End Of The Pizzagate Road
January 9, 2025 2:19 PM Subscribe
Edgar Maddison Welch, who shot up a DC pizzeria because of an online conspiracy theory that it was a front for a child sex slavery ring, was killed by police when he pulled a weapon on them during a traffic stop.
The traffic stop occurred due to outstanding arrest warrants for the driver and Welch. When Welch was apprehended, he pulled a gun on the police, then was shot after refusing to drop the weapon after ordered to do so. He was transported to Atrium Health Cabarrus for immediate care and treatment, then was later taken to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte where he died on Jan. 6.
Welch is most infamously known for his attack on the Comet Ping-Pong Pizzeria in DC based on the QAnon "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory that the business was a front for a child sex slavery ring. In response to the conspiracy theory, Welch attacked the business wielding an AR-15 and a revolver, firing the rifle several times while patrons (including several children) fled. Welch ultimately surrendered to police, and would be sentenced by then-Federal District Court Judge (and now Associate Justice) Ketanji Brown-Jackson to 4 years of prison and 3 years of probation for assault with and brandishing of a deadly weapon, along with being fined for the damages he caused.
The traffic stop occurred due to outstanding arrest warrants for the driver and Welch. When Welch was apprehended, he pulled a gun on the police, then was shot after refusing to drop the weapon after ordered to do so. He was transported to Atrium Health Cabarrus for immediate care and treatment, then was later taken to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte where he died on Jan. 6.
Welch is most infamously known for his attack on the Comet Ping-Pong Pizzeria in DC based on the QAnon "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory that the business was a front for a child sex slavery ring. In response to the conspiracy theory, Welch attacked the business wielding an AR-15 and a revolver, firing the rifle several times while patrons (including several children) fled. Welch ultimately surrendered to police, and would be sentenced by then-Federal District Court Judge (and now Associate Justice) Ketanji Brown-Jackson to 4 years of prison and 3 years of probation for assault with and brandishing of a deadly weapon, along with being fined for the damages he caused.
Lol.
posted by snwod at 2:26 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
posted by snwod at 2:26 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
I’m going to enjoy watching folks who would normally be entirely skeptical about the police report weigh in. Go to it, folks!
posted by Galvanic at 2:31 PM on January 9 [10 favorites]
posted by Galvanic at 2:31 PM on January 9 [10 favorites]
who could have predicted that a violent mentally unstable person would one day come to a violent end
posted by Saxon Kane at 2:32 PM on January 9 [5 favorites]
posted by Saxon Kane at 2:32 PM on January 9 [5 favorites]
What a sad fate. Everything he was ever known for was stupid shitty stuff.
posted by mumimor at 2:33 PM on January 9 [13 favorites]
posted by mumimor at 2:33 PM on January 9 [13 favorites]
1) fuck this guy
2) any cop who uses is allowed to use any kind of force under the color of law - but particularly deadly force - should have a body cam running, whose unaltered contents are immediately available to a 3rd party with prosecutorial powers independent of the state that police department is run by.
no body cam? full trial and full civil liability, with the same presumption of the need for force as a member of the public.
posted by lalochezia at 2:39 PM on January 9 [62 favorites]
2) any cop who uses is allowed to use any kind of force under the color of law - but particularly deadly force - should have a body cam running, whose unaltered contents are immediately available to a 3rd party with prosecutorial powers independent of the state that police department is run by.
no body cam? full trial and full civil liability, with the same presumption of the need for force as a member of the public.
posted by lalochezia at 2:39 PM on January 9 [62 favorites]
Well, now: this is CERTAIN to put an end to THIS line of conspiracy thinking.
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 2:48 PM on January 9 [18 favorites]
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 2:48 PM on January 9 [18 favorites]
May his memory be a curse.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 2:55 PM on January 9 [2 favorites]
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 2:55 PM on January 9 [2 favorites]
nothing good's going to come from a traffic stop on a 2001 Yukon
posted by torokunai2 at 2:56 PM on January 9 [13 favorites]
posted by torokunai2 at 2:56 PM on January 9 [13 favorites]
I’m going to enjoy watching folks who would normally be entirely skeptical about the police report weigh in.
