# Charleston, SC church shooting **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 18, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823 "2015-06-18T04:15:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/181 "2015-06-19T14:47:35Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I wouldn’t try to fit his views into a logical scheme, but since his goal was to start a race war, not just to protect white women from them darkie rapists, it probably didn’t matter to him that much. Plus, killing black women means preventing the birth of black men in the future, or something. Then again, maybe he’s mad about black women raping white women. I mean, it’s not an area of huge concern to law enforcement, as far as I can tell, but presumably it’s happened somewhere. I know, trying to make sense of something that will never make sense is a pointless exercise. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/182 "2015-06-19T14:52:35Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > i’m tired of people describing him as “disturbed”. He’s just as disturbed as any Islamic terrorist, and yet we don’t ever describe those people as “disturbed”. We just say they are hateful terrorists. > > I’m betting we’re in for a full night of talking heads pontificatiing about the failures of mental health services. We’ll hear so many pitiful stories about him and his “struggles” that we’ll be feeling sorry for the po’ chile before too long. You know, I thought about that after I used the term. I have this tendency to think that anyone who kills another is disturbed and for me, that does include terrorists. I don’t pity him or their “struggles,” but I do feel sad about the circumstances that created these people. I mean, that kind of hate has to taught, doesn’t it. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/183 "2015-06-19T14:54:46Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > If he’s concerned about all the raping of “our” women, why did he kill more women than men? That’s who was _there_. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/184 "2015-06-19T14:56:42Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > To me, this sad affair is a lot like the Connecticut school shootings-Obama makes a speech, will probably appoint a commission (to study it), and the whole thing will be forgotten…unless there is political capital to be made off it. Congratulations on finding a way to blame a politician who does want to deal with the problem. > [@](#): > > Our cynical politicians have no answers, they just talk a lot. The ones who piously denounce mental illness, deplore killings, take their NRA money and proceed to prevent any action from being taken? \*Those \*politicians? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/185 "2015-06-19T14:58:13Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I can’t fault the candidates for not wanting to appear to capitalize on a tragedy. The proper thing to do is stay away. That’s trained helplessness. A tragedy is the \*best \*time to inspire people and to take action, when the denialists and obstructionists are unable to respond effectively. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/186 "2015-06-19T15:08:26Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > That’s trained helplessness. A tragedy is the \*best \*time to inspire people and to take action, when the denialists and obstructionists are unable to respond effectively. For those IN office, yes. The mayor, governor, and president can and should be inspirational and caring in these instances and propose solutions, if they have them. Those running FOR office will wind up looking like they’re trying to milk the situation for political gain, even if their intentions are purely good. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/187 "2015-06-19T15:32:56Z")
Isn’t that what leadership is though? Stepping up, and into the harshest light to speak out, and make your voice heard. Over the insanity, over the outrage, over the knee jerking, blaming, scapegoating, etc. Isn’t the measure of a man what he dies in times of difficulty, not ease? This is a trying time, people want leaders, who can face hard things. Even things that are difficult to face and to make us face. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/188 "2015-06-19T15:38:25Z")
[NRA Board Member Blames Murdered Reverend For Death Of His Congregants In Charleston Church Mass Shooting.](http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/06/18/nra-board-member-blames-murdered-reverend-for-d/204057) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/189 "2015-06-19T15:47:15Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Those running FOR office will wind up looking like they’re trying to milk the situation for political gain, even if their intentions are purely good. Of course they should use the situation for political gain! That’s what democracy is – the people who want to lead us should respond to the issues at hand by telling us how they would do things better. ---
**Author:** ![Shin\_Ji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Shin\_Ji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shin_Ji)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/190 "2015-06-19T15:47:32Z")
Is anyone else pissed off at the forum this discussion happens to be in? This is neither mundane nor pointless. Do y’all typically discuss terror attacks in this forum? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/191 "2015-06-19T15:49:24Z")
