Posted on 02/03/2006 5:30:31 PM PST by commish
CENTREVILLE, Ala. -- ATF Resident Agent-in-Charge, Birmingham told an afternoon news conference Friday that the "ATF and FBI are putting all available assets" into the investigation of the suspected arson fires that damaged or destroyed five churches in Bibb County, Thursday night or early Friday.
ATF agent David Hyche said investigators are "not ruling anything out" as far as the investigation goes.
Hyche said that in his memory, he has not come across this many church fires together in the area. Investigation teams are currently in the state from Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana and more team members are expected tomorrow.
FBI Special Agent-in-Charge of the Birmingham field office Charles Regan, told reporters gathered at the press conference that the FBI has "opened a civil rights case in this matter." They do not know at this time if the fires will be considered hate crimes.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsfa.com ...
But it's not like arson is a trivial charge on its own.
There is no good versus evil
Everyones a victim, doncha know.
I think they are using the "civil rights" umbrella to allow the feds to get involved in the investigation however.
This is a start. Call me jaded, yet I will be surprised if there is more than 1 count pursued. Because the racial overtone is already there. Compliments of the press.
Charging someone for a hate crime in this is stupid. A person/persons are going around burning churches down, its grand arsen. Still going to jail, still committed a crime. It's a crime, why also call it a hate crime.
Arson in inherently dangerous and constitutes intent in itself if anyone is injured or property is damaged.
Serial Killers? Traitors revealing military secrets? Immigrants and terrorists sneaking into the country?
The Mexican Army escorting drug smugglers?
That dont mean squat, but dont burn a church in the south, the whole damned force of the US govt will fall on your friggin head.
Now dont get me wrong. Should they do what they can to stop these arsonists? Hell yeah. But where is all this force when deputy's face the Mexican Army in America.
They may want to check into the string of church fires that happened in the Richmond, Va area in 2003-2004.
That is a question we would all like an answer too my FRiend. As a matter of fact by it's nature any crime is a hate crime, because the perp sure doesn't do it out of love.
Thanks for the update:
"Bibb County District Attorney Michael Jackson said Friday, "The perpetrators of these cowardly acts will be brought to justice....They're going to be sent off...going off to prison."
Jackson asks that all residents in rural communities where churches are located to keep their eyes open. "If you see something out of the ordinary, you need to report it." The DA pointed out in particular suspicious cars parked near rural churches at night should be reported.
If you have information related to the investigation, you may also contact the Bibb County Sheriff's Office at 205-926-7200 or the Bibb County DA at 205-926-4247."
Of course they would get involved. And Republicans have laid the groundwork for it. This is an internal state affair and none of the business of the national government. I do wonder if 'conservatives' think anything is beyond the purview of the national government anymore?
We will see one count of violating civil rights, and 4 counts of littering with a flammable object...
Shutup.
I would still suspect either a random nutcase or a bunch of drunk teenagers simply hitting any church they saw. In a rural Alabama area like this, most of the larger and more visible churches would be Baptist churches - there are others, but a lot of them would be in tiny buildings or even double-wides off the beaten path and would take a little more effort or planning to reach.
A lot of people on edge down in this area tonight. My wife's sister said that her church and three others in her area have set up Watch Schedules tonight.
What the new classification of hate crime does is move a crime up to the Federal level, where previously it would remain at the State level or lower. Crimes are all against the state to begin with, and if the victimized churches are to realize any compensation aside from their own insurance policies, they need to also file civil charges.
Excuse me? How exactly does this fall under the power of the national government? I thought Republicans now believed in smaller, limited government, not continued failed policies of interfering in the interal affairs of the separate and sovereign states.
These were all small rural churches not large ones. One church had a total congregation of 80 people and had been built in 1819. Another that was burned was built in the 1870's and a third was built in 1886. A huge amount of Alabama history was destroyed last night.
I'm guessing this is one of those cases that's going to be inflaming the press, occupying investigators, raising the national paranoia level and ... it turns out it's just a couple of idiot kids with too much time on their hands.
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