I'd love to hear where you think the cognitive dissonance comes in. A guy who was convicted of shooting up a public space is an equivalent situation to..... ?
posted by LionIndex at 3:04 PM on January 9 [13 favorites]
I'd love to hear where you think the cognitive dissonance comes in. A guy who was convicted of shooting up a public space is an equivalent situation to..... ?
posted by LionIndex at 3:04 PM on January 9 [13 favorites]
It was the source of a lot of horror stories, but back in the days there was a big building with a huge lawn where mentally ill people were sent against their will and given drugs against their will and prevented from leaving...but at least they weren't creating, or dying in, a hail of bullets.
(this is on the heels of a self-congratulatory story from the local police here, who participated in a "suicide by cop", and were gleefully found not at fault because the guy warned them he was going to point the (bb) gun at them so that they'd shoot him, after like 57 previous times the police had been called on him for disturbing the peace and threatening his neighbors and swinging around real guns in previous suicide-by-cop attempts)
posted by AzraelBrown at 3:08 PM on January 9 [5 favorites]
(this is on the heels of a self-congratulatory story from the local police here, who participated in a "suicide by cop", and were gleefully found not at fault because the guy warned them he was going to point the (bb) gun at them so that they'd shoot him, after like 57 previous times the police had been called on him for disturbing the peace and threatening his neighbors and swinging around real guns in previous suicide-by-cop attempts)
posted by AzraelBrown at 3:08 PM on January 9 [5 favorites]
In the abstract, abolish the police. In the abstract, fund mental health care. In the very, very specific, fuck this guy. The world is better off without him.
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:31 PM on January 9 [23 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:31 PM on January 9 [23 favorites]
QFT: “the intel was not 100 percent.”
posted by chavenet at 3:47 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 3:47 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
I mean, given that this guy, under the "theory that the business was a front for a child sex slavery ring," fired on the pizzeria while children were in it, well... I'm not sure what I'm supposed to feel about this, but I'm pretty sure that "surprised" isn't it.
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:08 PM on January 9 [10 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:08 PM on January 9 [10 favorites]
No offense to OP, who may have simply assumed the obvious, but if the last decade or so has taught me anything, it is that this post's header will prove to be peak naivety. There is quite literally no end of the road for these deplorable - no rabbit hole they won't dig, no notion too far-fetched, no mental depravity too detached or obscene.
posted by thecincinnatikid at 4:12 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
posted by thecincinnatikid at 4:12 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
Well, now: this is CERTAIN to put an end to THIS line of conspiracy thinking.
Just tying-up loose ends, that's all.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:13 PM on January 9 [3 favorites]
Just tying-up loose ends, that's all.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:13 PM on January 9 [3 favorites]
I bet he's going to be an annoying ghost too. Too stubborn and cruel to move on.
posted by The_Vegetables at 4:24 PM on January 9
posted by The_Vegetables at 4:24 PM on January 9
all of which explains Trump's recent threats against Greenland and Canada -- to get everyone looking the other way..
posted by philip-random at 4:28 PM on January 9 [1 favorite]
posted by philip-random at 4:28 PM on January 9 [1 favorite]
It's Bizarro World now, all the time.
posted by theora55 at 4:37 PM on January 9 [3 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 4:37 PM on January 9 [3 favorites]
Everything about this story is while I don't enjoy visiting America.
This guy served time for acting on the lies he believed. What about the liars who poisoned his mind.
Our moral and legal system struggles with this kind of stocastic terrorism. The goal of the disinfo/propaganda is general, but premeditated, the implementation is un-coordinated and unpredictible in its specifics.
