{"id":835,"date":"2012-08-16T22:59:00","date_gmt":"2012-08-16T22:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/tony-perkins-says-hate-group-label-may-have-motivated-shooter\/"},"modified":"2012-08-16T22:59:00","modified_gmt":"2012-08-16T22:59:00","slug":"tony-perkins-says-hate-group-label-may-have-motivated-shooter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/08\/tony-perkins-says-hate-group-label-may-have-motivated-shooter\/","title":{"rendered":"Tony Perkins says ‘hate group’ label may have motivated shooter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Washington D.C., Aug 16, 2012 \/ 04:59 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Family Research Council president Tony Perkins called for an end to the \u201creckless rhetoric\u201d that may have motivated a gunman to open fire on a security guard at the organization\u2019s headquarters.<\/p>\n

\tAt an Aug. 16 press conference, Perkins said that alleged shooter Floyd Lee Corkins II may have felt justified in his actions because several gay advocacy groups \u2013 including the Southern Poverty Law Center \u2013 have designated Family Research Council as a \u201chate group.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHe warned of a dangerous increase in the use of the term over the last two years against anyone who disagrees with \u201cgay marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPerkins has rejected the label, arguing that his organization should be free to express its beliefs in favor of marriage without being accused of hatred.<\/p>\n

\tOn the morning of Aug. 15, Corkins allegedly entered the lobby of the Family Research Council\u2019s headquarters in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

\tAn FBI affidavit indicated that the suspect made comments about the organization\u2019s political views before firing the gun.<\/p>\n

\tSecurity guard Leo Johnson was shot by the gunman before disarming him and wrestling him to the ground.<\/p>\n

\tPerkins said that Johnson is doing well and that he had been with him when he came out of surgery shortly after midnight.<\/p>\n

\tHe explained that Johnson is actually an unarmed building operations manager who doubles as a security guard, making his actions particularly heroic.<\/p>\n

\tPerkins also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of concern and prayers from around the world, including from gay advocacy groups that have condemned the violence.<\/p>\n

\tFamily Research Council has attracted publicity in recent weeks in a debate surrounding the Atlanta-based food chain, Chick-fil-A, whose president made headlines by saying that he supported a traditional, Biblical view of marriage.<\/p>\n

\tIn the days that followed, attention was drawn to the fact that Chick-fil-A had once donated money to the Family Research Council, which has been targeted as a \u201chate group\u201d by gay advocates for its views on marriage.<\/p>\n

\tAccording to reports, the gunman was carrying 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches, along with a 9mm handgun and 50 rounds of ammunition, when he entered the building.<\/p>\n

\tIn addition, the director of a D.C. gay and lesbian community center acknowledged that Corkins has been volunteering there for several months.<\/p>\n

\tCorkins has been charged with assault with intent to kill, as well as federal firearms charges. At an Aug. 16 court hearing, a judge ordered that he be mentally evaluated and held without bond. He will appear again in court on Aug. 24.<\/p>\n

\tIn an interview on Fox News shortly before the press conference, Perkins said that the suspect may have felt that the \u201chate group\u201d designation was a \u201clicense\u201d to kill.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI\u2019m not saying that the Southern Poverty Law Center is responsible for the shooting,\u201d he emphasized. \u201cMr. Corkins is responsible for the shooting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHowever, he said, the repeated \u201chate group\u201d accusations contribute to an \u201cenvironment\u201d in which people who are \u201cimbalanced\u201d feel justified in attempting to kill those who disagree with them.<\/p>\n

\tIn a democratic society, which requires a robust debate about important issues, there is \u201cno room\u201d for the \u201creckless labeling of organizations that they disagree with,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\tPerkins explained that he had rejected the term \u201chate group\u201d when it was originally used against his organization two years ago and had asked the Southern Poverty Law Center to engage in a debate over the use of the label. However, he said, the law center did not respond.<\/p>\n

\tPerkins emphasized the need for open discussion about important issues in society rather than violence intended to intimidate and silence those who disagree.<\/p>\n

\tHe added that the Family Research Council will not allow the incident to frighten them into backing away from their beliefs.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWe are more committed today than we were yesterday,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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