Posted on 07/19/2015 10:51:08 AM PDT by Jyotishi
The Om Hindu Organization of North Carolina is planning to build a 3,600 sq ft temple in Clemmons and has bought 7.6 acres at the site where the sign board, which was shot at, was put. (Representative illustration)
Houston: A sign board for a planned Hindu temple in the US state of North Carolina has been fired at, leaving over 60 holes in the sign, prompting authorities to probe the incident that has shocked the Indian community.
The incident happened sometime between noon July 4 and about 1pm last Saturday, Forsyth county sheriff's office said in a report.
The sheriff's office is investigating the incident in which someone fired a shotgun at a sign for a planned Hindu temple, leaving more than 60 holes in the sign, it said.
A deputy found empty shell casings near the sign that were consistent with bird shot being fired two to three times from a shotgun, Winston-Salem Journal quoted chief deputy Brad Stanley of the sheriff's office as saying.
The sign suffered a damage of $200. Investigators have no leads or suspects, Stanley said.
The Om Hindu Organization of North Carolina is planning to build a 3,600 sq ft temple in Clemmons and has bought 7.6 acres at the site.
"We as American people are fighting hate, standing up to promote tolerance, respect and inclusion," Om Hindu said in a statement on Friday.
"We have no doubts that in long run we will be able to practice our religion and live peacefully in this region and work towards a pluralistic society."
The group also said it was moving forward with its plan for the temple.
The sheriff's office does not have any information that organization was targeted because of its faith, Stanley said.
"It appears just to be vandalism," he said, adding that police have increased its patrols in the area.
Manujunath Shamanna, a member of the organization's board of directors, said that his group first noticed the vandalised sign when its members visited the site last Saturday. The organization then reported it to the sheriff's office.
"It is very disappointing," Shamanna said of the damaged sign. "It could be some kids playing."
About 500 Indian families live in Forsyth county. The vandalism will not affect the organization's plan to build its temple, Shamanna said.
Former Clemmons mayor John Bost offered his apologies for the incident in a post on the paper's Facebook page.
The Reverend Christopher Burcham, pastor at Union Hill Baptist Church, said he and his wife were disappointed when they noticed the vandalized sign on Thursday. His church is about 275 metres from the site of the planned Hindu temple.
The incident comes at the heels of reports of vandalizing of North Texas Hindu Mandir in Dallas in April and vandalizing of two Hindu temples in Seattle metropolitan area of Washington State in February last.
President of Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed has demanded swift action against the culprits and said the incident has shocked the Hindu community in the US.
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Might want to explain the difference between that sign and a speed limit sign as well - because all they are is targets.
Heh
Usually it’s the deer crossing signs that get peppered.
Don’t think it was right to shoot the sign, but idolatrous or anti-Biblical religions must NOT be allowed to practice here.
Don’t think it was right to shoot the sign, but idolatrous or anti-Biblical religions must NOT be allowed to practice here.
That’s what you get with those factory supplied short choke tubes, more often than not. Ammunition brand also has a large effect due to differences in wad design, shot hardness and how much pressure is in the barrel when the payload reaches the constriction. Furthermore, many cheaper shotguns have barrels that have oval bores and/or slightly off center or canted choke tube threads.
Everbody makes mistakes, but in the value priced guns Mossberg seems to have the best quality barrels and tubes. Remington is a close second.
Generally, every shotgun will pattern decently with at least one brand of ammo. Finding it can be problematic and lead to sore shoulders, blistering several feet of butcher paper, and frustration, but the rewards are worth it.
I recommend a quality barrel, expensive choke tubes and cheap ammo. After shotgunning for 40 years, the combo I have settled on are Browning Invector Plus barrels, Kick’s “Smoke” series of tubes and RIO shells. YMMV
Sparklite2, Jyotishi
Yep, —any— sign is a target.
Doesn’t matter if its a speed limit sign, homemade sign advertising farm fresh produce, or a billboard.
Tough luck, pal, I practice the Dharma all day every day.
That was a very useful post - and it shows the article’s title is a lie.
Maybe 60 shotgun pellets ? Even that would be a gross exaggeration.
That doesn’t excuse the chickensh*t vandals.
True.
LOL!!!
Or they did it themselves for the attention and sympathy. A burning cross was set at a black church here and it was most likely them who did the deed.
My old 870’s kilt more ducks n doves than I can count.
"Hindu temple sign hit with over 60 shotgun blasts"
...someone fired a shotgun at a sign for a planned Hindu temple, leaving more than 60 holes in the sign...
...bird shot being fired two to three times from a shotgun...
If "bird shot" is (conservatively) interpreted as # 7-1/2"
Then, if three (3) shots were fired, about 95% of the shot missed the sign!
Or, if two shots were fired, 92% of the shot missed the sign.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the headline, I expected to see photos of mere, tattered shreds of the sign remaining in its frame.
That is some pretty lousy shooting -- and some most atrociously hyperbolic reporting.
But, I must admit that I rate the probable IQ of the shooter(s) as being on a par with their hit percentage. Stupid stunt!!