We have no trouble seeing the guilt in a person who fires into a crowd even though that person doesn't know in advance who they will hit and how bad the harm. They are guilty of attempted murder if not murder. But when the process has one more Rube-Goldberg increment of steps, it becomes fuzzy? Poison the aur and water, deny the sick healthcare, poison the publics mind with vile inflammatory lies.... is not murder, its just premeditated unaccountability.
posted by No Climate - No Food, No Food - No Future. at 4:45 PM on January 9 [22 favorites]
This guy served time for acting on the lies he believed. What about the liars who poisoned his mind.
Our moral and legal system struggles with this kind of stocastic terrorism. The goal of the disinfo/propaganda is general, but premeditated, the implementation is un-coordinated and unpredictible in its specifics.
We have no trouble seeing the guilt in a person who fires into a crowd even though that person doesn't know in advance who they will hit and how bad the harm. They are guilty of attempted murder if not murder. But when the process has one more Rube-Goldberg increment of steps, it becomes fuzzy? Poison the aur and water, deny the sick healthcare, poison the publics mind with vile inflammatory lies.... is not murder, its just premeditated unaccountability.
posted by No Climate - No Food, No Food - No Future. at 4:45 PM on January 9 [22 favorites]
premeditated unaccountability
Ooh, I like that phrase.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:47 PM on January 9 [11 favorites]
Ooh, I like that phrase.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:47 PM on January 9 [11 favorites]
Premeditated Unaccountability is the name of my murder drone.
posted by zenon at 5:33 PM on January 9 [8 favorites]
posted by zenon at 5:33 PM on January 9 [8 favorites]
It's a great name for a Culture ROU.
posted by Saxon Kane at 5:39 PM on January 9 [16 favorites]
posted by Saxon Kane at 5:39 PM on January 9 [16 favorites]
Probably already the name of a Culture GCU ship.
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:39 PM on January 9 [9 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:39 PM on January 9 [9 favorites]
Jinx!
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:39 PM on January 9 [2 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:39 PM on January 9 [2 favorites]
Not the first death Q has caused, won't be the last.
posted by praemunire at 6:12 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 6:12 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
I think it's likely the cops didn't actually need to shoot him. Cops are way too prone to be violent. A Black man likely wouldn't have been given a warning by a cop (two!) and just immediately shot. It's likely if they had all been Black everyone in the car would be dead/injured. The person who died used a gun to terrorize restaurant goers because of a nonsensical conspiracy theory.
All of those things above can be true.
However the weird mitigating factor in this *individual* case this year (but actually speaks to larger structural racism) is that at least one of the cops knew him already, which changes a lot of assumptions about the police will act.
I'll say when I saw this I thought to my self: jeeze, 2025 is a lot. I lived in the DC area when the Comet incident happened. My one and only visit to Comet wasn't that long before it. So the whole conspiracy theory about felt a bit extra wild and personal.
posted by skynxnex at 7:17 PM on January 9 [4 favorites]
All of those things above can be true.
However the weird mitigating factor in this *individual* case this year (but actually speaks to larger structural racism) is that at least one of the cops knew him already, which changes a lot of assumptions about the police will act.
I'll say when I saw this I thought to my self: jeeze, 2025 is a lot. I lived in the DC area when the Comet incident happened. My one and only visit to Comet wasn't that long before it. So the whole conspiracy theory about felt a bit extra wild and personal.
posted by skynxnex at 7:17 PM on January 9 [4 favorites]
I can't stop singing "Pizzagate Road" to the tune of "Holiday Road," AKA the theme song to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
We're past the season, but it would be a fun cover to work on.
posted by emelenjr at 7:20 PM on January 9 [10 favorites]
We're past the season, but it would be a fun cover to work on.
posted by emelenjr at 7:20 PM on January 9 [10 favorites]
Consider also doing it to the tune of Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road."
