Posted on 11/16/2008 4:12:59 PM PST by mdittmar
Muslim leaders in Arizona have drawn increased scrutiny from federal officials in the past year because of a string of suspicious incidents, officials say.
Although no one in the state has been accused of supporting terrorists, one Mesa, Ariz., man was charged with lying to the FBI during the terror financing investigation into a Muslim charity accused of funneling money to the Palestinian group Hamas, The Arizona Republic reported Sunday.
Also drawing attention to Arizona Muslims was a target-shooting episode in Phoenix that involved a large group of Muslim men and boys firing hundreds of rounds from AK-47s and other guns. Then there was the removal in 2006 of six Arizona-bound imams from a jetliner after passengers and crew complained of their behavior.
The FBI is monitoring the family and community ties among residents involved in incidents, said John Lewis, who runs the FBI's Arizona office.
"All of these things come on our scope," he said.
Islamic leaders say that while they understand the scrutiny following the incidents, they say it as another sign that Muslims in general are unjustly falling under suspicion because of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"Whoever did Sept. 11, go after them and see who they are," said Marwan Sadeddin, one of the Arizona imams who sued US Airways after being removed from a jetliner in Minneapolis.
“Whoever did Sept. 11, go after them and see who they are,”
They’re you, buddy, they’re YOU.
I live in the Phx area and I haven’t heard anything about the shooting party.
“a target-shooting episode in Phoenix this year involving a large group of Muslim men and boys firing hundreds of rounds from AK-47s and other guns”
If this was the Minutemen, NRA group, or some militia group, this would be headline news and no one would care about “profiling”.
Wonder what their reason was for training with AK 47’s?
Also drawing attention to Arizona Muslims was a target-shooting episode in Phoenix that involved a large group of Muslim men and boys firing hundreds of rounds from AK-47s and other guns.
Gee, duh, I wonder what they’re getting ready for?
After January 20th they won’t have to fear anything.
Like it or not we all are keeping an eye on you Muslim leader
or Muslim.
There will be exceptions. . .
After Jan. 20 they will OWN the FBI and TSA, etc......
Shortly before noon on a sunny Sunday in March, two Toyota SUVs rolled to a stop along a dirt road in north Phoenix.
About 20 young Muslim males climbed out, armed with assault rifles, a shotgun, a sniper rifle and handguns. The location near Happy Valley Road and 51st Avenue is a desert recreation site for off-road motorists, hikers and bikers, dozens of whom were enjoying the spring-like weather.
For more than an hour, the shooters blasted away at a granite rock and empty cans in front of a hill.
Officials estimate the fusillade totaled 500 to 1,000 rounds. Some shooters left before police arrived and detained 10 adults and five boys, including an 11-year-old.
The young men and boys told officers the weapons belonged to their parents. They said they were not aware it was illegal to use firearms in the residential area.
Six were arrested and charged with felony weapons violations in Maricopa County Superior Court. Among them were the 20- and 21-year-old sons of two imams at Phoenix-area mosques, as well as the 20-year-old son of Abdallah.
Phoenix police then notified the Arizona Counter Terrorism Center, a clearinghouse for intelligence, and the case was referred to the FBI, Lewis confirmed. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was called to trace the guns, its Arizona chief said.
Soliman Saadeldin, brother of one of the imams on the jetliner and a board member at the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix, was not surprised by the reaction.
"Twenty Muslims? Of course the FBI, the CIA and the White House would be worried," Saadeldin said.
Valley Islamic leaders were furious at the youngsters, he added, knowing how the incident might be perceived.
"I'm one of those who got mad at them. (But) they went over there just to have fun shooting. ... It's showing off more than anything else," Saadeldin said.
He described the target shooting as merely bad judgment by a group of young guys out for a good time.
I believe that this is another attempt to purposely try to cause an incident so they can claim discrimination and make police officers and the general public “gun shy” about calling the police when they see something like this.
To avoid the “racist” charge.
Heck, they may be “gunning” for another lawsuit. Get money to turn over to their favorite charities.
I would have called cops if I saw any group shooting like that. They could have killed someone.
Aw come on, they were just out for a little fun../S
“Valley Islamic leaders were furious at the youngsters, he added, knowing how the incident might be perceived.”
Sure I believe that.
When I was a kid, we’d go target shooting, with my Dad, a long way from population and using NRA safety training.
Not blasting away at a granite rock.
I believe that they went out there with the full knowledge of the parents.
Maybe because they're inexpensive, rugged, and reliable. Maybe because the ammunition for them is easily available and inexpensive?
These bedwetters would crap a solid gold Twinky if they ever saw Clan Lurker at the gun range.
L
This common-thread bullshit tone is what chaps my hide more than most anything else. I am sick to DEATH of such lying indignance. It's what they ALWAYS do.
ALWAYS.
I know nothing about AK 47’s and most guns in general. I don’t own one.
Are AK 47’s regulated?
Nice start - now check the other 49 states!!!
barry will change that to “the other 57 states”.
The current 50 plus Iran, Mexico, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, Syria, and Somalia,
Strictly speaking the AK-47 is a fully automatic weapon and as such is subject to heavy Federal regulation. While they are legal in many states, one has to have a special license from the Federal Government to own one.
It's far more likely that these idiots had AK-74S rifles which are nearly identical to AK-47's except that they are semi-automatic only, and thus perfectly legal to own.
One can purchase civilian-legal variants of the AK pattern rifle for prices starting at about $350 up to $1,000 depending upon manufacturer and quality.
The $350 dollar version is a perfectly serviceable, rugged, reliable, civilian Homeland Defense weapon.
Clan Lurker has a few of them. Every household should have one as well as a couple of thousand rounds of ammunition.
While I certainly agree with these dipshits should be facing charges if they were shooting in a residential area, and I'm very glad the FBI is looking into this, it's far more likely that they're just garden variety idiots IMO.
Like I said, if these bedwetters ever saw Clan Lurker unloading our hardware for a day at the range they'd get a case of the screaming vapors.
L
add Kenya
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