Arrests likely in Trolley Square massacre gun probe (ROP Attack)

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | Russ Rizzo

[TheDon]

I just love the equating of Islam with Catholics and Mormons. Talk about being in denial. It's like 9-11 never happened, nor various other islamic terrorist acts committed in the US since and before then.

[JeeperFreeper]

Isn't what this guy did, by definition, terrorism, regardless of the motives, if any???

[Roccus]

Far too many Americans today see the attacks Sept. 11, 2001 as nothing more than a television show.

[Free ThinkerNY]

"People are saying, 'He's so obviously a terrorist," Burbank said. "Well, we're not seeing that connection. Neither is the FBI."

[Domandred]

Police say he fired the handgun but the rounds apparently did not hit anyone.

This is the first I've heard that he fired the handgun. Previous to this I was under the impression he had the handgun in his backpack but that wasn't known until he was down and they searched through his stuff because he never pulled it and fired it.

I was always wondering why gun banners using this shooting as an example were hung up on the handgun because that wasn't used in the crime itself other then being there.

[pandoraou812]

I would think so.... I looked it up & found this

Main Entry: ter·ror·ism
Pronunciation: 'ter-&r-"i-z&m
Function: noun
: the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/terrorism

[CJ Wolf]

agreed, they seem to be waiting for a repeat.

[DuncanWaring]

''People are saying, 'He's so obviously a terrorist,' '' Burbank said. "Well, we're not seeing that connection. Neither is the FBI. "

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

There is no sign the shooting was an act of terrorism...

A premeditated armed assault on anonymous strangers in a crowded shopping mall is not an act of terrorism?

On what planet?

[PAR35]

Salt Lake City homicide detectives still are working with the FBI to learn what led Talovic to violence

Kind of slow out there, aren't they.

[Cicero]

Well, we knew that the FBI would cover up any terrorist connection. They are absolutely reliable at covering up for terrorists.

But I'm sorry to see that the police officer in charge of the case is determined to cover up too. Not really a surprise, but disappointing.

[1rudeboy]

Terrorism used to be defined as organized and systematic, as someone pointed out above. Now, the lines have blurred.

[Ramius]

Well, we knew that the FBI would cover up any terrorist connection.

What connection is that?

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I wonder who is leading this investigation?

[Ramius]

Isn't what this guy did, by definition, terrorism, regardless of the motives, if any???

If the term "terrorism" is going to have any useful meaning, then it has to mean that an action involves a terrorist organization, moreso than just a "lone nutbag".

For example, I wouldn't consider Klebold and Harris (of Columbine HS) as "terrorists". They were just a pair of deranged misfits. That they caused people to experience terror is of course true, but they were acting on their own and not on behalf of some larger organization.

This guy in Trolley Station sounds like a similar situation. If he's not connected with or acting on behalf of some organization, then its not accurate or useful to lump him in with Al Queda, Hamas, and the like.

I think it is perfectly reasonable to try to distinguish between acts perpetrated by "terrorist" groups, and acts perpetrated by lone nutballs. It's not that it changes anything with regard to how serious it is. It does affect the investigation. With the terrorist group there are (hopefully) more leads to follow up on and more people to hunt down. With the lone nutball it pretty much starts and ends with the (presumably) dead perpetrator. There's noplace else for the investigation to go.

My .02

[Ramius]

Trolley Square, I meant.

[Scourge of God]

Christianity was spread by verbal persuasion. The ROP was spread by bloody conquest.

Those facts haven't changed.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Terrorism requires an intent to effect political change.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

WoC Ersatz News exclusive: Our crack reporters have obtained a copy the standardized test for promotion to LEO top management. One essay question reads: Given that a suicide bomber has killed scores and injured hundreds in a crowded shopping mall and emergency personnel were machine-gunned by men wearing burkas, write fifty reasons why it was not terrorism related in any way to Islamists.

[montag813]

The FBI is evil.