bunch. This blog is kind of like a Tom Clancy deal. A Tom Clancy quote “I've made up stuff that's turned out to be real, that's the spooky part.”
All the experts start off their essays and articles with the statement “there is no profile for an assassin". However, there appears to be some common traits. One of them is that a lot of the assassins have kept diaries. This brings me to the concept that the next assassin will be a blogger on a “social network” site
IN THE REAL WORLD
A single Male between 21 – 68 years old with a slight physical build
Jared Lee Loughner was 22 years old - Police said they were also looking for a second suspect, a white male aged 50, but declined to reveal his identity
Education: Many different schools with average or below grades
Sorenson doesn't recall if he ever made any threats or uttered political statements but he was very disruptive, she said. He was asked to leave the pre-algebra class several times and eventually was barred from class, said Sorenson, a Tucson resident.
Another Pima classmate, Lydian Ali, said Loughner would frequently laugh aloud to himself during the advanced-poetry class they attended. Only about 16 people were in the class, so Loughner's behavior stood out, Ali said.
Prior military history or an avid hunter
The reports of the shooting indicate that he was at least a marksman
In a YouTube video dated Dec. 15, titled "Introduction: Jared Loughner" the accused gunman describes himself as a U.S. military recruit who had applied to join the Army. The Army, however, said it rejected Lougher as a recruit in 2008.
First Sgt. Brian Homme, who oversees Army recruiting in Tucson, said Loughner applied to enlist in December 2008 and was sent to Phoenix to take a test and physical. But "he was found to be unqualified so he never joined the Army," Homme said
[edit] Failed the drug test
He’s criminal record would be drunk and disorderly stuff
In October 2007, Loughner was cited by the Pima County Sheriff's Department for possession of drug paraphernalia, a charge that was dismissed in November 2007 when he completed a diversion program.
One year later, in October 2008, Loughner was charged with a "local charge" in Marana Municipal Court, that charge was also dismissed following the completion of a diversion program in March 2009.
Works as a busboy or dishwasher (Mom and Pop Diners)
Appears he did not have a work history. During the Tucson Festival of Books when he was a volunteer
[edit] Loughner also jumped from paid job to job because he couldn't get along with co-workers, according to the close high school friend who requested anonymity. Employers included a Quiznos sandwich shop and Banana Republic, the friend said.
[edit] In the online forum, Mr. Loughner wrote that he was having trouble landing a job because of his work history and criminal record. He explained that he had had five "terminations," listing Peter Piper Pizza, "Chineese" fast food, Red Robin, Quiznos and Eddie Bauer.
[edit] The online-forum messages exhibit a growing frustration that, at 22 years of age, Mr. Loughner couldn't land a minimum-wage job and was spurned by women. By May 15, he wrote, he hadn't had a paycheck in six months. A month later, he wrote that he had submitted 65 applications, yet "no interview."
http://tinyurl.com/4apbztv
No fix address, moves around and sometimes lives in a van.
He lived with his parents, Amy and Randy Loughner
Has collected unemployment in different states
no data
He is a loner and talks to himself. People don’t want to talk to him.
Another Pima classmate, Lydian Ali, said Loughner would frequently laugh aloud to himself during the advanced-poetry class they attended. Only about 16 people were in the class, so Loughner's behavior stood out, Ali said. "It almost seemed like he was on his own planet, because his comments would have nothing to do with what we were talking about," Ali said.
Rebels against authority and tradition
A series of videos on YouTube by Jared Lee Loughner - spell out a variety of grievances. One of the videos has a title sequence that reads "My Final Thoughts: Jared Lee Loughner!" The videos contain a series of sometimes incoherent grievances involving currencies, grammar, the Constitution and religion.
The college said that from February to September, Loughner had five contacts with college police for disrupting classrooms and the library. It said he was prohibited from returning to the college.
He would have some mental health issues. This would include depression and violence.
There was evidence of recent trouble, though. Mr. Loughner, 22, was suspended in late September from Pima Community College, where he had been attending classes, because the school became aware of a disturbing YouTube video. Mr. Loughner voluntarily withdrew from the College on Oct. 4. The campus police and other officials viewed it and “found it very disturbing,” he said. “If he wanted to come back to the school, he would have needed a mental health clearance,” Mr. Schwalbach said.
Some drug and alcohol use
Caitie Parker, a singer-songwriter from Arizona, said she had known Loughner when they were both teenagers and that he dropped out of school in 2006 after developing alcohol poisoning
Older and younger siblings
Neighbors of Mr. Loughner in Orangewood Estates, a middle-class subdivision of single-family homes north of Tucson, said he lived with his parents, Amy and Randy Loughner, and they did not believe he had siblings
A hero type profile picture with a red, white and blue background
An attention whore whose blogs will scream “HATE”
despairing messages.
"WOW! I'm glad i didn't kill myself. I'll see you on National T.v.! This is foreshadow .... why doesn't anyone talk to me?.." he posted on MySpace Dec. 14.
On Dec. 13, he wrote: "I don't feel good: I'm ready to kill a police officer! I can say it."
Unusually, the biography section of the MySpace page was completed in the past tense. It said: "My favorite interest was reading, and I studied grammar."
Vents a lot; blogs about past grievances and personal problems
“If I’m not receiving the purchase from a payment then I’m a victim of fraud,” he wrote, referencing the school, in one of his many confusing phrases posted in videos that he appears to have made.
