Submitted for your perusal and edification, E-mail Blog report received from:
Massad Ayoob On Guns from “Backwoods Home Magazine”
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FORT HOOD: Go ahead, blame the weapon, not the killer…
Posted: 10 Nov 2009 11:37 AM PST
As we learn more about the man who shot 40-some people, leaving 13 dead thus far, at our largest military base, we predictably see certain forces in society demonizing the weapon, not the demon who carried out the act. From the first day, we saw CNN et al emphasize that the slayer had used a (shudder!) semi-automatic weapon.
When it came out that he had used a 5.7X28mm pistol, to wit the FN Five-SeveN, some in the media and among the brie-and-chablis crowd seemed almost to wet themselves. This gun had already become a focus of the anti-gunners, who call it a “cop-killer.”
Now, I’m a little more on top of murders of police, and officer survival issues, than the average bear, and I’ve not yet found a case of a police officer being murdered with this particular handgun. But, I’m an old guy and probably getting forgetful. Can anyone ELSE document such a case? If so, post it here, please. Forgive me if I don’t hold my breath too hard…
The mainstream media is, in large part, overlooking the fact that the accused mass-murderer had studied under a radical Islamist who had also taught some of the 9/11 terrorists (LINK HERE). And that the accused killer had allegedly posted on the Internet, comparing suicide bombers with soldiers who throw themselves on grenades to save their comrades in battle (LINK HERE). AND that he was a totally hypocritical FALSE Muslim. Out of one side of his mouth, he sought a traditional Muslim bride who would wear the hajib and pray five times a day. Out of the other side of his, uh, mouth, he apparently sipped light beer and bought lap dances for $50 a time from American blondes at strip joints. (LINK HERE)
My heart goes out to the victims and their families. I have family at Fort Hood myself. And I feel for the estimated 3500 followers of the Islamic faith who honorably serve at this writing in our nation’s armed services. I hope these loyalists won’t be tarred by the same brush as Hassan.
And I am saddened to see clueless journalists instead blame and demonize the gun, which has roughly the on-paper ballistics of a .22 Magnum rifle that you or I might use to shoot woodchucks on the farm to keep them out of the lettuce patch.
The 5.7 in its original SS190 military load was indeed designed to pierce armor, and still tumble through flesh, creating substantial wound potential. From its inception a score of years ago to now, there has been much controversy over whether it’s a magic man-stopper or an impotent mouse-gun. Morbid as it sounds to say it, a LONG time from now, once the medical reports and autopsy results have been tallied and declassified, this terrible incident will give researchers information that may answer that question.
For now, it suffices for logical people to recognize that the pistol was not the demon.
In this terrible incident, the demon was the one holding the pistol.