Yet another "mass shooting" in USA

[David Guyatt]

This time on a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans

Nineteen injured after gunman opens fire on New Orleans Mother's Day parade
Police say many victims grazed and most wounds not life-threatening after shooting at parade
guardian.co.uk, Monday 13 May 2013 08.41 BST


Police officers investigate the scene of a shooting at a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans. Photograph: Michael Democker/AP
Gunmen opened fire on dozens of people marching in a Mother's Day neighbourhood parade in New Orleans on Sunday, wounding at least 19, including two children.


Police said that many of the victims were grazed and most of the wounds weren't life-threatening. No deaths were reported.


FBI spokeswoman Mary Beth Romig said federal investigators have no indication that the shooting was an act of terrorism.


"It's strictly an act of street violence in New Orleans," she said. The southern city has one of the highest violent crime rates in the US.


A news release said the wounded included two 10-year-olds. It also said two people were in surgery.


As many as 400 people joined in the procession that stretched for about 3 blocks in what's known as a second-line parade, a loose procession in which people dance down the street, often following behind a brass band. They can be impromptu or planned and are sometimes described as moving block parties.


Officers were interspersed with the marchers, which is routine for such events. Only about half the participants were in the immediate vicinity of the shooting, Serpas said.


Police saw three suspects running from the scene. No arrests had been made as of late afternoon.


A social club called The Original Big 7 organised Sunday's event. The group was founded in 1996 at a housing project, according to its MySpace page.


The neighbourhood where the shooting happened was a mix of low-income and middle-class houses, some boarded up. As of last year, the neighbourhood's population was about 60% of its level before Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005.


Police vowed to make swift arrests.


"We'll get them. We have good resources in this neighbourhood," Serpas said.

The cynic in me says that the Constitution allowing arms to be held by citizens is going to keep coming under pressure until this right is abolished.

[Magda Hassan]

Does some one have unresolved mother issues? Not enough cuddles? Gunna show mommy who's in charge now. Interestingly it was a group of men. Not a lone nutter for a change. What does that mean? Interestingly they are saying it was 'stricly an act of street violence' as opposed to a 'terrorist' act in Boston. Was Craft in evidence for this parade?

[Anthony Thorne]

The notion that it was 'strictly an act of street violence' committed by a group of men should set loud alarm bells ringing. How do they know it was 'strictly' such an act rather than anything else? Did they interview the perpetrators? Did they have evidence immediately at hand to rule out terrorism? The statement from the FBI seems designed to lead readers away from errant, unwanted speculation. If armed perpetrators jointly attended the parade to commit a shooting, there was a conspiracy which involved at least two people, and which probably involved more.

If nothing else, it looks like the Years of Lead have started in America.

[David Guyatt]

The notion that it was 'strictly an act of street violence' committed by a group of men should set loud alarm bells ringing. How do they know it was 'strictly' such an act rather than anything else? Did they interview the perpetrators? Did they have evidence immediately at hand to rule out terrorism? The statement from the FBI seems designed to lead readers away from errant, unwanted speculation. If armed perpetrators jointly attended the parade to commit a shooting, there was a conspiracy which involved at least two people, and which probably involved more.

If nothing else, it looks like the Years of Lead have started in America.

Agreed, the strategy of tension is in full swing.

[David Guyatt]

ABC & Fox News reports. Read and weep at the dire state of media reporting.

This is Fox:

"We would like to remind the community and Akein Scott that the time has come for him to turn himself in," Serpas said at a news conference outside police headquarters.


A photo of Scott hung from a podium in front of the police chief. "We know more about you than you think we know," he said.

Serpas said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter.

Compare with ABC News:

"We would like to remind the community and Akein Scott that the time has come for him to turn himself in," Serpas said at a news conference outside police headquarters.


A photo of Scott hung from a podium in front of the police chief. "We know more about you than you think we know," he said.


Serpas said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter.

Two of these three para's have also been used in the same order by the Scottish Daily Record and Yahoo News.

When the media simply repeat without thought or fact checking, the handouts of a PR team over major events as this one was, then they truly no longer can expect to be taken seriously.

Then there's this:

Serpas said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter.

[Dawn Meredith]

Remember "fast and furious" as we read these stories.

I hate guns. But I would never want to see the 2nd Amendment abolished.

