Second Amendment rights exercised in Orlando

Exactly. This is horrible either way, but if he had planning or operational help from ISIS, it changes what our response needs to be. But the mere act of him saying he was part of ISIS doesn't automatically make it so.

 

Whatever his denomination is, it's not killing people daily across the globe.

 

I'm a lousy Catholic.

But, I went to Catholic Schools my entire life, so I'm pretty familiar what's required of me, and where I fall short.

Not killing infidels has not been raised as one of my failings.

 

Are you a Muslim?

 

Perhaps someone doesn't want us to know the motive. Related, if you're a journalist, what do you think of my recent query?

 

Actually it ends with an episode in season one (or two) of The West Wing ...

 

No one is saying he was specifically directed by ISIS.

ISIS has called on Muslims around the world to come join the Caliphate, or if they can't do so, to fight for them where they are.

The "application process" is relatively simple, and Mateen followed it to the letter.

 

Look, if you're not Christian, that's fine, but then I would just ask how familiar you are with the religion.

 

But that declaration might not speak to his motives.

What if he found a sheik willing to give his family $1m if he staged an attack? Would religion or money be the driving factor? Or both?

 

There is so much silly parsing going on. He was inspired by radical Islam. Is he a terrorist mastermind? Obviously not. He barely knew the factions from one another. But he knew that, for whatever nuanced political squabbles those groups may be having, the basic outline: Kill infidels in the name of Islam.

 

You have a fertile imagination.

 

By your definition, I would be considered a lousy Jew. Bar Mitzvahed and Confirmed, with an appetite for bacon.