9 Dead in SC church shooting

[Secular Elf]

I am not ready to call this a racist act. I'd have to know if this murderer said anything while shooting. But it could be simply a mentally disturbed individual just like the Newton shooter. If it was racist you could certainly say outside influences lead that sick fuck to that target, but I'd say mental illness regardless is going to come into play.

Even with that theater shooter, I don't like the legal standard of not guilty by reason of mental defect. I think outside a courtroom in psychology, you can know right from wrong, and be mentally ill at the same time. I think you can be guilty and mentally ill at the same time.

I think even with cases of religious violence, you are still talking about delusion and disenfranchisement combined to create acts of desperation.

That is a good point. The shooter could be mentally ill and the fact that he attacked a black church could have been random. Considering the history of racism and burning churches in the south, it is very easy to assume that racism was involved. I still think it might be racism, you are right, we shouldn't jump to conclusions yet.

CBS just announced that they are going to say what the gunman did before he opened fire. Perhaps that will give some insight into his state of mind at the time of the attack.

If the attacker had been brown and the church members white, this would be called terrorism

A very good point indeed. I have been following this news story all morning. At this time he has been brought into custody in Shelby, NC, near Charlotte. He is reported as saying that he wanted to kill black people and that he told one woman to make sure she tells what happened.

Unless other reports contradict it, I will have to call this racially motivated. My best guess is that he was influenced by some form of racist propaganda. He is 22 (young and dumb)

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They were in a church, talking to their god. Was he not listening or does he not give a fuck what happens?

Indeed, that was my first thought also. It is like "You worship a supposedly all-powerful god and yet he cannot or will not stop his own worshippers from receiving harm." It brings me to mind the 20 kids in Delaware who were gunned down a couple of years ago. So the Christian God does not care about little kids either.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.

Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.

Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?

Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?

— Epicurus, philosopher (c. 341-270 BCE)