Blogs about extremist ideas and has links to radical groups
"I can't trust the current government" - Referring to District 8, the congressional district served by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Loughner wrote, "The majority of people who reside in District 8 are illiterate — hilarious. I don't control your English grammar structure."
And he adds, "I can't trust the current government because of fabrications. The government is implying mind control and brainwash on the people by controlling grammar."
Flames other peoples blogs and is block/deleted by many bloggers
“He was a political radical & met Giffords once before in ’07, asked her a question & he told me she was ‘stupid & unintelligent,’ ” she wrote.
Would have more than one blog posts about how he would fix the world’s problems
"I know who's listening: Government Officials, and the People," the author wrote. "Nearly all the people, who don't know this accurate information of a new currency, aren't aware of mind control and brainwash methods. If I have my civil rights, then this message wouldn't have happen (sic)."
His contact list would include many female blogging bots
don't know - his Myspace account has been removed
Links and blogs about weapons and assassins
His YouTube page also listed a series of favorite books. Some were novels about political dystopias — “Animal Farm” byGeorge Orwell, “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley, “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury, and “We the Living” by Ayn Rand.
Others were about falling into fantasy worlds — “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass” by Lewis Carroll; “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum; “Peter Pan” by J. M. Barrie; and “Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift.
Still others were a range of political tracts: “The Communist Manifesto” by Karl Marx, “Mein Kampf” by Adolph Hitler, “The Republic” and “Meno” by Plato.
One was a novel about a sane man who is sent to an insane asylum: “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Ken Kesey.
Yea I'm aware of that GS...The bottom line here is that regardless of speculation and conjecture ultimately only time will unravel the bottom line in this sinister act of pointless insanity. I firmly believe there's much more here than meets the eye and further the MSM if confronted with information contradictory to their agenda will invariably spin or omit...We may never know the truth.
Hmmmm......wish I had looked at this before I posted mine. I am going to agree with goodstuff and Tru.....I think both of you are about 80% dead on. I made my assessment in my BLOG on the same topic based on years of reading material from the FBI's behavioral science unit (the profilers) and the knowledge from those readings that almost NO murderous rampage like this has anything to do with a reality outside of the killers head. It is despicable how the left has tried to link this tragedy to politics.
Here is an individual who has a criminal record of drugs and alcohol. Who is prone to outbursts to the point he was kicked out of college. Has a known Youtube channel that is threatening and shows mental instability yet because the state of Arizona has lax gun laws with no permits needed and little to no background checks for gun purchases. In fact in Arizona only a quick check is needed for licensed dealers and no check is required from unlicensed sales. Which means someone can list a gun for sale in the local paper, internet or whatever and sell he gun to whomever hands them the cash, no harm no foul. Compound that with the right to carry concealed and this guy had the ability to walk through the crowd with an fully loaded extended clip and unload it when he had the opportunity.
Here is an individual who has a criminal record of drugs and alcohol. Who is prone to outbursts to the point he was kicked out of college. Has a known Youtube channel that is threatening and shows mental instability yet because the state of Arizona has lax gun laws with no permits needed and little to no background checks for gun purchases. In fact in Arizona only a quick check is needed for licensed dealers and no check is required from unlicensed sales. Which means someone can list a gun for sale in the local paper, internet or whatever and sell he gun to whomever hands them the cash, no harm no foul. Compound that with the right to carry concealed and this guy had the ability to walk through the crowd with an fully loaded extended clip and unload it when he had the opportunity.
Or we accept these types of things as the cost of doing business in a free society. It is a foolish notion to assume that all of the heavy lifting was done by our forefathers and that we can now rest on our laurels, rather we have to ask ourselves how much freedom is too much, where do we draw the lines and are we willing to accept the consequences for those decisions. Instead of a thought out approach to how we address such problems, far too often they are instead paid lip service in sound bites, whether it be telling citizens to "reload" or screaming "fascist" or "socialist" at those whose politics differ, simply because it is easier than actual thinking.
whether it be telling citizens to "reload" or screaming "fascist" or "socialist" at those whose politics differ, simply because it is easier than actual thinking.
let's not forgot the other side of the isle throws plenty of names too. This kid is not affiliated with any group, his rantings don't make much sense. Maybe he just wanted to be famous. Remember John Hinkley, who shot Pres. Reagan and others, he was doing it to prove his love to Jodie Foster. Sick people do sick things and sometimes there is no rhyme of reason.
let's not forgot the other side of the isle throws plenty of names too. This kid is not affiliated with any group, his rantings don't make much sense. Maybe he just wanted to be famous. Remember John Hinkley, who shot Pres. Reagan and others, he was doing it to prove his love to Jodie Foster. Sick people do sick things and sometimes there is no rhyme of reason.
theny why in heavens name give them guns ?????????????????
If someone really wants to kill someone, they will find a way. If it wasn't a gun, it could be a homemade bomb or something else.
Who egged who one? Where did he mention anything on his social network about acting on what other politicians said? Again, people making emotional statements without knowing all the facts.
looks like in 1994 Judge Roll (one of the victims) found that background check provisions of Brady Law were unconstititonal http://bit.ly/gqCBlx
In Arizona, U.S. District Court Judge John Roll has become the third federal judge to agree that part of the Brady Law violates the Tenth Amendment. He is the first to say that part of the Brady Law also violates the Fifth Amendment.
Judge Roll's opinion does not knock out the waiting period for handgun purchases, but it does strike at the very concept of the federal government requiring local law enforcement officers to conduct background checks.