Yes, most current events threads that are not debates go here. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/192 "2015-06-19T15:50:33Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > You know, I thought about that after I used the term. I have this tendency to think that anyone who kills another is disturbed and for me, that does include terrorists. > > I don’t pity him or their “struggles,” but I do feel sad about the circumstances that created these people. > > I mean, that kind of hate has to taught, doesn’t it. I think all of them are disturbed too. It’s just that it pisses me off that the media seems to reserve that word for homegrown terrorism (along with "lone wolf). ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/193 "2015-06-19T17:23:37Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I think all of them are disturbed too. It’s just that it pisses me off that the media seems to reserve that word for homegrown terrorism (along with "lone wolf). Note that he’s not called a “thug.” And he was arrested quite neatly–while shoplifters & illegal sellers of cigarettes don’t survive the process… ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/194 "2015-06-19T17:55:52Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Congratulations on finding a way to blame a politician who does want to deal with the problem. > > The ones who piously denounce mental illness, deplore killings, take their NRA money and proceed to prevent any action from being taken? \*Those \*politicians? Care to point out who I “blamed” for the shootings? What actions (taken as the result of the Connecticut school massacre) could have prevented the Charleston shootings? Did the presidential commission do anything? Yes, i am sure that the NRA will get the blame for this…so what else is new? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/195 "2015-06-19T18:02:23Z")
What “presidential commission” are you talking about? The Sandy Hook Advisory Commission was convened by the governor of Connecticut. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/196 "2015-06-19T18:16:58Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Care to point out who I “blamed” for the shootings? You’re blaming Obama, and him alone, for not doing anything to prevent them. Your reasons for that are your own. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/197 "2015-06-19T18:37:16Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Note that he’s not called a “thug.” And he was arrested quite neatly–while shoplifters & illegal sellers of cigarettes don’t survive the process… I hadn’t thought of that… I haven’t seen an instance yet of Roof being called a thug, though I’m sure they exist somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/198 "2015-06-19T18:47:15Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I hadn’t thought of that… I haven’t seen an instance yet of Roof being called a thug, though I’m sure they exist somewhere. [South Carolina State Senator Marlon E. Kimpson:](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/19/dylann-roof-death-penalty_n_7622342.html) My personal opinion is I think he should receive the death penalty. I don’t say that lightly. Death is a very serious thing and the ultimate penalty that you can pay, but in this case, that sentence would fit what he did. He is a thug, a criminal, a person that is filled with hate and it’s just unimaginable the kind of grief and sorrow that this community is experiencing as a result. [http://conservativetribune.com/charleston-thug-major-bad-news/](http://conservativetribune.com/charleston-thug-major-bad-news/) BREAKING: Thug Who Shot Up Charleston Church Gets Some Major Bad News ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/199 "2015-06-19T18:54:06Z")
> **[From victims’ families, forgiveness for accused Charleston gunman Dylann Roof](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/south-carolina-governor-urges-death-penalty-charges-in-church-slayings/2015/06/19/3c039722-1678-11e5-9ddc-e3353542100c_story.html)** > > Gov. Nikki Haley called for the death penalty, while President Obama urged the nation to confront gun violence. Witnesses told authorities they never saw the man pull out the gun. Instead, they saw him start shooting, up close, targeting each victim with precision. The man took the time to reload the handgun “several times,” officials said. I always wonder about this kind of stuff. One guy, a dozen people in the room, taking time to reload _several times_, shooting methodically, and no one rushes him to try to take the gun away/incapacitate him/etc? Yes, there were mostly women there, but still - is in the shock/disbelief that makes people basically wait to get shot? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823/200 "2015-06-19T19:17:04Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > One guy, a dozen people in the room, taking time to reload _several times_, shooting methodically, and no one rushes him to try to take the gun away/incapacitate him/etc? Yes, there were mostly women there, but still - is in the shock/disbelief that makes people basically wait to get shot? You would think they would have all beat him to death with chairs. It probably doesn’t take long to change magazines, but a room full of Baptists would have beaten him up, at least. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charleston-sc-church-shooting/722823.md?page=11)