Monday, June 20, 2016

ORLANDO - Aftershock

"In Orlando mass shooting, a search for motive — and missed signals" PBS NewsHour 6/13/2016

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  A day after America woke to news of a horrific mass shooting at a Florida gay nightclub, a disturbing portrait of 29-year-old gunman Omar Mateen — who was on the FBI's radar — began to emerge.  Director James Comey defended his agents' multiple investigations of Mateen, whose ex-wife said he was full of hate, and who President Obama called a homegrown extremist.  William Brangham reports.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM (NewsHour):  There was relative calm outside the Pulse nightclub this morning, a far remove from the chaos of 24 hours earlier.  Amateur video captured the terror, gunshots shattering the party atmosphere inside the club.

The man firing the shots was 29-year-old Omar Mateen, ultimately killed by a SWAT team inside.  Police said today they have no regrets about storming the club.

JOHN MINA, Chief, Orlando Police Department:  Based on information we received from the suspect, and from the hostages, and people inside, we believed further loss of life was imminent.  I made the decision to commence the rescue operation and do the explosive breach.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM:  During the attack, Mateen called 911 dispatchers and pledged loyalty to the Islamic State.

Today, ISIS radio released an audio statement calling him a soldier of the caliphate.  And officials in Saudi Arabia confirmed he'd visited their country twice for pilgrimages.

But, in Washington, FBI Director James Comey said there's every reason to think Mateen acted on his own.

JAMES COMEY, Director, FBI:  There are strong indications of radicalization by this killer and of potential inspiration by foreign terrorist organizations.  So far, we see no indication that this was a plot directed from outside the United States, and we see no indication that he was part of any kind of network.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM:  The FBI had investigated Mateen on suspicions of terrorist sympathies, but the results were inconclusive, and Comey defended his agents' work.

JAMES COMEY:  Our investigation involved introducing confidential sources to him, recording conversations with him, following him, reviewing transactional records from his communications, and searching all government holdings for any possible connections, any possible derogatory information.




"LGBT Americans target of violent hate crimes more than any other group" PBS NewsHour 6/13/2016

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The Orlando mass shooting put a new focus on efforts to pass hate crime laws — and the sobering reality that LGBT Americans are more than twice as likely to be the target of a violent hate-crime than Muslims or African-Americans.  Gwen Ifill talks to Rachel Tiven of Lambda Legal and Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center on how recent LGBT rights successes may be stoking more anti-gay violence.




"Capitol Hill stalemate on gun control back in spotlight after Orlando shooting" PBS NewsHour 6/13/2016

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando Sunday represents the intersection of several heated political debates, including national security, the status of Muslims in America, and the battle over gun control.  For more on how lawmakers are responding to the tragedy, Judy Woodruff talks to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Rep. Will Hurd, R-Tex.




"Remember them: The names and faces of the lives cut short in the Orlando massacre" PBS NewsHour 6/14/2016

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  A mother of two.  An Army reservist.  A cancer survivor.  A gay rights activist.  A high school basketball star.  These are some of the victims of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.  The Newshour steps back to remember the names and faces of the 49 whose lives were cut short Sunday.

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