Youtube channel that is threatening and shows mental instability yet because the state of Arizona has lax gun laws with no permits needed and little to no background checks for gun purchases. In fact in Arizona only a quick check is needed for licensed dealers and no check is required from unlicensed sales
But in his mind he may have had the backing of others. Gifford commented on the dangers of a map with cross hairs over districts and the names of political candidates saying Take Then Out. In her own words this sends a bad message. And her opponent in the election having a fundraiser at $50 a pop you could take a shot at Giffords picture with a fully automatic M16 to "take her out". In hindsight Palin took down the site with her map. Do you think after it happened both may have realized they may have contributed to a sick mind?
Sarah is an easy target for this because of her frequent reference to guns/gunsights, etc... but it's also likely the infulence of many others including the Tea Party which "may" have set his mind to this nasty deed. A sane person would not be so easily swayed.
no - he was sick in the head all ready - big stretch to blame it on Sarah Palin
then why did she pull her map off her site with a cross hair over the district in Arizona and named Gifford as one to be "taken out" and the political website of her opponent in the elections who held a fundraiser to fire an M16 at Gifford to "take her out" has also been taken down "out of respect"? Gifford herself in March as a response to Palin's map "We're on Sarah Palin's targeted list," Giffords said at the time. "The way that she has it depicted has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they've got to realize there are consequences to that action."
I don't think it's that big of a stretch to say that Palin put thoughts into peoples heads. Her "don't retreat...reload" comments make it pretty clear. I know she's teflon and people will defend her to the core. I think she went too far too many times.
I have been saying for months that this country is filled with lies and hatred and the talking heads are fueling it which in turn is causing some of the crazies to feel they are justified and responding to a higher power. The fact that this happened in Arizona doesn't suprise me. I have said over and over it was coming there.
I have no issue with your blog it is good. the issue I have is that the profile fits most people in the country in one form or another. Including me. What I am getting a kick out of is the finger being pointed at Conservative speakers. I can come up with a long list of liberal/progressive speakers that say and do the exact same things against the right. This guy was/is a nut case. If we locked up everyone who said something, weird, obnoxious, anti-social, anti-government we would all be in jail. thankfully these nut cases are few and far between.
but it's also likely the infulence of many others including the Tea Party which "may" have set his mind to this nasty deed.
“We need to realize that the rhetoric, and the firing people up and for example, we’re on Sarah Palin’s ‘targeted’ list, but the thing is, the way she has it depicted, we’re in the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they’ve gotta realize that there are consequences to that action.”~~U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords
Love the work you have put into this profile. But I'm not fully convinced that he hasn't planted a profile to appear insane. He was obviously not going to go out in martyr fashion and to me it looks as if there was a certain amount of planning involved. My first clue was the fact that his videos had been posted just recently and were all directed toward a provoked response.
let's not forgot the other side of the isle throws plenty of names too. This kid is not affiliated with any group, his rantings don't make much sense. Maybe he just wanted to be famous. Remember John Hinkley, who shot Pres. Reagan and others, he was doing it to prove his love to Jodie Foster. Sick people do sick things and sometimes there is no rhyme of reason.
I am not singling out any particular ideology, plenty of the militant rhetoric gets used and reused by whichever side whenever it's convenient. The fact that anyone can use it with a certain amount of success I would argue says less about user and more about the electorate in general.
Yes, I most certainly agree that you could say violent video games or violent television ... "cause violence".... BUT most likely that violence is not directed againt politicians or government, just violence in general (still a bad thing). Violent video games just make violence seem acceptable and of course that's harmful to society. . . . It's when people of Political extremes (Palin, Beck, etc) promote violence against those who have different political or moral views, thats' when attacks on political figures occur. I would hope American is more civilized than places like Somolia and would/should refrain from promoting or suggesting violence (like Palin, Beck, Limbaugh, etc do). Youtube - Beck
I think the violent video games and television programs build up an immunity and blurr the line between reality and fiction but they don't make people commit an act of violence. It just takes on a surreal appearance when they commit the act.
can't help but think he did plan it - the "signs" were there
Investigators said they carried out a search warrant at Jared Loughner's home and seized an envelope from a safe with messages such as "I planned ahead," ''My assassination" and the name "Giffords" next to what appears to be the man's signature. He allegedly purchased the Glock pistol used in the attack in November at Sportsman's Warehouse in Tucson.
I am not sure that gun laws have anything to do with this other then a criminal back ground check should have been made which does not stop people from having guns illegally. If more people had guns on them perhaps someone would of put a bullet in his head and stopped the killing spree. As for this post claiming he was a marksman, I doubt that. A marksman would of killed the intended target then cleared out. Not kill 8 innocent people and wound 11 more.
I am not sure how this fits in the big profiling picture but he was on her list
Court documents also show that Loughner had contact with Giffords in the past. Other evidence included a letter addressed to him from Giffords' congressional stationery in which she thanked him for attending a "Congress on your Corner" event at a mall in Tucson in 2007.
Not sure about this but they are looking for a second man, who seems hard to find
An unidentified man who authorities earlier said might have acted as an accomplice was cleared Sunday of any involvement. Pima County sheriff's deputy Jason Ogan told The Associated Press on Sunday that the man was a cab driver who drove the gunman to the grocery store outside of which the shooting occurred.