I remember after 9/11 some white boy killed a Sikh thinking he was doing something patriotic.
I was amused by that. I’m not sure this journalist knows what a shotgun is. He might guess it’s some form of pump action AK-47 semi-automatic Glock assault rifle, but beyond that he would be stumped.
With the advent of non toxic shot, Canadian Geese can be quite problematic.
Pumped 4 oz of #2 steel into one bird and it ran off, broken neck, shot up wings, etc. The neighbor’s black lab pup finished him as he was running like a turkey down the road in front of his house.
The same load and choke in my 835 will fold up a duck at 70 yards, and I centered that goose in the pattern at 15, 20 and 30 yards. Being a believer in “humanely shot”, I felt sort of sorry for the bird.
Stepped up my game. Now using 3.5” BBB Hevi Shot with a 0.727” Carlson extended choke tube (0.050” total constriction) with great effect....on both ends of the gun! By the time THAT research project was complete, I had developed quite the flinch and didn’t shoot any long guns for a month.
Quail and dove get the Belgian Light 12, Invector Plus (Jap) barrel, a light modified Kicks choke (0.015” constriction) and RIO load # 36 (1.25oz @ 1220fps). Admittedly the load is a little heavy, but the old gal will cycle even if you don’t have the gun mounted securely. YMMV
The Indian cardiologist in Odessa, Texas was killed by his Indian partner in crime in a murder/suicide. The FBI then closed the investigation.
“Don’t think it was right to shoot the sign, but idolatrous or anti-Biblical religions must NOT be allowed to practice here.”
Guest columnist on proposed Hindu temple: Love thy neighbor
‘We should begin living our Christian values’
By John Bost/Guest Columnist, Winston-Salem Journal, Wednesday, July 22, 2015
I’ll have to admit, reading that a Hindu Temple was coming to Clemmons was a bit of a culture shock.
However, the announcement did provide a much-needed distraction given the recent roughhousing around the library site.
I wasn’t prepared for the next news that their sign had been shot up. In case you have not heard, the Om Hindu Organization of North Carolina is planning to build a 3,600-square-foot temple at 8535 Lasater Road in Clemmons.
“About 500 Indian families live in Forsyth County, with several in the Clemmons, Lewisville and Pfafftown area. The temple’s location will be convenient for many local Hindus,” Manujunath Shamanna, a member of the board of directors, told Journal West.
What disturbed me more than the fact that a religious organization would have its sign shot up were the comments at the Winston-Journal’s online site. Did someone really imply that only Christians should be allowed to live in Clemmons? Worse yet, perhaps, was the stereotyping of others as “rednecks living in the area.”
Really?
Can we just lay down our fears, live out our own values and yes, love our fellow man? Perhaps we could even get to know each other. Christians should be the most inclusive, inviting people on the globe, given the nature of Christ.
Many conclude that we are no longer a Christian nation. Even some church professionals are using language like “post-Christian” in their recommendations for new approaches in the marketplace.
As a Christ follower, the rules are simple for me: Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. Not the neighbor that thinks like you, worships like you, or looks like you ... just love your neighbor.
Given the scores of professionals that annually come to these shores, should we not have been better prepared for pluralism? Wait, wasn’t that how we began, a nation that offered religious freedom?
With the newly emerging economy, and the commercialization of biotech research coming out of Wake Forest Baptist Health and Innovation Quarter, we will continue to attract representatives of multiple cultures desiring to live in the Village of Clemmons.
Guess I should not have been surprised by a Hindu Temple.
“We as American people are fighting hate, standing up to promote tolerance, respect and inclusion. We have no doubts that in the long run we will be able to practice our religion and live peacefully in this region and work towards a pluralistic society,” the Om Hindu Society said in a news release.
What a demonstration of grace.
I was again reminded of the grief, healing and love poured out by the dear saints and families who suffered the tragedy in Charleston. Their response is the kind of behavior we need to be about as a nation and as the people of God — love in the face of hate! That is Christianity at its best, though again not without great price.
A couple years back as mayor, I met with the Moroccan-born Imam at the Annoor Islamic Center in Clemmons. I found him to be delightful. Then later, when invited to a feast on the grounds, I met a Muslim contractor who was quite helpful and accommodating when we discussed a possible new building for my daughter. Those relationships still stand.
Maybe we just need to share life more often, rather than remaining in silos, in our numerous worship centers.
The Rev. Christopher Burcham, pastor at Union Hill Baptist, deserves quoting once more: “Though we believe Jesus offers the only path to eternal life, we understand that the entire Hindu culture is one of great respect,” Burcham told the Journal. “We believe that Christ calls us to the same respect. As followers of Christ, we would defend their right to practice their faith just as freely (and) without harassment as we would our own.”
This is America, land of the free. Perhaps we need simply to begin living our Christian values, rather than being so quick to criticize those who worship differently.
Love has a way!
John Bost, a former mayor of Clemmons, maintains a blog focused on church and community transformation and can be found at www.repothechurch.com.
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