Posted on 06/14/2023 7:52:42 PM PDT by Coronal
John Russell Howald, 44, from Basin, Montana, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for shooting into a home in what prosecutors described as an attempt to rid the small town of LGBTQ+ residents, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Howald was convicted by a federal jury on Feb. 17 of a hate crime involving an attempt to kill and discharge of a firearm, the news release said.
He used an AK-style rifle at the residence of a lesbian, who was home at the time. He then walked farther into town intending to target others he perceived to be lesbian, queer and gay.
“This defendant is being held accountable for his horrific attempted mass shooting against the LGBTQI+ community in a Montana town,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the federal Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in a statement. “Howald set out to rid the town of all LGBTQI+ members by killing them. He shot into the home of a lesbian resident, nearly killing her, with the hope of inspiring similar attacks around the country. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously defend the rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, to be free from hate-fueled violence.
“This Pride Month, we affirm our commitment to using the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act to hold perpetrators of hate-fueled violence targeting the LGBTQI+ community accountable.”
According to court documents cited by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on March 22, 2020, Howald went on a self-described mission to rid the town of Basin of its lesbian, queer and gay community. Howald was armed with two assault rifles, a hunting rifle, two pistols and multiple high-capacity magazines that were taped together to speed reloading.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymontanan.com ...
Sounds like a case for the state courts and a long term in a state prison.
The fact that he shot into a home is important. The fact that the occupants were perverts means absolutely nothing.
No such treatment of the shooters we hear about weekly in Chicago. It’s not a hate crime when they do it. (Even though their victims are usually minorities.)
Exactly.
Shooting at someone is already a crime. Prosecute them on that alone and forget the punishment for unapproved thinking.
“Hate” is a subjective term. “Hate crimes” are thought crimes.
Governor Hockum tried to rid NYC of all conservatives
When will that old bag be charged with a hate crime?
“No such treatment of the shooters we hear about weekly in Chicago.”
This.
Since June 1 about 140 people have been shot down on the Streets of Chicago - more people than a combat infantry company.
I don’t ever seem to read about federal arrest, conviction, and imprisonment of the offenders.
Maybe there are some.
If I were the family of James Byrd I would be royally pissed that the Act also bears the name of Shepard, whose "killing" (he died of exposure) had nothing to do with his being a homosexual, but instead a drug-related robbery that went too far.
Past time to get the “T” outta the LGBTQAnon Pantheon.
Maybe the federal gov’t are the real telepathic intruders.
They would almost have to be to do the hate crime thing.
Like someone else said, if someone committed a crime charge them with that.
For example If I said I don’t like sentiment AI, and posted rambling manifestos against them
That is not a hate crime, it is freedom of speach
In 30 years it will likely be mandatory re-education camp with lots of drugs forceably injected.
p.s. Kaczynski did not kill himself
There is no enumerated power given to the federal government to require ANY private person to respect federal covil rights. None. That includes all non-State Actors including businessmen and employers.
In Bidenskyyyyy’s Amerika, you can kill a couple of people and still not qualify for 18 years in prison.
I share your sentiment.
[...] and posted rambling manifestos against them [...]
Who? You?! Impossible!
[...] That is not a hate crime, it is freedom of speach
Regards,
Hate crimes like this are BS, but he deserves the jail time for shooting into someone’s home. And there are already laws against it.
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