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:09 PM on January 9 [9 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:09 PM on January 9 [9 favorites]
Dire Strait's Telegraph Road.
posted by quinndexter at 8:29 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
posted by quinndexter at 8:29 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
I still think the FBI should be looking for pizza restaurants that have basements in them. With the amount of projection that comes out of MAGAland, it's tough to believe that the accusations weren't based on something that actually exists somewhere...
posted by Chuffy at 8:55 PM on January 9 [5 favorites]
posted by Chuffy at 8:55 PM on January 9 [5 favorites]
Spouse and I were like "sure sounds like he provoked them" and then "but that's what the cops would say, isn't it?".
posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:46 PM on January 9 [7 favorites]
posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:46 PM on January 9 [7 favorites]
...fucking America, man. You can't make this shit up.
posted by From Bklyn at 10:51 PM on January 9 [3 favorites]
posted by From Bklyn at 10:51 PM on January 9 [3 favorites]
I don't think there's any need to preface this with a declaration about the state of mental health care or police reform. Mostly because I'm not sure there's any indication of mental illness, or police recklessness here.
Being stubborn, stupid, and gullible aren't really indicators of mental illness (thank dog), nor will the best funded mental health care fix these things. The cops, upon seeing a person with an outstanding warrant, are right to assume deadly intent when that person has a gun and refuses to drop it. Camera or no.
posted by 2N2222 at 4:56 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]
Being stubborn, stupid, and gullible aren't really indicators of mental illness (thank dog), nor will the best funded mental health care fix these things. The cops, upon seeing a person with an outstanding warrant, are right to assume deadly intent when that person has a gun and refuses to drop it. Camera or no.
posted by 2N2222 at 4:56 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]
I'm not enthusiastic about Welsh's attack on Comet Ping Pong, but he partially believed lies and terrified a bunch of people, then cooperated with being arrested. He wanted to "see what was going on", which shows at least a little dubiousness about what he's been told. He didn't directly attack anyone.
None of the news stories I've seen have said what the warrants were for. Was it for something most people would think was a crime, or breaking arbitrary parole rules?
I don't think it's a coincidence that he went to prison, and then attacked because he wasn't going back to that misery.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 5:33 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
None of the news stories I've seen have said what the warrants were for. Was it for something most people would think was a crime, or breaking arbitrary parole rules?
I don't think it's a coincidence that he went to prison, and then attacked because he wasn't going back to that misery.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 5:33 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
In response to the conspiracy theory, Welch attacked the business wielding an AR-15 and a revolver, firing the rifle several times while patrons (including several children) fled.
A marvel that he lived as long as he did. And from the article, for those who did not read it:
When the officer opened the door, Welch pulled a handgun from his jacket and pointed it in the direction of the officer. That officer and a second officer who was standing at the rear passenger side of the Yukon gave commands for Welch to drop the gun. When he refused, both officers fired their duty weapon at Welch, striking him.
Unless I am misunderstanding, he drew on them at point blank range. Not a lot of options left at that point, assuming the reporting here is accurate.
posted by cupcakeninja at 6:09 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]
A marvel that he lived as long as he did. And from the article, for those who did not read it:
When the officer opened the door, Welch pulled a handgun from his jacket and pointed it in the direction of the officer. That officer and a second officer who was standing at the rear passenger side of the Yukon gave commands for Welch to drop the gun. When he refused, both officers fired their duty weapon at Welch, striking him.
Unless I am misunderstanding, he drew on them at point blank range. Not a lot of options left at that point, assuming the reporting here is accurate.
posted by cupcakeninja at 6:09 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]
None of the news stories I've seen have said what the warrants were for. Was it for something most people would think was a crime, or breaking arbitrary parole rules?
According to the article, violation of his probation - which given the timeframe was likely the period of probation he was sentenced to for assaulting the patrons of Comet Ping-Pong (because that's what you are doing when you go into a business and start shooting an AR-15.)
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:19 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
According to the article, violation of his probation - which given the timeframe was likely the period of probation he was sentenced to for assaulting the patrons of Comet Ping-Pong (because that's what you are doing when you go into a business and start shooting an AR-15.)
