Crime Las Vegas Mass Shooting

[Orgasmo]

I have read a lot of comments both here and on youtube related to the Mandalay Bay shooting. A common one is about how it isn't terrorism since the perpetrator is white in a sarcastic manner. I know it's a dig at racism from the political left against right wingers, but let's look deeper into it.

ter·ror·ism
ˈterəˌrizəm/
noun
noun: terrorism
the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.

To this day, nearly a week after the shooting, we are still unable to establish a motive. Even the scumbag's family members and girlfriend claimed to have no knowledge of him planning an attack. The Las Vegas police is saying the man may have led a double life. We know he's fairly rich, owning multiple properties and two private planes on top of being a high stakes gambler. He is also known to have a clean criminal and mental health record.

For an attack to be considered terrorism, there needs to be a political agenda to be furthered. We have not seen one yet, and we need to be very careful at terrorism label. There are calls to expand the terrorism label, which carries dire consequences in terms of civil liberties and government surveillance powers. I think we should refrain from throwing around the term terrorism until concrete motive indicating such could be established.

Your thoughts?

 

[original doom]

Because the authorities seem to be tight lipped at the moment we dont know but if there is no political motive or any motive other than killing than I say no, its not terrorism.

Its really that simple.

We shouldnt be twisting the meaning so a bunch of liberals can scoff at white "terrorists"

 

[TheFirstEMP]

Because the authorities seem to be tight lipped at the moment we dont know but if there is no political motive or any motive other than killing than I say no, its not terrorism.

Its really that simple.

We shouldnt be twisting the meaning so a bunch of liberals can scoff at white "terrorists"

According to HuffPo and NYT and several others in social media, white males are the biggest problems the US faces.

 

[Protectandserve]

Until the motive is understood no. Cant call it terrorism unless the shooter had an express political motive or aim he was trying to accomplish.

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

If your definition of terrorism is "Ooooh I'm scared!" then yeah. If it includes a political motive then probably not.

 

[jamel]

Yeah.
He worked for Terrorist Organization known as Cobra.

 

[Phr3121]

Your thoughts?

There are a few different definitions of 'terrorism':
. Systematic use of violence and intimidation to achieve some goal.
. Violence or the threat of violence directed against civilians for the purpose of creating intense fear, which the terrorist hopes to exploit to attain political or ideological goals.
. The systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion.

You have:
. Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
. Charles Whitman, a shooter who positioned himself atop the observation deck at the Main Building tower at the University of Texas in 1966.
. Theodore Kaczynski, also known as the 'Unabomber', is an American mathematician, anarchist and domestic terrorist. Bombing period: 1978 - 1995.

I would say that the three listed above and Stephen Paddock are all homegrown American terrorists.

 

[TSO]

Yeah.
He worked for Terrorist Organization known as Cobra.

Cobra commander is a hero, not terrorist.

 

[Pelosi2020]

That hand written note he left on the desk would probably give you a definitive answer.

 

[TSO]

There are a few different definitions of 'terrorism':
. Systematic use of violence and intimidation to achieve some goal.
. Violence or the threat of violence directed against civilians for the purpose of creating intense fear, which the terrorist hopes to exploit to attain political or ideological goals.
. The systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion.

You have:
. Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
. Charles Whitman, a shooter who positioned himself atop the observation deck at the Main Building tower at the University of Texas in 1966.
. Theodore Kaczynski, also known as the 'Unabomber', is an American mathematician, anarchist and domestic terrorist. Bombing period: 1978 - 1995.

I would say that the three listed above and Stephen Paddock are all homegrown American terrorists.

That first definition is so nebulous it could include a fist fight. As for the puting him in the same category as the actual terrorists you missed one thing... motive. The most important part of determining if something is terrorism is the motive and so far we have none.

 

[Phr3121]

As for the puting him in the same category as the actual terrorists you missed one thing... motive. The most important part of determining if something is terrorism is the motive and so far we have none.

Did Whitman have a motive? I think the most important part of being a terrorist is the number of people they kill.

 

[Sycho Sid]

Yeah.
He worked for Terrorist Organization known as Cobra.

If that were true he would have warned everyone by yelling COOOOOBRRRAAAAA!!!! at the top of his lungs before proceeding to miss every shot he took.

 

[7437]

Did Whitman have a motive? I think the most important part of being a terrorist is the number of people they kill.

He didnt

 

[Trotsky]

If your definition of terrorism is "Ooooh I'm scared!" then yeah. If it includes a political motive then probably not.

This basically sums up the issue.

If people want to label all mass murder terrorism and switch up the meaning, I'm game, but let's not get into semantic point tallying.

 

[Zax0r]

Did Whitman have a motive? I think the most important part of being a terrorist is the number of people they kill.

He had a brain tumour.

 

[MacDuffle]

He had a brain tumour.

And that tumour demanded more cowbell

 

[IDL]

I don't think the term should be watered down to eliminate the political motive/agenda requirement. It becomes almost meaningless at that point.

 

[The Diplomat]

If he had a political motive, then yes.

 

[The Diplomat]

He didnt

Has that been established?

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

This basically sums up the issue.

If people want to label all mass murder terrorism and switch up the meaning, I'm game, but let's not get into semantic point tallying.

We'll need to concoct a new word for actual political violence. Horrorism? Circumventing-the-vote-ism? Bullyism?