A 46-year old armed man named Robert Bowers is suspected for the massacre of 11 congregants that occurred within a synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 27, 2018. He came into the synagogue with an AR-15 assault rifle as well as three Glock 57s, yelling anti-semitic statements and shooting. Similarly on social media, he compared Jews to Satan, remarks about interracial relationships, lynching, and the usage of the n-word in previous posts.
The names of the victims are Joyce Fienberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Rose Mallinger, 97; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Cecil Rosenthal, 59; his brother David, 54; Bernice Simon, 84; her husband Sylvan, 86; Daniel Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 88, and Irving Younger, 69.
On October 28, 2018 a statement was released that he was charged with 29 federal charges. 11 counts being of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death, 11 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence, 4 counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer and of use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
In response to the shooting, President Trump suggested that the synagogue should have armed guards so the situation would’ve been different, in which the Mayor of Pittsburg disagrees with and sees that we should have stricter gun laws.
How do you feel about Donald Trump’s view on the shooting? Do you agree that if there were armed guards within the synagogue that the situation may have been better?
https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/statement-filing-federal-chargeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/28/us/pittsburgh-shooting-robert-bowers.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/10/28/victims-expected-be-named-after-killed-deadliest-attack-jews-us-history/?utm_term=.11e787ecf358
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46013066
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46003665
https://nypost.com/2018/10/28/pittsburgh-mayor-hits-back-at-trump-armed-guards-arent-the-answer/
There have been plenty of motivations for crimes such as this from a charged political climate to Trump promoting "bodyslamming reporters". Is there a course of action that can be taken that would steer away?
ReplyDelete-Yev
I don’t think they would’ve thought to have guards in the synagogue because they didn’t think that there would be a shooting at their place of worship. It’s sad that people now are scared by the possibility of getting killed when they’re going to a place that they see as holy. I think there’s something that needs to be done about the country’s gun laws.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Trump’s view on the shooting. The solution to gun violence is not fighting guns with more guns. I agree with the mayor that there should be stricter gun laws to prevent people like Bowers from getting guns in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that Trump had said that he didn't believe it was a gun law issue. I don't think that just because a place has a shooting, we should set up armed guards there, because eventually, we'd just have armed guards in every public area, like church, stores, and schools. I think that increases the amount of casualties that may occur as well as possibly someone impersonating as an armed guard to cause harm to a public place. I think there should be some changes to gun laws but I also know that often guns are obtained through loopholes in the law or not really legally at all.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, it shouldn't be common practice to need to have armed guards outside places of worship. I think that people's religions should be respected, even if you don't agree with them. I'm not sure having armed guards would change much, as the shooter might just only be deterred to another synagogue. While I'm not sure what the exact solution would be, I agree with Angel, who said that something needs to be done about our country's gun laws.
ReplyDeleteI personally do not agree with Trump’s suggestion. I agree with the mayor. I personally believe that we should focus more on gun laws instead of combating violence with more violence. There are many religions that condem violence, so it does not make sense to hire armed guards in these situations. I do no believe armed guards are the solution to these gun related crimes. - Akira
ReplyDeleteI find it ridiculous that Trump sees this shooting as a reason for more guns, not less, considering without access to an assault rifle this never would have happened. Yes, vitriotic hate is a key element of this massacre, but it wouldn't have had a violent outlet without a gun. In addition, I think his comments display the hypocrisy of the frequent right-wing argument that just after tragedies is not the time to talk about gun laws, considering that's exactly what he's doing.
ReplyDelete--Alessandra Squillace
I don't agree with how Trump responded to the shooting. It seems like he is blaming the victims for what happened instead of the shooter. I don't think enforcing armed guards at religious sites is the most efficient strategy.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, this is yet another product of the automatic weapon. More efficient than an armed guard would have been the restriction of these weapons oh so useful in mass shootings but perfectly unnecessary for self defense. It was sad to suggest arming teachers a couple months ago but it’s infinitely worse to suggest guard and guns onto grounds of worship.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with Trump's reaction. The harming factor in the situation was not a lack of armed troops but a violent man who got access to guns. If the government's job is to protect us from harm, is it not the government's job to in the first place prevent this from happening? He is victim blaming, and citizens should not need bodyguards around 24/7 to stay safe from shootings.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with the way Trump reacted. Trump suggests is promoting more firearms as a solution to this violent act. Rather than allowing people use firearms to protect themselves, I think we should restrict these weapons from people to efficiently eliminate the problem.
ReplyDeleteI think that an armed guard wouldn't of helped because that risks people getting caught in the crossfire. Guns have no place in a house of worship. I think it would be more efficient to ban guns in general. I think Trumps view on the shooting was supper insensitive.
ReplyDeleteI think that the idea of having armed guys at the site could’ve helped but also could be useless. It could help if the armed guard would spot the shooter before anyone else is harmed and neutralize the situation. It could also be bad because the civilians could become injured or killed in the crossfire of the guard against the shooter.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with Trump's reaction. Guns are the problem. Having more guns is just adding more to the problem. More guns lead to more deaths. Having armed guards at a place of worship seems disrespectful to me. -Jackie
ReplyDeleteI think Trump's comments on this situation are pretty absurd to say the least. The thought that people and communities, religious or not, should always expect an attack and therefore require guards to stand post outside their facility doors just to have some sort of respect is insane.
ReplyDeleteI do not think fixing the issue of someone getting a gun and using it for murder in a place worship by having armed guards will benefit anything or anyone. Stricter gun laws might prevent more people to can a hold of guns, but people can easily find loopholes and borrow or lend guns to each other. Mass shootings is a tricky thing.
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