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:19 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
What about the liars who poisoned his mind.
We make them President.
posted by banshee at 8:24 AM on January 10 [11 favorites]
We make them President.
posted by banshee at 8:24 AM on January 10 [11 favorites]
The genius of the psyops Americans are subject to is that this man was fully correct that his country is run by a gang of pedophiles, but completely turned around on where they hang out.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:30 AM on January 10 [11 favorites]
posted by Space Coyote at 8:30 AM on January 10 [11 favorites]
Was it for something most people would think was a crime, or breaking arbitrary parole rules?
Carrying a concealed handgun as a convicted felon is a pretty damn serious crime.
posted by ryanrs at 8:36 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
Carrying a concealed handgun as a convicted felon is a pretty damn serious crime.
posted by ryanrs at 8:36 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
both officers fired their duty weapon
Never use a biggun word when a duty weapon diminutive one will do.
posted by Reverend John at 8:56 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]
Never use a big
posted by Reverend John at 8:56 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]
For what its worth, End of the Yellowbrick road was the song I was hearing until someone said holiday road and now i have that damn barking in my head.
Space Coyote and Chuffy are onto something. What R's did, was take a world where Boyscout leaders, Preachers, priests, imans, rabbis, politicians, teachers, celebrities and wealthy a-holes keep getting caught being pederasts, assisting pederasts and covering up for pederasts..... and the Republicans crossed out their own names and wrong "Libtards, Dragqueens and DEI" and their base lapped it up. R propaganda isn't creative writing, its projection. Like how the actual voter suppression and election fraud is their folks, or the Soros stuff is their billionaires (plus rampant antisemitism). I mean wasn't Trump using Epsteins plane to campaign in this time around?
So yeah, I'd bet the pizzeria has a basement at Mar-a-Largo.
posted by No Climate - No Food, No Food - No Future. at 9:37 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]
Space Coyote and Chuffy are onto something. What R's did, was take a world where Boyscout leaders, Preachers, priests, imans, rabbis, politicians, teachers, celebrities and wealthy a-holes keep getting caught being pederasts, assisting pederasts and covering up for pederasts..... and the Republicans crossed out their own names and wrong "Libtards, Dragqueens and DEI" and their base lapped it up. R propaganda isn't creative writing, its projection. Like how the actual voter suppression and election fraud is their folks, or the Soros stuff is their billionaires (plus rampant antisemitism). I mean wasn't Trump using Epsteins plane to campaign in this time around?
So yeah, I'd bet the pizzeria has a basement at Mar-a-Largo.
posted by No Climate - No Food, No Food - No Future. at 9:37 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]
Dude just missed his chance at a Cabinet post by a couple of weeks.
posted by srboisvert at 10:40 AM on January 10 [6 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 10:40 AM on January 10 [6 favorites]
You hate to hear it.
I have eaten pizza and had pints at Comet, it is in the same strip as Politics and Prose bookstore.
Comet pizza does not have a basement.
posted by aiq at 11:11 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
I have eaten pizza and had pints at Comet, it is in the same strip as Politics and Prose bookstore.
Comet pizza does not have a basement.
posted by aiq at 11:11 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
Comet pizza does not have a basement.
neither does the alamo
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 11:29 AM on January 10 [4 favorites]
neither does the alamo
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 11:29 AM on January 10 [4 favorites]
Consider also doing it to the tune of Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road."
[music emoji] Only you know much I loathe/Pizzagate Road [music emoji]
posted by jonp72 at 4:43 PM on January 10 [1 favorite]
[music emoji] Only you know much I loathe/Pizzagate Road [music emoji]
posted by jonp72 at 4:43 PM on January 10 [1 favorite]
neither does the alamo
Total tangent, but this scene in Pee Wee's Big Adventure perfectly illustrates my social anxiety. He asks a perfectly mundane and reasonable question and then like two dozen people just point at him and laugh.
posted by Literaryhero at 10:54 PM on January 10 [1 favorite]
Total tangent, but this scene in Pee Wee's Big Adventure perfectly illustrates my social anxiety. He asks a perfectly mundane and reasonable question and then like two dozen people just point at him and laugh.
posted by Literaryhero at 10:54 PM on January 10 [1 favorite]
What about the liars who poisoned his mind.
