7 Killed in Shooting at Sikh Temple - Domestic Terrorism Suspected

While the details are still being investigated by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, it appears that the shooting spree that killed six (seven counting the shooter who was killed by police return fire) may have been a case of domestic terrorism - which the FBI defines as “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”  Reports from CNN indicate that the shooter was a white male around forty who had tattoos that caused authorities to suspect terrorism.   Sikhs are sometimes confused with Muslims and some believe that the temple may have been attacked in a case of mistaken identity.  If suspicions prove true and would be anti-Muslim terrorism is confirmed it will go a long way to underscore the danger of lunatics like Michele Bachmann running around mouthing batshitery about Muslim conspiracies.  And once again we see a case of automatic weapons being used to inflict large scale shootings.  I feel sorry for those who may have needlessly lost loved ones today because of possible religious based bigotry.  First here are highlights from the Los Angeles Times:

Tattoos on the body of the slain Sikh temple gunman and certain biographical details led the FBI to treat the attack at a Milwaukee-area temple as an act of domestic terrorism, officials said Sunday.

The shootings in Oak Creek, Wis., left seven dead, including the gunman, and three critically wounded. One of the injured was a police officer who was expected to survive.

A federal official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media refused to say whether the gunman was thought to belong to a hate group or some other violent group because the investigation was still unfolding.

The designation of “domestic terrorism” under the FBI’s rubric — which was not applied to the Aurora, Colo., theater shooting — implies a political agenda. The FBI defines terrorism as “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”

TMJ 4, citing police sources, reported that two semiautomatic handguns had been recovered and that police were searching a red truck in front of the temple.

The Sikh faith originated in India in the 15^th century. Male followers wear turbans and women wear head scarves. In the U.S., Sikhs occasionally have been mistaken for Muslims. They have also been victims of hate crimes. 

CNN also has coverage and here are a few excerpts:

Authorities have not identified the gunman by name, though Thomas Ahern, a spokesman with the ATF's Chicago division, described him as a white male roughly 40 years of age.

The Sikh religion originated in northern India around 1500 and has about 25 million followers, 700,000 of them in the United States, according to the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Because of their customary beards and turbans, Sikh men are often confused for Hindus or Muslims -- and have been the targets of hate crimes since the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, said Surinder Singh, a spokesman for the Guru Nanak Mission Society of Atlanta.
 

Kaleka said the gunman started shooting in the parking lot, "then entered into the temple and proceeded to open fire."

"It seems the few casualties that have been divulged to me have been the equivalent of priests, the holy leaders of our people," he said. "My uncle is one of the administrators of the temple. It's mainly those individuals who have been targeted or shot. Maybe it's because the ladies were fortunate enough to dodge it out, but so far most of the people I've heard have been shot and killed were all turbaned males."

It will be interesting to learn what the shooters motive might have been.  If it was religiously based, these six victims will join the list of millions who have died throughout history because of the foul fruits of religion and hatred of those who are different.