I live a few miles from the scene of a 2008 right-wing terrorist attack.
What's most shocking about recent news, aside from the violence and tragic loss of life, is the surprise there's any ambiguity about the motives.
This is not ambiguous:
On July 27, 2008, a politically motivated fatal shooting took place at theTennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville,Tennessee. Motivated by a desire to kill liberals and Democrats, gunman Jim David Adkisson fired a shotgun at members of the congregation during a youth performance of a musical, killing two people and wounding seven others.
He expected to die in the attack, and left a note in his truck. It said, in part,
"liberalism… destroying America … I'd like to encourage other like-minded people to do what I've done … don't just kill yourself. Do something for your country before you go. Go kill liberals."
And when police searched his home,
Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity on accused shooter's reading list … Inside the house, officers found "Liberalism is a Mental Health Disorder" by radio talk show host Michael Savage, "Let Freedom Ring" by talk show host Sean Hannity, and "The O'Reilly Factor," by television talk show host Bill O'Reilly.
The victims who died in the attack were 60-year-old Greg McKendry, a longtime church member and usher who deliberately stood in front of the gunman to protect others, and 61-year-old Linda Kraeger, who died from wounds suffered during the attack later that night.
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Ten years ago, Greg McKendry and Linda Kraeger were victims of right-wing stochastic terrorism, perpetrated by Michael Savage, Sean Hannity, and Bill O’Reilly.
The shooter, Atkisson, will spend the rest of his life in prison.
The terrorists are still free.
There’s no ambiguity.