Shooting Spree in Milwaukee Sikh Temple Leaves Seven Dead

By Edward | Monday, August 6, 2012 | 16 Comments

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28691249 ap aptopix sikh temple shooting 600x402 Shooting Spree in Milwaukee Sikh Temple Leaves Seven Dead

Amardeep Kaleka, whose father is Satwant Kaleka, the president of the temple who was shot and killed, prays in a parking lot while waiting to hear information. (Photo credit: Mike De Sisti, via JS Online)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece contains viewpoints from the author regarding the alleged gunman and the gunman’s possible intent(s). As the investigation of the Sikh temple is ongoing, the Editors remind all readers that the opinions and assumptions in this piece are solely that of the author’s and do not reflect the opinions of other contributors of this site, or of 8Asians as a whole. –JW

On Sunday August 5th 2012 around 10:25am, a white armed man entered a wide open Sikh temple and opened fire, leaving six dead before police shot and killed the gunman. “Tattoos on the body of the slain Sikh temple gunman and certain biographical details led the FBI to treat the attack at a Milwaukee-area temple as an act of domestic terrorism, officials said Sunday”, according to the LA Times.

I am not here to argue about stricter gun control laws (which I personally believe should happen) but instead I am here to create something remotely positive out of so heinous a tragedy. Therefore, it must be emphasized that the attack was conducted in a Sikh temple, which the white supremacist most likely confused for a Muslim mosque. Sikhs are the 5th largest religion in the world but it is also one of the least understood and known. For those who are completely unacquainted on the Sikh religion, please make sure to check out the SALDEF website to learn more about it.

I like to believe that this attack happened because the gunman attacked what he did not know and in many cases, what you don’t know can often lead to the things you fear and loathe. So if this is the case, let us take this time to at least be knowledgeable in what we don’t know so that ignorance cannot be a factor in what leads our decisions. And that is all.

Please keep the victims and their family members in your thoughts and prayers as the nation will once again plunge into a messy debate about the myriad of issues that surround this country.

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LTE2

My hunch is the gunman knew exactly what/who he was attacking. The question is, what was the triggering event? An argument with a Sikh a few days before? A year earlier? Cross words exchanged at some point in childhood? Hopefully the investigation will provide the answers.
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As for gun control, please keep in mind the device of choice in some parts of the world is a bomb.
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May those who died rest in peace.
m_wei

given how much info the FBI has on your credit card history – thanks to banks being the surveillance arm of the government – I doubt your purchases of ammonium nitrate and potasium chlorate and bleach have gone unnoticed.

in fact, the 8Asians editors can thank me for having their website flagged by the fascists. ^_^
m_wei

I was being sarcastic, but there’s no doubt banning bullets would make gun ownership a non-issue.
LTE2

Wade was known but did nothing illegal. It is quite possible his attack was an elaborate suicide.
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As for your use of the term “fascists” you are now on the watch list. Keep your eyes aimed at the sky.
LTE2

I think bombs would just become the weapon of choice if guns were to become heavily regulated or banned.
happyappa

It takes a sick creep to shoot someone based on the color of their skin or their religion, and to do it in a place of religious worship too. Stupid neo-nazis.
I read on another blog that this probably won’t get as much media coverage as the Aurora shooting. I kind of agree, since Batman isn’t involved, and so many people just love Batman and it just makes everything more mysterious. Blech
m_wei

is this based on reality, or just videogame fantasy?

like what I wrote above: unfortunately the banks have been the surveillance arm of the government agencies.
m_wei

suicide is for cowards, and he’s even more cowardly for taking others with him.

and here I thought the US was based on freedom of speech as fundamental to democracy…
LTE2

Quality of speech is as important as the quantity of speech.
LTE2

A look at other countries like Iraq, bombs are used fairly regular.
m_wei

by that standard, I’m lightyears ahead of gasbags like LImbaugh or O’Reily
m_wei

are you comparing Iraq’s total collapse of infrastructure to the US? there could be implications if you are making the comparison…
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LTE2

We could be headed towards total collapse too.
m_wei

a TEA partier’s wet dream, no?
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