[Mass Shooting] Seven dead in Sikh temple shooting

[Odin]

The latest massacre.

[Holman]

Right now they're saying the shooter was among those killed, but they're not 100% certain that he was the only perpetrator.

Among those shot was the president of the temple, Satwant Singh Kaleka, who just last Sunday invited a state representative and the county district attorney to discuss a recent rise in violence against area Sikhs at their stores and businesses, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Police briefing scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Eastern.

I hate this stuff.

[Lordnine]

That’s sad. Aren’t Sikh’s one of the more peaceful religions in the world? They don't even try to actively convert people.

Sikhs believe in the equality of humankind, the concept of universal brotherhood of man and One Supreme God…The Sikh religion also teaches that human life is more precious than a diamond.

Unless they were mistaken for something else because of their attire I can’t imagine them having many enemies.

[Holman]

There's been a lot of anti-Sikh violence lately.

I doubt the bigots know much about Sikh's beliefs. They're an easy Other because they stand out: distinctive dress, turbans, beards, usually brown skin.

[triggercut]

They are indeed a very, very peaceful people. Two very good friends I played soccer with in St. Louis are Sikhs. Sweetest guys in the world, and yes, it is a largely non-missionary religion.

[Smoove_B]

Awful, awful story. As suggested, from the various articles:

Among those shot was the president of the temple, Satwant Singh Kaleka, who just last Sunday invited a state representative and the county district attorney to discuss a recent rise in violence against area Sikhs at their stores and businesses, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

There's a pretty big difference between hateful comments or a brick through a store window and this.

[Odin]

I doubt the bigots know much about Sikh's beliefs. They're an easy Other because they stand out: distinctive dress, turbans, beards, usually brown skin.

We have a small handful of Sikhs at my kids' schools, and of the few comments that have gotten back to me via my kids, that seems to be exactly the case - they look/dress a little different (males of any age never cut their hair, so under-age boys wear a large topknot on their heads), have unusual-sounding (to western ears) names, and are darker-skinned than the almost-entirely-white student body. The mother of one of my daughter's classmates evidently told her kid to stay away from them because they're terrorists and bad people.

[msduncan]

There's a group of them with a temple here in my town. Nice folks. Very friendly to everyone.

[Skinypupy]

The mother of one of my daughter's classmates evidently told her kid to stay away from them because they're terrorists and bad people.

God, I despise people sometimes.

Thoughts and prayers to all involved in today's madness.

[Grundbegriff]

Whatever the murderer's motives, I hope this incident sparks a serious media effort to educate the public about Sikhism.

[Baroquen]

Whatever the murderer's motives, I hope this incident sparks a serious media effort to educate the public about Sikhism.

You have more faith in the media than I do.

[Daehawk]

Most likely some idiot confused them with Muslim due to their skin color and the wearing of the turbans. If I'm not mistaken a Sikh was beat severely after 9/11 because someone thought he was Muslim.

The world is full of crazies and hate. this will always happen. If it happens to a Sikh then anyone is a target. I admit to not knowing a thing about this religion but due to this I am now going to read up on them. Their beliefs actually sound like a good religion.

[Paingod]

I'll admit ignorance. I've heard "Sikh" a few times but had associated it for some reason with a branch/sect of Muslim faith and gave it no further thought. Religion isn't something I generally care much about unless someone is hitting me in the face with it, and by the sounds of it this one wouldn't bother to hit me - so it mind of makes sense that I had no idea.

I'm sure there are droves of people that know more about this religion now than they ever would have before.

[LawBeefaroni]

Apparently the shooter was ex US Army. He was a PsyOps specialist.

[Blackhawk]

Most likely some idiot confused them with Muslim due to their skin color and the wearing of the turbans.

Or somebody not really caring about the distinction. Hate groups see only 'white' and 'other than white.'

[tgb]

Most likely some idiot confused them with Muslim due to their skin color and the wearing of the turbans. If I'm not mistaken a Sikh was beat severely after 9/11 because someone thought he was Muslim.

I was about to post this. It happened in Phoenix, iirc, although I wouldn't be surprised if there were other similar incidents.

[Holman]

There have been multiple incidents of anti-Sikh violence in the U.S. in recent years, but I don't think we can blame it all on confusion with the Taliban. Some communities (like this one in Wisconsin, apparently) have been plagued by repetitions, and they've mounted efforts to educate their communities on what Sikhism is and is not.

For some bigots, just being obviously foreign and non-Christian is enough to mark Sikhs as a target.

edit: I guess Blackhawk said it already.

[Fretmute]

Most likely some idiot confused them with Muslim due to their skin color and the wearing of the turbans. If I'm not mistaken a Sikh was beat severely after 9/11 because someone thought he was Muslim.

I was about to post this. It happened in Phoenix, iirc, although I wouldn't be surprised if there were other similar incidents.

CNN just informed me that it was in Mesa, and that he was shot and killed.

[Smoove_B]

JS Online is reporting info from the Southern Poverty Law Center suggesting:

Page was a frustrated neo-Nazi who had been the leader of a racist white-power band known as End Apathy.

[Captain Caveman]

What a terrible band name. Was he 13?

[Scuzz]

Apparently the shooter was ex US Army. He was a PsyOps specialist.

He was also a neo-nazi.

[LawBeefaroni]

Apparently the shooter was ex US Army. He was a PsyOps specialist.

He was also a neo-nazi.

Yes, apparently he was. But still there are most likely multiple contributing factors.

[hepcat]

Most likely some idiot confused them with Muslim due to their skin color and the wearing of the turbans.

