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In Waco carnage, a message to America
CNN ^ | May 18, 2015 | Errol Louis, CNN Political Commentator

Posted on 05/18/2015 12:20:31 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

)—Even while the horrific details from the fatal gang battle in Waco, Texas, filter in, it's not too soon to ask: Is this who and what we have become as a nation? A place where a shootout between five heavily armed criminal gangs can unfold at a restaurant, in full view of law enforcement, leaving nine dead, 18 hospitalized and some 170 people arrested?

Law enforcement officers knew at least a week in advance that a horde of bikers was converging on the Twin Peaks restaurant, where the massacre took place, and stationed a dozen local and state officers on the scene -- including members of a SWAT team.

But that didn't stop the gangsters from clashing with knives, clubs, and guns. Police say the bikers fired at each other, and eventually at the officers who tried to stop the carnage.

Are Americans now so lawless that presence of law enforcement doesn't deter gunplay?

Innocent patrons and restaurant staffers hid inside a freezer, KWTX reported. It's a minor miracle that no cops, restaurant employees or diners were hurt or killed.

Twin Peaks held regular events called "bike nights." Concerned about the possibility of violence, Waco police had asked Twin Peaks to try to keep biker gangs away....

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; banglist; secondamendment; shootings; texas; twinpeaks; waco
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Editor's Note: Errol Louis is the host of "Inside City Hall," a nightly political show on NY1, a New York all-news channel. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

1 posted on 05/18/2015 12:20:31 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

At least they weren’t suicide bombers.


2 posted on 05/18/2015 12:22:33 PM PDT by DaveA37
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

> Are Americans now so lawless that presence of law enforcement doesn’t deter gunplay?

No. in any society, there are always small factions that are lawless, but they do not represent the majority of Americans.


3 posted on 05/18/2015 12:23:30 PM PDT by BuffaloJack (When did the 2nd amendment suddenly require a license or permit to exercise as a right?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This is the first Biker Gang incident I’ve heard about in years, while this type of carnage happens every weekend in Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, New Orleans, Philadelphia.


4 posted on 05/18/2015 12:24:37 PM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"Are Americans now so lawless that presence of law enforcement doesn't deter gunplay?"

The fish rots from the head down.

If our so-called leaders can willfully ignore the law, why should anyone pay attention to it?

5 posted on 05/18/2015 12:25:27 PM PDT by Pietro
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To: DaveA37; 2ndDivisionVet

They just need jobs, ask the hipster chick at State...


6 posted on 05/18/2015 12:25:28 PM PDT by Old Sarge (Its the Sixties all over again, but with crappy music...)
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To: BuffaloJack; TexasCajun

But you see where he’s going with this...


7 posted on 05/18/2015 12:25:51 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
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To: BuffaloJack

And the most lawless one sleeps in the White House.


8 posted on 05/18/2015 12:25:52 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (A free society canÂ’t let the parameters of its speech be set by murderous extremists.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“Jay Patel, operator of the restaurant, ... “


Police wanted to owner to discourage the biker gangs but this man wasn’t going to turn a dime away.


9 posted on 05/18/2015 12:26:23 PM PDT by boycott
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Are Americans now so lawless that presence of law enforcement doesn't deter gunplay?

I don't know, lets as Baltimore or Chicago.
10 posted on 05/18/2015 12:26:23 PM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

shite like this was almost never heard of any more. Only until that ‘Rat Bastard Commie’ opened the flood gates for anyone. To get votes and to destroy America.


11 posted on 05/18/2015 12:26:23 PM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (0bama's agenda—Divide and conquer seems to be working.)
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To: TexasCajun

If nothing else, Sturgis should be “interesting” this year.


12 posted on 05/18/2015 12:28:12 PM PDT by tcrlaf (They told me it could never happen in America. And then it did....)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

A bloody battle between rival motorcycle gangs is hardly news, man. Haven’t you ever watched Sons of Anarchy?


13 posted on 05/18/2015 12:28:19 PM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: DaveA37
“It's a minor miracle that no cops, restaurant employees or diners were hurt or killed.”

Apparently the bikers had put in some range time. Unlike gangs of color, who spray and pray it looks like this bunch only shot their opponents

14 posted on 05/18/2015 12:28:23 PM PDT by Tupelo (I fell more like Phillip Nolan every day.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Nine thugs dead; Scores more thrown in the clink; a scuzzy “breastaurant” loses its liscense; no innocent people hurt.

All in all, sounds like the “feel good” story of the week, as far as this Texan is concerned. Don’t care what this liberal-doofus jounalist thinks.


15 posted on 05/18/2015 12:29:26 PM PDT by greene66
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Of course this cretin tried to twist this into a debate on gun control. My question to Errol Louis is does he know how many of these bikers who had weapons owned them legally? How many were illegally owned? How many gun laws were they already breaking before the shooting started? The writer specifically asks why we can’t close the “gun show loophole”, how many lives in this shooting incident would have been saved if that law were enacted? How many of these bikers were killed by a wrench or chain? Does he propose outlawing wrenches and chains?

Mr. Errol Louis, before writing your article, do a little research...


16 posted on 05/18/2015 12:30:02 PM PDT by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Is American culture now so drenched in weaponry -- and so wearily accustomed to violence -- that a bloody massacre barely registers as news?

It seems to me the only violence that gets heightened news coverage is Black Thug killed by White Cop.

17 posted on 05/18/2015 12:30:40 PM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: JoeProBono

I haven’t, is it good?


18 posted on 05/18/2015 12:31:04 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: Tupelo

We might want to see how many of the dead were shot by the police — before we complement the bikers on their aim.


19 posted on 05/18/2015 12:31:28 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; martin_fierro

Bikers ping!................


20 posted on 05/18/2015 12:31:45 PM PDT by Red Badger (Man builds a ship in a bottle. God builds a universe in the palm of His hand.............)
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