I am not sure that gun laws have anything to do with this other then a criminal back ground check should have been made which does not stop people from having guns illegally. If more people had guns on them perhaps someone would of put a bullet in his head and stopped the killing spree. As for this post claiming he was a marksman, I doubt that. A marksman would of killed the intended target then cleared out. Not kill 8 innocent people and wound 11 more.
read this good article about how guns don't matter LOL and fun laws have everything to do about this
goodstuff4u wrote on Jan 10, '11, edited on Jan 10, '11
exploring the violent speech and tea party connections and how this would fit in a profile
first off; here is a FOX NEWS link that has started this stuff.
This is an internal memo obtained by Fox News put out by DHS compiling facts known so far about the case - new - shooter's mother worked for Pima board of supervisers and the suspected anti-Semitic motivation of the shooter.
Intervention by someone?* no direct connection - but strong suspicion is being directed at AmRen / American Renaissance. Suspect is possibly linked to this group. (through videos posted on his myspace and YouTube account.). The group’s ideology is anti government, anti immigration, anti ZOG (Zionist Occupational Government), anti Semitic. Gabrielle Gifford is the first Jewish female elected to such a high position in the US government. She was also opposite this group’s ideology when it came to immigration debate
this was generated by FOXNEWS and the Department of Homeland Security - WTF comes to mind
this is one way to corrupt an online profile
There is no evidence that Loughner was a Sarah Palin fan. There is no evidence that he was associated with the Tea Party or that he was concerned with immigration. Instead, there is a steadily growing heap of evidence that Jared Loughner was suffering from a mental illness
Some more examples of violent speech by influential people.
The WORDS I write, they are what they are. My WORDS would be ill-suited to feed to young minds at university. My WORDS would not sell Coca-Cola. My WORDS need a hot meal, a shower, and a shave.
My WORDS are unwanted. Spray-painted in crude lettering across your front sidewalk sometime during the night. Reminders that you sold your soul for cable TV and an iPhone and the Devil comes tomorrow to collect.
I was young once. I was young and I was naïve and I did not know how the world worked. I did not know how WORDS worked. In my youth and my naïveté I believed I would free WORDS. I believed I would free YOU. I would be a Freedom Fighter.
My weapon would be TRUTH.
Don’t laugh. I was young and I was naïve and I did not know how WORDS worked.
Now I am old, and I am not a WORD Freedom Fighter. I am a WORD Terrorist. I’m the reason you get X-rayed before you go into a classroom. “Check her shoes, check her shoes! I bet good money that bitch is smuggling in explosive scraps of TRUTH!”
the cost of doing business in a free society. It is a foolish notion to assume that all of the heavy lifting was done by our forefathers and that we can now rest on our laurels, rather we have to ask ourselves how much freedom is too much, where do we draw the lines and are we willing to accept the consequences for those decisions.
It turns out the First Amendment is a second-rate issue to many of those nearing their own adult independence, according to a study of high school attitudes released Monday.
The original amendment to the Constitution is the cornerstone of the way of life in the United States, promising citizens the freedoms of religion, speech, press and assembly.
Yet, when told of the exact text of the First Amendment, more than one in three high school students said it goes “too far” in the rights it guarantees. Only half of the students said newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories.
Can't dismiss the political angle, I expect more will be coming out.
"Mistrust of government was his defining conviction, the friends said. He believed the government was behind 9/11, and worried that governments were maneuvering to create a... unified monetary system ("a New World Order currency" one friend said) so that social elites and bureaucrats could control the rest of the world." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110110/ap_on_re_us/us_congresswoman_shot_gunman_11
Judge Roll's opinion does not knock out the waiting period for handgun purchases, but it does strike at the very concept of the federal government requiring local law enforcement officers to conduct background checks.
kind of makes me wonder how john hinckley would fit in the profile and what his blog or youtube would be like if his claim to fame was in the modern day.
paste pic of jodie foster [here]
come to think of it there's also manson family member that tried to take out ford .... hmm. don't the imprisoned manson members already have myspace pages?
It's a sad morning to be honest. Some creep in Arizona went to apolitical event at a grocery store and shot twenty people, killingsix of them. So, while the people of our nation hope for thesurvival of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who is in criticalcondition as of this post, there are those in the news media thatare already maligning not only the Second Amendment, but the FirstAmendment as well. I don't know what's wrong with these people, Ireally don't. I don't see why we should have to defend our right ofself-defense even as Gabrielle Giffords fights for her life, buthere we are. It took the span of thirty shots before the creep could be subduedwhile reloading, by brave (but unarmed) citizens at the event. Ittook five minutes for the police to arrive. Why wasn't somebody atthis event prepared to take responsibility for their own safety bycarrying a concealed handgun? The Second Amendment is not aproblem, it's a solution. How many shots would it take for a responsible citizen to realizewhat was happening and respond appropriately? What if the shootercould have been stopped after ten shots, or fifteen, or twenty?Would it have saved any lives to have stopped him short of theTHIRTY SHOTS we are told that he fired? We'll never know because that didn't happen. Video:http://www.2ndamendmenttv.com/page/930.html Goodman Green2ndAmendmentTV.com
A sinister skull sitting atop a pot filled with shriveled oranges reveals a chilling occult dimension in the mind of the deranged gunman, Jared Lee Loughner, accused of shooting a member of Congress and 19 others.
A row of ceremonial candles and a bag of potting soil lay nearby, photos reveal
Experts on Sunday said the elements are featured in the ceremonies of a number of occult groups. The discovery of the shrine raises the possibility that Loughner, 22, may have been driven by other forces
I didn't realize there had been that many assassination attempts. I guess some of them weren't publicized as much because the attempts were unsuccessful. I wonder how many were "crazies" and how many were set up by a corporation or opposing power?
