A Garland SWAT officer prevents people from leaving the art show. Reuters.
Two gunmen were killed and one officer was shot on an attack on a Muhammad cartoon art show in Garland Texas. Reuters. The free speech event was put on by the American Freedom Defense Initiative and involved a $10,000 prize for the best drawing of Muhammad. The two suspects drove up in a car and began firing at the building that held the event. Police returned fire and killed the two shooters. The identity of the shooters and their motives are unknown at this time.
My Comment:
Though it hasn't been confirmed that this was motivated by radical Islam, it is a safe bet that it was. And just when I was considering changing my facebook profile picture from something other then a picture of Muhammad... This is not the first time this has happened, and it really isn't surprising at all. Radical Islam has a huge problem with people insulting the prophet, Charlie Hebdo happened because of it. The murder of several cartoonists and filmmakers happened because of it. And I am guessing that this is the cause of this attack as well.
Out of all places though, I never expected this in a place like Texas. I don't know much about Garland, but I never thought any place in Texas would be a target for a terrorist attack. For one, I don't think there are that many Muslims, radical or otherwise, in Texas in the first place. Second, the result of this attack, both shooters shot dead before they could accomplish anything, is entirely predictable.
After all, Texas has a huge gun culture. Though it sounds like the cops shot the suspects, it would not have been at all surprising if the result was the same if the cops weren't even there. They have strong pro-gun laws and many people there carry guns. If I was picking a place to commit a mass shooting, Texas would be about the last place I would pick.
Which is why the Charlie Hebdo/Bardo Museum style attacks probably won't ever take off in the United States. Unlike Europe, America has a strong gun culture and our people are just as likely to return fire as our cops are. And our cops are so well armed and well trained, to the point that they have probably gone to far in the other direction.
In short, these kinds of attacks need soft targets to succeed. There are soft targets in the United States, (see every single school shooting ever), but more often then not if you are planning a mass shooting in a state with strong gun rights, your best bet is to not shoot people.
Also, the idea that people would shoot people over stupid cartoons automatically justifies those cartoons existence. I hope that this attack doesn't scare people away from criticizing Islam. Everything is open to criticism. Even Muhammad. All the shootings or bombings in the world won't change that.
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