Posted on 09/19/2013 3:37:19 PM PDT by jazusamo
The Virginia man who planned a mass shooting based on a leftwing group’s “hate map” of conservatives got sentenced to 25 years in prison today, though federal prosecutors had recommended 45 for what they call an act of terrorism.
Floyd Lee Corkins stormed into the headquarters of the Family Research Council (FRC) last August and carried out the politically-motivated shooting based on a target list from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a nonprofit that features conservative organizations on a catalogue of “hate groups.” Corkins pleaded guilty earlier this year and admitted that he learned about the FRC from the SPLC, a civil rights group that labels conservatives who disagree with it on social issues hateful.
In fact, the SPLC’s website features a map of the United States that helps locate what it labels as hate groups around the nation. When an area of the map is clicked, a list appears with the name and location of hate groups. There’s also a “select a state” box where you can simply write in the state and hate groups appear for that particular area.
The FRC, a Christian organization that promotes the traditional family unit and the Judeo- Christian value system, appears on that hate map under Washington D.C. In mid-August of last year Corkins stormed into the group’s D.C. headquarters with the intention of killing as many employees as possible, according to a news report that cites legal documents. He had purchased a semiautomatic pistol from a Virginia store the day before the rampage.
Corkins shot Leo Johnson, an unarmed security guard, but Johnson was able to subdue Corkins after a struggle that left the guard with a bullet in one arm. Corkins pleaded guilty to charges of committing an act of terrorism while armed, assault with intent to kill and interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition. He is the first to be convicted under D.C.’s Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002, which prosecutes crimes committed to “intimidate or coerce a significant population of the District of Columbia or the United States.”
Corkins explained to authorities that he attacked the FRC because the SPLC identified it as a hate group. “I found them online, did a little research, went to the website, stuff like that,” he tells authorities in the chilling interrogation video which is posted on the FRC’s website. “The SPLC’s reckless labeling has led to devastating consequences,” FRC President Tony Perkins said at the time. “Because of its ‘hate group’ labeling, a deadly terrorist had a guidemap to FRC and other organizations.”
Perkins and Johnson delivered emotional testimony at today’s sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. “The attack at our headquarters did not just harm Leo,” Perkins told the judge. “As the Court knows, Mr. Corkins’ stated intention was to kill as many FRC staff as possible to send a political message, a chilling, political message. But for Leo’s heroic conduct and the protective hand of the Lord, this crime might have ended like the tragic shooting that occurred earlier this week here in D.C.”
Johnson told the judge about the long term effects of getting shot and how he’s suffered, both physically and psychologically, as a result of the crime. “I have had to endure surgery, with at least two more scheduled; painful, life-threatening blood clots which developed in my right lung; grueling physical therapy sessions; multiple medications and numerous doctors’ appointments as a result of this crime,” Johnson said.
Following the shooting Judicial Watch launched an investigation into what influence the SPLC’s branding of hate groups has had on U.S. government agencies. In January JW obtained nearly 24 pages of emails from U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights and Tax divisions revealing questionable behavior by agency personnel while negotiating for SPLC’s co-founder Morris Dees to appear as the featured speaker at a July 31, 2012, “Diversity Training Event.”
Corkins should have been sentenced to life or at least the 45 years the prosecution asked for.
Security footage: Hero thwarts terrorist shooter at Family Research Council
Is the FRC suing?
I’m surprised he didn’t go for an insanity defense.
No sane person could consider the Family Research Council to be a “hate group.”
If It had been a conservative / tea party member / whitey that tried to do the same to a left wing organization he would have received life or the death penalty (after one of 0’s “specialists” framed the guy by putting a bullet in one of the victim’s heads then planted the murder weapon in his vehicle)
No idea but they should sue the SPLC for listing them as a hate group.
So was the SPLC an un-indicted co-conspirator? I’m sure they would have been if they leaned to the Right.....
Bump for later...
Amen to that.
I agree. He chould have gotten more.
A right-winger would have gotten death or, if the state doesn’t have a death penalty, life without parole.
That doesn’t justify any terrorist act on either side, but is simply an observation that leftwing terrorism should be treated seriously as well.
The only reason McVeigh got the death penalty and actually got put to death was because he was depicted as a right wing terrorist. In reality, he was probably a Muslim himself or working for a Muslim group (with the mysterious 2nd terrorist, who was obviously an Arab or an Iraqi).
Had this come out, he would have gotten a much lighter sentence. But it served Clinton’s purposes to depict him as a right-winger, so the only solution was to put him to death.
On the other hand, in the case of a leftist terrorist attacking a group unpopular with the government, we should probably consider ourselves lucky that he got any jail time at all.
I’m not about to click the link supplied in the article, but the question should be whether the hate map is still posted. If it was not taken down soon after the initial attack one would think that the SPLC would be open to a lawsuit.
The hate map is still posted but I’m not going to click on the icons to see if the FRC is still listed, however I would doubt it.
RightGeek ~:" Is the FRC suing? "
FRC should sue SPLC for aiding and abettting terrorism , as well as Corkins .
The fact that he had 'Chic-a-fil 'in a bag to share with FRC clearly shows malice and forethought , and premediatation.
25 years and unusually strong condemnatory language directed at a member of a usually-protected group, in exchange for hopefully heading off a very revealing, very damaging lawsuit against the SPLC, the hate group that writes policy for DHS and our military now, apparently.
If Morris Dees appeared for a speaking engangement for the Civil Rights and Tax Division, they should also list the Dept. of "Just-US " , and sue as a Federal RICO violation.
Ft. Hood is “workplace violence” but FRC is “Terrorism”. How screwed up is that.
Is there a possibility of a lawsuit against the SPLC? If nothing else it would be grand to pry that organization apart with a “discovery” crowbar. They could invite all the other “non-hate” groups that had been identified by them as “hate” groups to join in the lawsuit.
While a monetary judgement against them would be nice, it would be better to get an injunction that the SPLC could no longer publicly label groups as “hate” groups. That would kill them dead.
I hear ya and thought of that very thing when first reading this.
I honestly don’t know but hope they can and do sue. I believe their rear is hanging out a mile because of the admissions of Floyd Corkins and like you say, getting an injunction against SPLC would be a home run.
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