The Coverage of the Az tragedy has been constant and almost at nausea as they interview the guy who sat in front of Jared in a Poetry class and the in depth questions regarding how they would said hi to each other. I would rather hear more about those who died at his hand than glorifying this mentally ill killer.
I have had enough of the liberals/Media blaming Palin as the instigator of hate mongering - This is just so stupid. They clearly have nothing better nor do they want to take responsibility for their own tongue. From their own mouths their hearts have spoken.
No one is looking at what his family or society had filled that man's mind with while growing up and watching violent films and TV or any of the lovely assassin play station games one could get sucked into. Just blame it on a person who this guy never knew or lived near by. Just ignorant!!!!!
I wish as much attention was given to the tragedy and mass shooting in Fort Hood Texas by Hasan. Political correctness kept co-workers from reporting his behavior and if they did they would be repromanded. Media has grown cold on that. He is clearly a disturbed individual who shot and killed 13 of his fellow soldiers. Five of those he shot were direct co-workers - fellow mental health professionals. How twisted is that. How cold blooded and calculating?
Hasan has also been linked with the Sept 11 terrorists and even Obama's shady dealings. Instead of all the coverage to discover who this nut job is and expose the underbelly, media had cover-up. Political correctness and disrespect was extended to the 13 honored soldiers & families not only by the Media but the President of the US. Obama even tries and keep the Military from being able to deal with their own via court martial and jail time. Why because Hasan is Muslim and political correctness must prevail for any one who is not "white."
Poppycock - they both need to be locked away and given a death sentence which means they most likely will die in prison before the chair gets them.
The Coverage of the Az tragedy has been constant and almost at nausea as they interview the guy who sat in front of Jared in a Poetry class and the in depth questions regarding how they would said hi to each other.
I have to agree with you - poor reporting and poor assumptions are being made - I am going to give it a few more days, them do a flaming type blog
The real question in Tucson, though, is why the alleged shooter, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, was allowed to buy the murder weapon in the first place. Beyond the clearly delusional nature of online videos ascribed to him, Loughner was suspended last year from Pima Community College apparently because of mental problems. According to the college, he was told he could return only if he obtained "a mental health clearance indicating, in the opinion of a mental health professional, his presence at the College does not present a danger to himself or others." The Army also denied Loughner's application for unspecified reasons. It's unclear what other organizations or agencies might have been aware of Loughner's dangerous mental state. Still, he passed a background check, and late last year legally bought the 9-mm Glock 19 semiautomatic handgun allegedly used in the shootings
Saying that unstable individuals are disqualified from buying firearms is meaningless if the national background-check system, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), has no record of their illness. That's why the Brady organization was proud to announce on Friday, just a day before the Tucson shootings, that the number of records of mental illness in the NICS database had more than doubled since Virginia Tech, to more than 1 million records.
But there's a problem with that: there should be more than 2 million records in that database, if all the states cooperated fully. According to the Brady organization's records, Arizona was not even the worst offender — at least the state ramped up its reporting somewhat in the wake of Virginia Tech. But still, Arizona's own estimate is that the state has 121,700 records of disqualifying mental illness that should go into the NICS database. From the beginning of 2008 to October 2010, however, it submitted only 4,465 records. Worse than Arizona were states like Louisiana, which submitted only one record during that time frame, and Nebraska and Pennsylvania, which didn't submit any
his mental illness had been on display for many to see in the weeks and months before the shooting. So Giffords' gun politics are not relevant at the moment, nor are the larger questions of liberty or societal violence. The most pressing questions now: Who else knew of Loughner's mental illness? What obligations did his college have, and which ones did they fulfill, to report Loughner to other agencies? Most of all: Why is Arizona (along with other states) so far behind in reporting disqualifying mental illness to the federal background-check system? If there is anything that both sides should be able to agree on, it's that unstable individuals should not have access to any kind of weapon, much less the so-called fourth-generation semiautomatic Glock 19 that Loughner bought.
Some people who knew Jared Lee Loughner don't seem surprised by the the allegations that he went on a murderous rampage.
Pima Country Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said the "entire neighborhood" knew Loughner was troubled, a claim verified through interviews conducted by ABC News.
"I told my mother I thought he was a serial killer the first time I saw him," one neighbor told ABC.
Another person from Loughner's past, Pima Community College Professor Ben McGahee, expressed fears about a repeat of the shootings at Columbine or Virginia Tech:
McGahee said "at least half a dozen" students came to him to express concern over Loughner, including multiple students that said they feared for their safety.
“This guy wasn’t a missed case,” Randy Borum, an expert on threat assessment at the University of South Florida, said about Jared L. Loughner, the 22-year-old college dropout who is accused of trying to assassinate Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona on Saturday.
“It wasn’t a case of ‘Gee, no one saw this coming,’ ” Dr. Borum said. “People saw it. But the question then was what do you do about it? Who do you call? The whole thing speaks to the need for some coordinated way to detect such threats.”
Suspected Tucson gunman Jared Lee Loughner registered as an independent voter in Arizona in the fall of 2006, according to the Pima County Registrar of Voters. Loughner registered to vote on Sept. 29, 2006, identifying himself as an independent. Records show he voted in the 2006 and 2008 elections but is current listed as "inactive" on the state's voter roles -- meaning that he did not vote in November.