Or somebody not really caring about the distinction. Hate groups see only 'white' and 'other than white.'

Sadly...+1

[ska5fe]

What a tragedy. It occurred about a mile from where my parents were at the time.

[Mr Bubbles]

Whatever the murderer's motives, I hope this incident sparks a serious media effort to educate the public about Sikhism.

I sincerely hope so. The Sikhs that I have met have been wonderful people and they have had their share of problems in the US because of uneducated bigots. They certainly don't deserve this treatment.

[hepcat]

I doubt educating a neo-nazi about the difference between Sikh's and Muslim extremists is going to do anything but make them scratch their head in confusion over the use of polysyllabic wording. As someone mentioned before, you're either white or you're not white in their eyes. The latter being the enemy.

I have a Sikh friend who was in Chicago with my company during the days after 9/11. He said that out of everyone he encountered during that time on the streets and in public places, only about 2 or 3 gave him any issues...and those were simply questions about his turban and other aspects of his appearance. It actually made me a little proud to be an American at that point. I truly believe that the majority of the general public is aware that a turban and a beard does not make one a terrorist or the enemy.

p.s. the hardest thing about being a Sikh in the US after 9/11 (according to my friend) was having to explain the Kirpan he was wearing to TSA whenever he'd forget to remove it before traveling.

[Alefroth]

Apparently the shooter was ex US Army. He was a PsyOps specialist.

Odd. I did a stint in PsyOps in the reserve when I left active duty. That level of irrationality and fervor wouldn't mesh very well in PsyOps, imo.

Ale

[Combustible Lemur]

Apparently the shooter was ex US Army. He was a PsyOps specialist.

Odd. I did a stint in PsyOps in the reserve when I left active duty. That level or irrationality and fervor wouldn't mesh very well in PsyOps, imo.

Ale

According to Democracy Now, he was unhonorably discharged in 98.

[Holman]

This seems to belong in this thread: a mosque in Missouri was burned down this morning, apparently the second arson attack against it.

[hepcat]

Irony - Expressing your racist anger using a medium that owes much of its early existence to African Americans.

[tgb]

Irony - Expressing your racist anger using a medium that owes much of its early existence to African Americans.

I kept looking for a reference to playing the banjo until I realized you were referring to rock & roll. I think.

[rshetts2]

Irony - Expressing your racist anger using a medium that owes much of its early existence to African Americans.

Ironic, isn't it, that your statement works equally well for the word ignorant.

[hepcat]

Irony - Expressing your racist anger using a medium that owes much of its early existence to African Americans.

I kept looking for a reference to playing the banjo until I realized you were referring to rock & roll. I think.

Sorry, yes.

[Skinypupy]

Some additional info on the victims.

[noxiousdog]

Most likely some idiot confused them with Muslim due to their skin color and the wearing of the turbans.

Or somebody not really caring about the distinction. Hate groups see only 'us' and 'not us.'

Fixed.

[Xmann]

CNN ran a great article about this scumbag and his ties with neonazi music. They proceed to name numerous bands with similar interests, including Hatebreed.

Hatebreed, for those that don't know, are a very influential band whose songs are inspirational in nature and encourage overcoming adversity. Totally opposite of what this jerk represented.

Nice job CNN.

Sent from me phone

[Smoove_B]

Well, this is surprising.

Shooter killed himself with headshot

The FBI revealed today that Wade Michael Page, the Army veteran and white supremacist who killed six people at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin on Sunday, appears to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after being shot in the stomach by a police officer who responded to the scene.

And a bit of good news:

Authorities also said that Lt. Brian Murphy, the veteran Oak Creek police officer who was the first to reach the temple and was shot at least eight times, is recovering. "He's progressing amazingly and we're very, very thankful for that," said Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards.

[Daehawk]

That just shows how much police need more target shooting training. He got hit 8 times by an ex marine and most likely militia type guy who probably practiced every week. Ive seen other shootings in the news and on the internet where the police always seem to be bad shots or outgunned even if it's handguns vs handguns.

I's a damn shame when our people in blue cant afford their ammo for training or a Kevlar vest. Some are forced to buy them themselves. Police need more equipment and more training and it is shameful they don't get it. When a nut can outgun them it always ends bad.

Im glad he pulled through. If it wasn't for his bravery more people could have died.

[LawBeefaroni]

That just shows how much police need more target shooting training. He got hit 8 times by an ex marine and most likely militia type guy who probably practiced every week. Ive seen other shootings in the news and on the internet where the police always seem to be bad shots or outgunned even if it's handguns vs handguns.

The article quoted above says that the shooter got shot in the stomach and then killed himself. Police aren't trained for headshots, they are trained to hit center of mass and it sounds like that's what happened here.

The "ex marine and most likely militia type guy who probably practiced every week" is the one who hit someone 8 times and didn't kill him (thankfully).

I's a damn shame when our people in blue cant afford their ammo for training or a Kevlar vest. Some are forced to buy them themselves. Police need more equipment and more training and it is shameful they don't get it. When a nut can outgun them it always ends bad.

They generally train to their expectations. Here it's because they usually have to buy their own bullets. They get a set amount of rounds for the year and then the rest are on them. So many officers just shoot their 250 or how many ever rounds they get issued. But officers on tactical squads or in certain areas train a lot more. I have a friend who works in Englewood. He buys a lot of practice ammo. And the call to issue CPD AR-15s scares me actually, it doesn't make me feel better.

[Blackhawk]

Most likely some idiot confused them with Muslim due to their skin color and the wearing of the turbans.

Or somebody not really caring about the distinction. Hate groups see only 'us' and 'not us.'

Fixed.

Very good point.