These shootings are looking agenda driven.

Dawn

[Peter Lemkin]

ABC & Fox News reports. Read and weep at the dire state of media reporting.

This is Fox:

"We would like to remind the community and Akein Scott that the time has come for him to turn himself in," Serpas said at a news conference outside police headquarters.


A photo of Scott hung from a podium in front of the police chief. "We know more about you than you think we know," he said.

Serpas said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter.

Compare with ABC News:

"We would like to remind the community and Akein Scott that the time has come for him to turn himself in," Serpas said at a news conference outside police headquarters.


A photo of Scott hung from a podium in front of the police chief. "We know more about you than you think we know," he said.


Serpas said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter.

Two of these three para's have also been used in the same order by the Scottish Daily Record and Yahoo News.

When the media simply repeat without thought or fact checking, the handouts of a PR team over major events as this one was, then they truly no longer can expect to be taken seriously.

Then there's this:

Serpas said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter.

It wasn't "too early to say" last Sunday and yesterday, however.

It now seems all stories are now focusing on only one shooter - a lone gunman no less - whereas the original reports of there being three different shooters appear to be fading into obscurity.

Watch this space.

Hmmm....patterns here.....at the 'Batman Shoot-em Up' most people reported two or more shooters or persons involved...then one was arrested drugged/mind-controlled out of his mind in his car and declared the 'lone-nut'....now here is another similar incident and there have been MANY other such 'events' following this pattern I could name.

[Magda Hassan]

Hmmm....patterns here.....at the 'Batman Shoot-em Up' most people reported two or more shooters or persons involved...then one was arrested drugged/mind-controlled out of his mind in his car and declared the 'lone-nut'....now here is another similar incident and there have been MANY other such 'events' following this pattern I could name.

That's very unAmerican of you Peter. No respect for the fine American tradition of 'lone nuts'. Even if they are manufacturered en mass..... Do you think this is a some conspiracy or some thing? Now go back to sleep. :zzzz:

[Anthony Thorne]

As if that wasn't enough, Jonathan Elinoff - in the thick of receiving death threats at the time - had prebooked a ticket to the very theater and screening in Colorado where the Batman shooting took place, but had to cancel at the last minute. A friend in the group he was meant to be sitting with was shot and killed. In interviews prior Elinoff had noted how Pat Sullivan - the proverbial white whale that undid his investigation - had been linked to both the Colombine shooting and the subsequent gun control Brady Bill. It's made me wonder.

[Peter Lemkin]

Hmmm....patterns here.....at the 'Batman Shoot-em Up' most people reported two or more shooters or persons involved...then one was arrested drugged/mind-controlled out of his mind in his car and declared the 'lone-nut'....now here is another similar incident and there have been MANY other such 'events' following this pattern I could name.

That's very unAmerican of you Peter. No respect for the fine American tradition of 'lone nuts'. Even if they are manufacturered en mass..... Do you think this is a some conspiracy or some thing? Now go back to sleep. :zzzz:

...just thinking aloud....and I didn't even start to mention the 'major' assassinations of the 60's. I love the term 'unAmerican'. I can hardly think of one other country that regularly labels some group of its citizens as un-[name of the country] for having beliefs/ideals/truths/traits a few standard deviations from the 'norm' of the Propaganda Line. Nazi Germany is one of the few that comes to mind; South Africa during Apartheid, USSR, and Israel are perhaps others that used slightly different wording, but meant something similar. It is certainly a feature of a totalitarian state. As to 'lone-nuts', we grow 'em on the farm by the truck load.....even export them at times. Bumper crops these past years - though there never has been a period when we didn't raise up quite a few! Magic nuts they are too - can often shoot from or be seen at multiple locations at the same time - defying the laws of Physics and the Universe....not to mention logic. Through genetic manipulation they have now developed lone-nut brothers who can make themselves seems like connected to many - even a cell of 12 and Craft employees - but really did all themselves. The best cloned crop of lone-nuts were the 19 clones called the 9-11-01 hijackers who completely ignored physics and logic while eluding the entire US air defense system......Some even survived their own deaths or flew airplanes [although only poorly trained on single engine private planes] in ways experienced fighter pilots said they couldn't; even fit a large airliner into a hole only large enough for a missile with hardened tip.....as I said magic lone-nuts. :p As American as 'Apple Pie'.