Let us not forget the people who have power have done things which are wrong or even illegal and have used the power they have to avoid accountability.
Want to see how a disease acts over time? Why here are some airmen. Questions about a shooting? Why not take two words and make that a new pejorative to call people who question official statements. If the law allows blacks coming off of liberty ships to file criminal civil rights complaints directly with a Grand Jury lets reform the law and remove that ability. Got lights over a city? Hold a press conference with props and make it a big joke. Got an expose' about sex and politicians already produced, a time slot chosen, and make an announcement about it? Just don't show it.
Citizens can see the abuses and the lies that covered the abuses. Rather than work to stop the abuse and then coverup so the reaction to 'A sex ring with kids exists and it features pizza' isn't "There is no way that can happen because of the goodness of our leaders" the claim could be true due to past examples of cover ups instead you get not only cover ups but people approaching every event as some kind of coverup for something.
Because of past cover ups when a spokesperson for the FBI shows up and says 'this is not terrorism' and upon a bit of investigation has to later state that yea, turns out there are elements that now make this terrorism is now going to be cited for decades to come as some kind of proof beyond proof one should not be getting in front of the investigation. Of course it doesn't help officialdom when a murder gets a terrorism charge because rich people have decided the reaction to abuse is not to stop abuse but instead is to hide behind people with guns and claim they are scared.
Alex Jones can exist because there has been past coverups he can point at and then make the grand claim the new thing is also a coverup. Stopping coverups and even the crimes/abuse would eventually not only starve out the Alex Jones types but also make the world a better place but doing that seems beyond people's abilities to do let alone ask for.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:10 AM on January 11 [1 favorite]
Let us not forget the people who have power have done things which are wrong or even illegal and have used the power they have to avoid accountability.
Want to see how a disease acts over time? Why here are some airmen. Questions about a shooting? Why not take two words and make that a new pejorative to call people who question official statements. If the law allows blacks coming off of liberty ships to file criminal civil rights complaints directly with a Grand Jury lets reform the law and remove that ability. Got lights over a city? Hold a press conference with props and make it a big joke. Got an expose' about sex and politicians already produced, a time slot chosen, and make an announcement about it? Just don't show it.
Citizens can see the abuses and the lies that covered the abuses. Rather than work to stop the abuse and then coverup so the reaction to 'A sex ring with kids exists and it features pizza' isn't "There is no way that can happen because of the goodness of our leaders" the claim could be true due to past examples of cover ups instead you get not only cover ups but people approaching every event as some kind of coverup for something.
Because of past cover ups when a spokesperson for the FBI shows up and says 'this is not terrorism' and upon a bit of investigation has to later state that yea, turns out there are elements that now make this terrorism is now going to be cited for decades to come as some kind of proof beyond proof one should not be getting in front of the investigation. Of course it doesn't help officialdom when a murder gets a terrorism charge because rich people have decided the reaction to abuse is not to stop abuse but instead is to hide behind people with guns and claim they are scared.
Alex Jones can exist because there has been past coverups he can point at and then make the grand claim the new thing is also a coverup. Stopping coverups and even the crimes/abuse would eventually not only starve out the Alex Jones types but also make the world a better place but doing that seems beyond people's abilities to do let alone ask for.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:10 AM on January 11 [1 favorite]
It really says something horrible about America that after going into a pizza place armed to the teeth to look for a secret child torture/rape basement he was still able to keep his guns.
