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On August 15th of last year, 28 year old Virginia resident Floyd Corkins entered the Washington DC headquarters of The Family Research Council armed with a 9 mm Sig Sauer pistol and 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches. His stated intent was to kill as many people as possible and to smear the sandwiches in the faces of his victims to make his political statement. At the time, Chick-fil-A was making headlines because of its president’s opposition to gay marriage. Security guard Leo Johnson, rightly hailed as a hero, was able to thwart the attack and wrestle the weapon away from Corkins, but not before taking a bullet to the arm in the process.
In an agreement reached last Wednesday, Corkins pleaded guilty to his crime.
Corkins pleaded guilty to three charges: interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition, assault with intent to kill while armed and act of terrorism while armed, a charge based on the shooting being intended to intimidate anyone who is associated with or supports the Family Research Council and other organizations that oppose gay marriage.
Sentencing guidelines recommend a maximum of 10 years on the first count and up to 15 years on the two other counts. The judge in the case, Richard W. Roberts, set sentencing for April 29.
In a statement released after Corkins' plea, the head of the Family Research Council blamed the shooting in part on the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has labeled his organization a hate group.
Without exception, LGBT organizations joined in to denounce the attack, making it clear that acts of violence against those who actively work against our equality run counter to our efforts and is condemned in the strongest possible manner. Shortly after the shooting, The Southern Poverty Law Center released the
following statement in response to the attack.
Yesterday’s attack on the Family Research Council and the shooting of a security guard there was a tragedy. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) deplores all violence, and our thoughts are with the wounded victim, Leo Johnson, his family and others who lived through the attack.
For more than 40 years, the SPLC has battled against political extremism and political violence. We have argued consistently that violence is no answer to problems in a democratic society, and we have strongly criticized all those who endorse such violence, whether on the political left or the political right.
Not letting a sleazy opportunity pass them by to paint LGBT activist groups as violent and the SPLC as being 100% complicit in this isolated criminal act, hate group leaders are cravenly using this event to score cheap political points against its critics.
Family Research Council leader Tony Perkins came out of the gate first with a press release pinning blame on the SPLC.
The day after Floyd Corkins came into the FRC headquarters and opened fire wounding one of our team members, I stated that while Corkins was responsible for the shooting, he had been given a license to perpetrate this act of violence by groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center which has systematically and recklessly labeled every organization with which they disagree as a 'hate group'.
The Southern Poverty Law Center can no longer say that it is not a source for those bent on committing acts of violence. Only by ending its hate labeling practices will the SPLC send a message that it no longer wishes to be a source for those who would commit acts of violence that are only designed to intimidate and silence Christians and others who support natural marriage and traditional morality.
And yesterday über hater Matt Barber of the Liberty Council Action penned a
screed to World Net Daily, frothing that the SPLC has "bloody hands."
Long before homosexual activist Floyd Corkins entered the D.C.-based Family Research Council (FRC) with the intent to commit mass murder, I warned from the rooftops that the hard-left Southern Poverty Law Center’s anti-Christian “hate group” propaganda might spur such bloodshed. With a column headlined, “Liberal violence rising,” I wrote, “The SPLC’s dangerous and irresponsible (‘hate group’) disinformation campaign can embolden and give license to like-minded, though less stable, left-wing extremists, creating a climate of true hate. Such a climate is ripe for violence.
I no longer believe the SPLC has a sense of goodwill. In fact, based on FBI evidence and the group’s own actions (and inaction), I and many others are left with no other inference but this: The SPLC – a left-wing extremist fundraising behemoth – may be intentionally inciting anti-Christian violence.
Motive to kill? Fomented. Who to kill? Provided. Where to kill? Pinpointed, with easy access to driving directions. The only thing the SPLC did not do was purchase Corkins’ gun and drive him to the crime scene. Here’s why, to my own aghast bewilderment, I’m left with little choice but to believe the SPLC may be intentionally inciting anti-Christian violence. Is the SPLC a left-wing extremist group? Absolutely. Are they anti-Christian? Without a doubt. But few would have believed, until now, that they might intentionally, with malice aforethought, seek to incite anti-Christian bloodshed.
Never mind the fact that the Southern Poverty Law Center has placed these organizations on their hate groups list for the very reason of using dangerous and harmful rhetoric against LGBT people. They remain on that list because instead of moderating their hate speech, they continue to ramp it up as we win victories over their efforts to marginalize and demonize us. These irony-free losers are lashing out and attempting to distract from their own behavior by twisting logic into a pretzel and placing blame back on their biggest critic. Of course, no one is buying it except for their own rapidly dwindling base of supporters. They aren't winning over hearts and minds with this embarrassingly transparent tactic. If anything, they are solidifying their rightful designation as hate groups in the eyes of an awakening public.
And now on to Tops!
TOP MOJO
February 8, 2013
(excluding Tip Jars and first comments)
Got mik!
1) I'm so sorry. by psilocynic — 217
2) My deepest sympathies, commonmass :( n/t by Trix — 211
3) May your memories of Terun be an by Free Jazz at High Noon — 185
4) Here is the picture I took of the two of you by sfbob — 168
5) At this point who is more dangerous? by rudewarrior — 150
6) May he rest in peace by coquiero — 146
7) My Sympathies, cm by JekyllnHyde — 145
8) So Sorry, Deepest Sympathies. nt by Gooserock — 130
9) My deepest condolences. by sparkysmom — 125
10) I am so sorry, commonmass. by triciawyse — 106
11) I'm so sorry for the family's loss. Peace. by nchristine — 106
12) I am so sorry for your loss. by loggersbrat — 105
13) The LAPD does not want him to surrender and tell by Dretutz — 105
14) My heartfelt condolences to you, commonmass, and by jnhobbs — 104
15) If I'm being objective, the LAPD. by The Rational Hatter — 101
16) sorry for your loss but affirming your love by teacherken — 95
17) a travesty of "justice" by Don midwest — 94
18) I love that picture, thanks. by commonmass — 92
19) Condolences, Bill. by Bill in Portland Maine — 92
20) speaking as someone who has by rexymeteorite — 91
21) Our Condolences. Keeping you in our hearts. by mrsgoo — 90
22) So sorry for your loss! by Massconfusion — 89
23) The LAPD are a bunch of scared shitless people by Marnie1 — 88
24) Indeed.... by NonnyO — 83
25) ((((((((((((((((((((((Bill)))))))))))))))))))))))) by Chacounne — 83
26) {{{commonmass}}} by bfitzinAR — 82
27) Thank you, SJF..... by Ekaterin — 80
28) I don't entirely disagree with your by inclusiveheart — 81
29) Please accept my most sincerest condolences by arizonablue — 79
30) May he rest in peace by sfbob — 79
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TOP PHOTOS
February 8, 2013
Enjoy jotter's wonderful PictureQuilt™ below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment that features that photo. Have fun, Kossacks!
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