Comments about ‘Family Research Council shooting prompts discourse on hate, religious freedom’

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Kearns, UT

This has nothing to do with a war on religion. It's just another sad story of a nutcase who had no business owning a gut getting one and using it inappropriately. It's also a sad result of the extremists on either side--conservative or liberal--spreading any lie or half-truth that will advance their agenda.


If they want to claim that FRC's designation as a 'hate group' is to blame for this shooting, then they must also believe that they are responsible for all of the women's clinic bombings and murders of doctors who provide abortions, for they're always throwing about the term "baby killers" in reference to these doctors and clinics.

Henry Drummond
San Jose, CA

The man with the gun was motivated by mental illness, not political ideology. Why is it that people like Tony Perkins simply can't resist politicizing everything and anything even when something this serious happens? The Southern Poverty Law Center spent decades bringing the murderer of Civil Rights Leader Medgar Evers to justice. They are hardly out there advocating violence.


Of course the FRC is going to frame this as a war on religion.

Was it a war on religion when Jim Adkisson entered a Unitarian Church and open-fired, killing 2 because he wanted to kill "liberals?"

Was it a war on religion when Dr. Tiller was killed inside church?

The FRC is not a religious organization. It is a political organization which uses religion.

I would imagine then, if the FRC wants to blame the Southern Poverty Law Center, then we should also blame the right-wing commentators who inspired Dr.Tiller's killer and Jim Adkisson too.

Huntsville, UT

The only "war on religion" in this country is the war BY religion. S0-called "Christian" religions demanding that their own version take precedence over any/all others.

The shooter was a nut who should never have had a gun in the first place.

One can determine whether or not a group is a "hate group" by their actions. FRC's actions place them squarely in that category. The First Amendment gives religions the right to practice without government interference, it does not give them the right to use their religious beliefs to deny freedom to other American Citizens.

very concerned
Sandy, UT

Aside from the shooting, which is abhorable, I'm surprised that the Family Research Council has been labled a hate group. It's amazing that an organization that promotes traditional family values would merit that distinction in some circles.

I believe it is another example in which good is called bad, and bad is called good.

very concerned
Sandy, UT

About the shooting itself, attempted murder, whether done by a liberal OR conservative, is unacceptable.

As to my previous comment, I am not familiar enough with the FRC to speak authoritatively on whether it employs methods of true hate group. If it espouses non-violent, traditional family values and recognizes or proposes that homosexuality is a sin, I believe that is aprotected by the first amendment.

In fact, protected by both parts of the First Amendment: the exercise of free speech and freedom from government restrictions on religion. If we want to recognize homosexuality as a *sin*, what is that to you. If you truly believe it is OK, why bother with what we say. Why lable us hate groups because of our beliefs.

Of course I don't stand for violence, but why the anger and hatred against the FRC. Why do you want to change our sense of morality. To change millenea-old and time-proven values and pracices. Aren't we free to believe as we wish, to vote as we wish, to try to influence others in what we believe is a critical struggle between good and evil, thriving and dwindling, societal vibrancy and decay.


Let us not forget the attack on the Sikhs in their house of worship. Was that an attack on religion? Republican legislators, Michelle Bachman for example, has been perpetuating fear and paranoia that Muslim extremists have infiltrated upper levels of our government.

Huntsville, UT

@very concerned;

The reason this group, along with others is being labeled a hate group is because they're exporting their anti-gay agenda overseas. They're helping to write, and pushing legislation in African nations that permits the execution of glbt citizens of those countries. Yes, they're actually helping to write this stuff; and then they have the nerve to call themselves "Christian".

The shooting is deplorable. Violence is not the answer to these issues.

Salt Lake City, UT




lost in DC
West Jordan, UT

If I were the Family Research Council, I'd be more concerned if the Southern Poverty Law Center and other groups of that ilk approved of what I did than if they gave me a derogaroty label.


Brent bot this article is not about gay marriage and your comment has already been roundly debunked. It does nothing to add to the credibility of your position to try to pull off topic and especially with arguments that have been found to be invalid.

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