You think disarming someone like that would be non-controversial, but nope.
posted by sotonohito at 3:10 PM on January 11 [2 favorites]
You think disarming someone like that would be non-controversial, but nope.
posted by sotonohito at 3:10 PM on January 11 [2 favorites]
Of course he wasn't allowed to own a gun. That's why the warrant stop escalated to a shooting--he knew he was ultra-fucked if he got arrested with that gun. Straight back to prison.
posted by ryanrs at 9:51 PM on January 11
posted by ryanrs at 9:51 PM on January 11
I'd love to hear where you think the cognitive dissonance comes in. A guy who was convicted of shooting up a public space is an equivalent situation to...
A cop shoots someone to death at a traffic stop and it’s all fine.
posted by Galvanic at 5:20 PM on January 14
A cop shoots someone to death at a traffic stop and it’s all fine.
posted by Galvanic at 5:20 PM on January 14
Citizens can see the abuses and the lies that covered the abuses. Rather than work to stop the abuse and then coverup so the reaction to 'A sex ring with kids exists and it features pizza' isn't "There is no way that can happen because of the goodness of our leaders" the claim could be true due to past examples of cover ups instead you get not only cover ups but people approaching every event as some kind of coverup for something.
You do know that the origin of Pizzagate was in 4chan slang for CSAM, right? Like it literally started because in the tranche of emails leaked by the Russians to protect Trump after the Access Hollywood tape story, you had people talking about "cheese pizza", and the usual suspects seized upon this as "proof" of a sex ring because that was their code word for CSAM.
Alex Jones can exist because there has been past coverups he can point at and then make the grand claim the new thing is also a coverup.
No, Alex Jones exists because so many people portrayed him as a harmless buffoon, because we have a cultural belief that words can't harm. Which is why his trials were so shocking, because for the first time a lot of people were forced to listen to testimony about the damage that words can do without being able to just dismiss it.
A cop shoots someone to death at a traffic stop and it’s all fine.
No, nobody is thinking that it's "all fine" - but at the same time, it's hard to muster sympathy for someone sovcit-adjacent deciding to fuck around and finding out with the police.
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:54 AM on January 16 [1 favorite]
You do know that the origin of Pizzagate was in 4chan slang for CSAM, right? Like it literally started because in the tranche of emails leaked by the Russians to protect Trump after the Access Hollywood tape story, you had people talking about "cheese pizza", and the usual suspects seized upon this as "proof" of a sex ring because that was their code word for CSAM.
Alex Jones can exist because there has been past coverups he can point at and then make the grand claim the new thing is also a coverup.
No, Alex Jones exists because so many people portrayed him as a harmless buffoon, because we have a cultural belief that words can't harm. Which is why his trials were so shocking, because for the first time a lot of people were forced to listen to testimony about the damage that words can do without being able to just dismiss it.
A cop shoots someone to death at a traffic stop and it’s all fine.
No, nobody is thinking that it's "all fine" - but at the same time, it's hard to muster sympathy for someone sovcit-adjacent deciding to fuck around and finding out with the police.
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:54 AM on January 16 [1 favorite]
And on the third hand the entire narrative of events is from the official statement of the Kannapolis PD. Two other people besides the victim and police were right there in the car and I couldn't find a story with even a "Other vehicle occupants declined to comment".
If there was any body or dash cam footage recorded by police it is not a public record in North Carolina. Access to redacted footage is limited to the people in the footage or their representative or if a judge releases it.
posted by Mitheral at 12:54 PM on January 16
If there was any body or dash cam footage recorded by police it is not a public record in North Carolina. Access to redacted footage is limited to the people in the footage or their representative or if a judge releases it.
posted by Mitheral at 12:54 PM on January 16
No, nobody is thinking that it's "all fine" - but at the same time, it's hard to muster sympathy for someone sovcit-adjacent deciding to fuck around and finding out with the police.
You proved my point before finishing your sentence.
posted by Galvanic at 1:18 PM on January 16
You proved my point before finishing your sentence.
posted by Galvanic at 1:18 PM on January 16
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posted by happyinmotion at 2:21 PM on January 9 [76 favorites]