Goodstuff says "Who else knew of Loughner's mental illness? What obligations did his college have, and which ones did they fulfill, to report Loughner to other agencies?" .... Hmmm, good question. . . Geesh, I know people who I'd like to turn in to authorities for mental illness, but ..it's often a matter of someone’s judgement, are they or are they not insane... should they be restricted or monitored? Will they harm themselves or others? Some "insane" people never act out in violence even though it seems like they would while tens of thousands of other "sane" and "normal" people actually DO violent things. Who's to know which one’s we should confine or “treat” for mental illness? . . .Then there's the matter of Civil Rights, and "big brother"... Does the Government decide who's insane and who's not? Can that be based on their political beliefs? Does “free speech” allow violent threats or behavior to be acceptable? How can authorities tell if someone will actually resort to violence or is just behaving like they would? The latter is not harmful. . . . Bottom line is when you get a marginal fruitcake and he/she casually or inadvertently hears people like Beck, Palin, Limbaugh, hate groups, Angle, etc. talking like violence is a remedy and is acceptable... then they're more likely to act upon it, …..otherwise those fruitcakes may forever be harmless. So.. I blame the above named people (all of them) for encouraging people like Loughner and others to act violently. Sure... maybe he/they would anyway, but why encourage it?
I think the sheriff is correct...Palin, Beck, Angle, Limbaugh, etc may not be specifically to blame for the Gillfords shooting. It's the 24/7 cumulative effect of those people and certain radio/tv personalities and other influential people constantly suggesting or encouraging violence to achieve their goals. That's what pushes people like Jarad Loughner over the edge and to act violently. The same is true for violent video games and even TV shows which depict violence as normal and a way to achieve goals (and score points). ..Laughner was screwed up but to expose him to such incendiary hateful words would be the same as encouraging him or others to act out on those words. ... If someone's kid was upset with a playmate, should the parents tell him/her to settle the conflict with these words or thoughts ?.... "don't retreat, reload", - Palin "exercise your second amendment rights, - Angle (...put crosshairs on his forehead...) - Palin "..I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it," Glenn Beck “Get rid of the guy. Impeach him, censure him, assassinate him." James Hansen "We need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed, too." Ann Coulter: Lots of adults are nothing but old immature kids and WILL respond to such language. Yes, I blame those who speak that way.
It was a crime--or at least a profound injustice... to allow a mentally deranged young man to purchase a semi-automatic pistol.
That's society's fault, not his family's or Playstation's. More specifically, a society overly influenced by the NRA and the violent rhetoric of the American far right.
The Second Amendment uses the phrase "well regulated" for a reason. Strangely enough, that proviso gets little to no attention from those who most vocally and vehemently adhere to that amendment.
So.. I blame the above named people (all of them) for encouraging people like Loughner and others to act violently. Sure... maybe he/they would anyway, but why encourage it?
I couldn't agree with you more.
While I've read a lot of back peddling from those who profess that the "left" is guilty of the same type of rhetoric, I've yet to see any proof that it's been as wide spread or sustained as what's been coming out of the mouths of the extreme right for years.
"don't retreat, reload", - Palin
"exercise your second amendment rights, - Angle
(...put crosshairs on his forehead...) - Palin
"..I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it," Glenn Beck
“Get rid of the guy. Impeach him, censure him, assassinate him." James Hansen
"We need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed, too." Ann Coulter
You'd have to live in a vacuum... or at least desert island... NOT to have seen/read/heard any of this.
People like Palin, Beck, Angle et al., whether they like to accept it or not, ARE responsible for what they say.
Freedom of speech does not give people the right to say whatever the hell they want any time they feel like it... not only is it morally reprehensible, it also happens to be ILLEGAL.
The American Constitution makes it clear that the right to "free speech" does NOT include the right to: perjury contempt of court slander libel hate speech treason obscenity profanity, and sedition... among others.
Now, if I'm not mistaken, putting politicians in your cross-hairs (metaphorically or literally) not only constitutes an act of "hate", it's also an incitement to some unbalanced and mentally ill people to actually do that.
.it's often a matter of someone’s judgement, are they or are they not insane... should they be restricted or monitored? Will they harm themselves or others? Some "insane" people never act out in violence even though it seems like they would while tens of thousands of other "sane" and "normal" people actually DO violent things. Who's to know which one’s we should confine or “treat” for mental illness?
good concept - I can see how this could be abused - need to think some more
? Why would someone put a Surveyors Mark on map of political "targets"...? That makes no sense at all. I think the obvious symbol is the one intended (Gunsights).
The Arizona legislature has passed emergency legislation to prevent members of a church notorious for its anti-gay, anti-Catholic views from disrupting tomorrow's funeral of a nine-year-old victim of Saturday's shooting.
The Westboro Baptist church in Kansas praised Jared Lee Loughner for killing six people, including Christina Taylor Green and wounding 14 others.
The church founder, Fred Phelps, posted a video in which he said: "Thank God for the violent shooter, one of your soldier heroes in Tucson – Westboro Baptist church will picket their funerals."
Then there's the matter of Civil Rights, and "big brother"... Does the Government decide who's insane and who's not? Can that be based on their political beliefs? Does “free speech” allow violent threats or behavior to be acceptable? How can authorities tell if someone will actually resort to violence or is just behaving like they would? The latter is not harmful. . . . Bottom line is when you get a marginal fruitcake and he/she casually or inadvertently hears people like Beck, Palin, Limbaugh, hate groups, Angle, etc. talking like violence is a remedy and is acceptable... then they're more likely to act upon it, …..otherwise those fruitcakes may forever be harmless. So.. I blame the above named people (all of them) for encouraging people like Loughner and others to act violently. Sure... maybe he/they would anyway, but why encourage it?
