Pittsburgh Cop Shooter Spurred on By Fear of Gun Control

Saturday another recently fired man, this one young, white, and native decided to take on the police with weapons.  (Though Wong did not fire at police the body armor and large amounts of ammunition seem to indicate that he was planning for a shootout.)

Richard Poplawski, holed up in a Stanton Heights home in Pittsburgh did not die in the incident but 3 of Pittsburgh's police force did.

Friends and family describe an easy going, fun loving young man who called friends and family in the midst of a gun battle to tell them he loved them and goodbye.

Yet, when faced with the fear of unemployment and the loss of his guns, he caused his mother so much distress that she called police early Saturday morning while hiding in the basement of the home she shared with Poplawski and his grandmother, and Richard proceeded to shoot at police who showed up in response.

Some trouble signs were evident even before Saturday's tragedy, though.  He did not finish high school opting out of attending classes to get a GED and join the Marines, but then threw a tray at a Marine sergeant and got a dishonorable discharge because, according to a friend he wanted out of the Corps.

Mr. Poplawski also had a record that included Disorderly Conduct citation and a "Protection From Abuse order". Unlike a restraining order a PFA is often used by people living with someone they fear will abuse them or has already abused them, though the abused feels a need to continue to remain in the home. (Source Women's Law Org, Pennsylvania page ).

The AP report notes that the young man had lost a job at a glass factory earlier this year and had been upset about it. Another source said Poplawski's wrote on his MySpace page which has since been removed that the world was his oyster.  

A lot of people are doing without that oyster since the financial crisis has hit Main Street.

But still, how did we come to a society in which men are taught that the solution to life's problems was to get out of high school and other commitments, and when the chips got really down to pick up guns and start shooting people?

Of course, we heard such arguments before when aimed at our inner city minorities, but look at our mass killers lately. Wait. Forget sticking with "lately". I mean for killing just because we feel icky, whites and Asians seem to be way ahead of the rest. And lets not even add it the wars and occupations.  

Who is pushing our gun toting buttons today? Who keeps telling a certain group of people that weapons are the key to making sure the world will remain their oyster or at least to help them take others with them as they go?

Ann Coulter do you know anyone who has hinted that killing politicians a person doesn't like is a good thing?  Or that you can wipe away a threat against a politician by then laughing and saying "It's just a joke."

Funny Jiverly Wong talked about killing politicians too, and then when called to account for his words, said it was 'just a joke" just like you did, Ann.  Think there might be some connection?

And Michele Bachman.  Why do you equate political discourse with being "Armed and Dangerous" and "starting a revolution"?  Don't you think that those kinds of words used in front of the type of gun happy beligerent dudes who listen to you might be a little dangerous?

Sean Hannity had a poll the other day on which one option to opposing the Obama administration could be paraphrased at least as "armed rebellion"

 Hate radio grew out of the teachings of hate radio.  The rich have been able to mold some of their hosts more successfully than others into talkers that draw the line before challenging the priviledges of the wealthy.  We see you there Mr. Limbaugh, but in fact Rushbo is abetter if not a proponent of racism and  gun nuttery.

The Republican party has been shown to have ties to groups like A Gathering of Eagles and Rolling Thunder biker groups that harass anti war demonstrators in DC as reported by the Washington Post.

So who is teaching young right wing men that they can and should take up arms to craft a world more to their liking?

David Neiwert  did a great post on this at Crook and Liars "Pittsburgh shooter Poplawski "didn't like our [gun] rights being infringed upon", but even better is the argument by commenter "Real Citizen"  IE:

There is ample research to demonstrate the way other radicals have used radio and other media to incite people to violence -- bosnia, rwanda, nazi germany. In fact, people were sent to the Hague in the first two cases for their role using hate radio to incite violence.

Should Bachman, Hannity, Coutler, et al. start packing their bags?

Sure. Why not!

For more details on Poplawski read our major sources (I'm sure there will be more by morning):

Usenet copy AP report "Gunman 'lying in wait' kills 3 Pittsburgh officers "

WTAE TV Pittsburgh: Who Is Richard Poplawski?

Pittsburgh Gazette: Richard Poplawski: Two profiles emerge

tags: richard poplawski  pittsburgh shooter  stanton heights  hate radio  republicans  gun rights  

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