As some of you may have seen if you've been brushing up on your national news today that in Knoxville, Tennessee a Unitarian Universalist Church was attacked by a gunman. It happened during this morning's service while the church's children were performing the play "Annie" for the other church members. As of now 2 people have been confirmed dead in the shooting including the usher Greg McKendry who reportedly stepped in front of the gunman to take the first shot to save the lives of those around him (a true hero). Since then Lisa Kraeger has also passed away with more in critical to serious condition. The attack appears to have stemmed from the church's acceptance of homosexuals into their church and I'm sure a lot of you on here understand the liberal mindset these churches have. Living in this area I have had the pleasure of knowing some of the people that attended this church including one of the men who subdued the gunman (John Bohstedt) who I've known at the University of Tennessee for quite some time working with him in the History Department. This is a situation that has shaken a lot of people especially when an attack of what amounts to terrorism happens this close to home. Its also a situation that will take some time to heal but most of that healing has to be done by the members of the church and especially by the families of those affected. That's why I would like to ask everyone to just send their prayers, well-wishes, thoughts, etc. to these families and wish them the best. Its a sad day for many people but maybe people can learn from this event preventing more terrible things like this from happening. So if everyone could just send out some well wishes too these families and those that have passed it would mean a lot to a lot of people. Here are a couple links further explaining what happened: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/07/27/church.shooting/index.html http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=8741998
being an ignorant zealot is one thing. this is heinous and a terrorist act as you said. thoughts and prayers to all involved.(except the attackers)
I went to UT Knoxville. I might be heading back up there for grad school this fall. That place is a second home to me. Sorry to hear about this. Thoughts definitely go out to everyone involved.
God, people are such idiots. I feel bad for those poor kids. Thoughts are with everyone that had to go through that.
I'm so sick of screwed up people that get it in their head to go shoot up places. killing people that enjoying living, really pisses me off.
Knoxville is a wonderful place to live, this is so sad and uncalled for. Prayers are sent to all involved. RIP to the two who are no longer with us.
My heart felt prayers go out to all involved. Those poor children that had to witness this horror, it just makes my blood boil. The sad thing is, it could happen in any church for any reason that they could dream up.
Thanks everyone for your well-wishes, prayers, etc. as they are appreciated by a lot of people right now. The story continues to develop and it does seem that this was basically a political/religious attack because of the church's liberal viewpoint of homosexuals and their overall liberal views(its being investigated as a hate crime). Also I would like to re-iterated the heroism of Greg McKendry as one man said that McKendry took the first bullet that ended up saving his daughter and others from being shot. Which is truly something to be admired. This case has become quite detailed and so I've decided to list some websites that explain it in further detail which I believe are relevant: Motivation for the attack: http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=8745387 List of victims/the man's account I spoke of earlier/services planned: http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=8746230 Info. about the attacker: http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=8743855 Some remembrance services so far: http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=8743738
You are telling the truth. In fact this church would have been the church that would have accepted him and all his problems but he chose to strike out against them. He also blamed liberals in general for his problems because he felt they were keeping him from getting jobs, etc. Its also becoming known that his ex-wife attended the church in the early 90's and maybe that is how he knew of the church in the first place. Its a sad situation and although it may fade from the memory of the national news it will never fade from the local community. Hopefully people will learn from this that accepting the differences of others is the correct thing to do and maybe they will also realize that religion is a beautiful caring thing not one that is meant to spread hate...or at least I hope.