"Anybody has a right to say what they want to say in this country" Adams, R-Mesa, said after the bill passed the House on a 58-0 vote. "But we have a right to regulate the time and place (of such speech)."
touchstonemt wrote on Jan 12, '11, edited on Jan 12, '11
Once upon a time, not so long ago:
If some asshat had just committed multiple murders, in front of witnesses, then been tackled and disarmed by said witnesses while attempting to reload the murder weapon, he would have been found swinging by a rope from a nearby tree before sundown.
Had that sort of immediate justice been applied more often over the past century or so, the incidence of this sort of incident would have been more infrequent, particularly since that sort of behavior would NOT have been coddled, nor would we have had legions of invertebrate liberals wringing their hands and whining about how "we must try to understand" those inhuman actions.
How wonderful that we now have so many "humane and sensitive" systems in place to protect genetic spittoons like that creature. How sad we don't do the same to protect 9 y.o. girls from the actions of those individuals who are little more than festering canker sores on the ass of the human race.
P.S. Because of the actions of that psycho-shit, I had to explain to my 8 y.o. son how someone could kill a little girl only a year older than him. When it comes time for the execution of that vermin, I hope the father of that little girl gets to push the button.
If some asshat had just committed multiple murders, in front of witnesses, then been tackled and disarmed by said witnesses while attempting to reload the murder weapon, he would have been found swinging by a rope from a nearby tree before sundown.
Had that sort of immediate justice been applied more often over the past century or so, the incidence of this sort of incident would have been more infrequent, particularly since that sort of behavior would NOT have been coddled, nor would we have had legions of invertebrate liberals wringing their hands and whining about how "we must try to understand" those inhuman actions.
How wonderful that we now have so many "humane and sensitive" systems in place to protect genetic spittoons like that creature. How sad we don't do the same to protect 9 y.o. girls from the actions of those individuals who are little more than festering canker sores on the ass of the human race.
P.S. Because of the actions of that psycho-shit, I had to explain to my 8 y.o. son how someone could kill a little girl only a year older than him. When it comes time for the execution of that vermin, I hope the father of that little girl gets to push the button.
I agree with you 100% and the same goes with having more people with guns. How many people would commit a crime like this or any hardened crime knowing full well someone there will put a bullet in their head. Another positive advantage of such actions would be the mass of tax dollars saved by not prosecuting an obviously guilty, dead criminal.
touchstonemt wrote on Jan 12, '11, edited on Jan 12, '11
Part of my current job is the safety and security of the other people there, many of whom are unable to defend themselves. Needless to say - since I'm retired Infantry - I am more aware than most of the possible threats, as well as what might be required in response to such threats, so I keep my head on a swivel. You don't get to become an old soldier doing stupid shit.
I am more prepared than most - physically and mentally - to deal with those types of situations, so anyone wanting to replay the Tucson massacre better target me first. ...and God help them if they miss.
One of the "unintended consequences" of the guarantee of free speech is that even in-bred congenital doorknobs will find their way into the public arena.
The best way to handle them is to let'em rant - they are the best proponents for allowing them to go extinct.
When I first started watching this video I thought it was some sort of sick joke. I find it hard to believe that people seriously think this way. This man is a real creepy wierdie.
I'll join you on the fence... there are no easy answers... no "right" or "Wrong" answers
CBS News has reported more results tonight from their survey of 673 Americans conducted since the Arizona shooting. Some highlights from the CBS release:
57% of Americans do not think the harsh political tone of recent campaigns encouraged the shootings of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others in Tucson, Arizona this past weekend.
But 49% think the level of civility has declined among Americans engaged in political discourse, and 52% think it has declined among members of Congress.
Three in four Americans think violent action against the government is never justified – but they are more divided when asked whether they think this type of violence will ever happen again. 45% expect there will be more violent acts like this; 47% think this was a random act that will not be repeated.
Support for stricter gun control laws has increased some in the wake of this incident. 47% think gun control laws should be made more strict, up from 40% last year. Still, 58% don’t think stricter gun control laws would have prevented the shooting.
While the overwhelming majority of Americans (76%) reject violence against the government, the percentage who think violent action is sometimes justified (16% overall) is more than twice as large among Republicans (28%) as among Democrats (11%) and independents (11%).
Fred Phelps of Westboro Babtist Church is at least twice as mentally insane as Loughner... and should immediately be committed permanently... Can't get more sick than that. The video is proof.
I'm surprised that CBS would publish poll results from such a ridiculously small sample. I mean, that's 0.0002233% of the population.
If the figure is accurate, I can only boggle at how gullible they believe Americans to be. Most people would laugh at the sheer gall of presenting this as an indicator of anything even remotely reflecting "public opinion".
It seems that Reefer Madness is still alive and well
Bush's speechwriter blames marijuana, not guns, for Arizona shooting
Like many people across the country, conservative pundit and former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum has some thoughts on the recent tragedy in Arizona. However, his thoughts are not like most's thoughts:
After horrific shootings, we hear calls for stricter regulation of guns. The Tucson shooting should remind us why we regulate marijuana.
Jared Lee Loughner, the man held as the Tucson shooter, has been described by those who know as a "pot smoking loner."
He goes on to argue that Loughner's affection for weed, when combined with his mental illness, worsened the situation — that things may not have been as bad had drugs been cut out of the equation.
If the figure is accurate, I can only boggle at how gullible they believe Americans to be. Most people would laugh at the sheer gall of presenting this as an indicator of anything even remotely reflecting "public opinion".
It said its poll of 673 adults had a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
I just checked out Scarah Palin's pathetic video/ response. My impressions:
Flag in the background? Check.
Flag pin nestled just above her bosom? Check.
Teleprompter reflecting off of her glasses? Double check.
Reference to Ronald Reagan? Check.
Did she just refer to the Blood Libel that Christians have used for centuries to demonize the Jews? I do believe she did.
Reference to Founding Fathers? Check.
Reference to 9-11? Check.
Reference to prayer and God? Check.
LOL - sharlee44 wrote today at 4:22 PM, edited today at 4:23 PM
Shelly, are you saying she vigorously refudiates that her statements were irresponsible? ;-D What a joke that woman is, I can't believe people like her.
"blood libel" = people getting dead from FALSE accusations. Palin's use was quite accurate, and in this context, more than appropriate. ....check out the spike in death threats against her from the frothing "understanding" leftists......
Sarah Palin has pulled down her highly controversial eight minute Facebook video that used term “blood libel ” Several Jewish groups are criticizing Palin’s use of the term, saying it's not only offensive, it's incorrect.
"The term 'blood libel' is not a synonym for 'false accusation,' " Simon Greer, president of Jewish Funds for Justice told the L.A. Times .
"blood libel" = people getting dead from FALSE accusations
The term is rarely used in American politics, however when it is used, it generally refers broadly to a person or group being the subject of unpleasant and damaging accusations.
"While the term 'blood-libel' has become part of the English parlance to refer to someone being falsely accused, we wish that Palin had used another phrase, instead of one so fraught with pain in Jewish history," Abraham Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement.
While the term 'blood-libel' has become part of the English parlance to refer to someone being falsely accused, we wish that Palin had used another phrase, instead of one so fraught with pain in Jewish history," Abraham Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement.
Sarah Palin has pulled down her highly controversial eight minute Facebook video that used term “blood libel ”Several Jewish groups are criticizing Palin’s use of the term, saying it's not only offensive, it's incorrect. "The term 'blood libel' is not a synonym for 'false accusation,' " Simon Greer, president of Jewish Funds for Justice told the L.A. Times .
The term is rarely used in American politics, however when it is used, it generally refers broadly to a person or group being the subject of unpleasant and damaging accusations.
"While the term 'blood-libel' has become part of the English parlance to refer to someone being falsely accused, we wish that Palin had used another phrase, instead of one so fraught with pain in Jewish history," Abraham Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement.
A trove of 131 online-forum postings written between April and June 2010, which were viewed by The Wall Street Journal, provides insight into Mr. Loughner's mind-set
They range from prosaic chatter about weight lifting to nonsensical philosophical ramblings that left some of the gamers who read them wondering whether he was using drugs or had a mental disability
The Westboro Baptist church in Kansas praised Jared Lee Loughner for killing six people, including Christina Taylor Green and wounding 14 others.
After receiving an offer to be on a nationally syndicated radio talk show, Topeka's Westboro Baptist Church won't picket the funerals of any of the six victims of Saturday's shooting rampage in Tucson, Ariz., after all, a church spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Shirley Phelps-Roper, a church spokeswoman, said the pickets had been called off after radio talk show host Mike Gallagher offered to have her on his radio program Monday.
sweetadolead wrote on Jan 14, '11, edited on Jan 14, '11
goodstuff4u said The Westboro Baptist church in Kansas praised Jared Lee Loughner for killing six people, including Christina Taylor Green and wounding 14 others.
Gotta tell you, Yes I have a very strong faith in God, Christ that I do take seriously and strive to live as the Bible principals and precepts command, but it is "preachers" like this that really make me shake my head and want to scream.
I can't believe that in the name of God he ascribes Jared was sent by God to kill those folks - It is insane. What a cold hearted jerk along with his followers to protest the innocent dealths like this. I want to protest him in the name of everyting God created.
The term Christian has been turned into a blur of meaning nothing it was intended to mean - A follower of Christ. Christ did not send his disciples on shooting rampages or killing sprees. Quite the contrary. The world is to know you are a Christian by their love not the caliber of bullets you use on the innocent. Makes me sick when this happens.
AZ Shooting Survivor Arrested for Death Threat Against Tea Party Leader
J. Eric Fuller, a survivor of last weekend’s shooting massacre in Tucson, gained national notoriety this week after claiming shooter Jared Lee Loughner got conservatives Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin their “first target.” The Blaze also brought you the story of Trent Humphries, a Tucson-area tea party leader who was warned by police to “stay away from public places” as his organization was being targeted with threats following the shooting. On Saturday morning, Fuller and Humphries met during a town hall-style event hosted by ABC’s Christianne Amanpour that featured family members of victims, Tucson citizens and community leaders. Toward the end of the meeting, local news reports that Fuller objected to comments made by Humphries and Arizona state Rep. Terri Proud, a Republican. In response, Fuller took a photo of Humphries and told him, “You’re dead.” Pima County police deputies immediately escorted Fuller from the room. The Sheriff’s spokesman, Jason Ogan, confirmed Saturday afternoon that Fuller has been charged with threats & intimidation and disorderly conduct. The ABC News town hall meeting, dubbed “After the Tragedy: An American Conversation Continued,” is set to air on Sunday morning, but it was not clear whether Fuller’s comments would be included in the final broadcast. Also in attendance for the town hall meeting were Mayor Bob Walkup, Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva, and former Congressman Jim Kolbe.
Kinda grasping at straws here it seems... 
