Why so many US 'mass shooting' arrests suddenly?

[nitpicker]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49439539?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world&link_location=live-reporting-story

Why so many US 'mass shooting' arrests suddenly?

By Holly Honderich
BBC News, Washington

9 hours ago

In the last three weeks US authorities have arrested at least 28 people accused of threatening acts of mass violence. What's behind this surge and could they all be convicted?

The threats ranged from posts on social media and video gaming sites to verbal comments to colleagues and friends. In at least two cases, suspects sent text messages to ex-partners. Hoards of weapons were also found in some cases.

The FBI won't say what is behind the steep bump in apprehensions, some carried out by that agency, others by local police. It's not clear if it marks a growth in threats or simply a rise in awareness and tip-offs.

But former FBI boss Andrew McCabe said on Friday there was undoubtedly a "renewed awareness" focused on the sort of threats that a few months ago might have been ignored by investigators mindful of the right to free speech as enshrined in the US Constitution.
(snip)

Many of the alleged plots foiled by US law enforcement included plans to target specific minority groups. But without any federal penalties in place for acts of domestic terrorism - like those that exist for international terrorism - the charges varied - false threats, terrorist threats, illegal possession of weapons and disorderly conduct.

It's unclear how these various cases will fare at trial. For charges asserting threats of violence, the threats must be highly specific, accompanied by evidence of imminent danger.
(snip)

[RockRaven]

1. Maybe Barr's authoritarianism is bigger than Sessions's white-nationalism?

I rather doubt it, but both of those things are through the roof, so it is hard to compare. Infinity plus or minus one is a big number either way (or the same number, I dunno).

We do know post-9/11 the FBI massively diverted resources towards terrorism (specifically "radical Islamic" terrorism) and very much dropped the ball on white collar crime and the whole white-nationalist/militia/Christianish cult (Ruby Ridge/Oklahoma City/Waco types). Those ignored shoots are now bearing fruit. Maybe they are being culled better than immediately prior, but more likely there are just more of them because they have been allowed to grow unchecked (and fertilized by the words of a bigoted wanna-be-tyrant) for so long.

[Jake Stern]

2. Catch 22

Authorities blow off a report about somebody’s disturbing post on Facebook as the work of a weird but harmless screwball and they’re accused of “ignoring the signs” and not acting quickly enough.

However, when they arrest a guy who “joked” on a gaming chat about committing a mass shooting they’re accused of overreacting.

[Igel]

3. It's far from new.

But the rhetoric is different. Shouldn't be, but is.

In the years after 9/11 there were a lot of "terrorist" threats that were "rolled up".

Much of the rhetoric I hear now is like deja vu all over again. (I don't know if I can Berra it.)

Mutatis mutandis, it's like being in a 15-year Groundhog-Day style loop.

I'm waiting for a wave of arrests that consist of some kid or young adult who chatted online with an FBI agent who suggested violence, encouraged violence, praised acceptance of violence, suggested a target, provided info on the target, encouraged the target when the target wanted to back out, sends training materials, and who arrests the guy when they meet so the agent can hand over the weapon. And, because of new draconian laws that "safety" advocates wanted (opposed by "civil rights" advocates), it results in a long prison sentence.


It's what happens when you mix race/ethnicity, politics and highly publicized, novel fat-tails involving a group that is dehumanized and judged to be inferior ("fat-tails" doesn't refer so much to humans in this usage). People evaluate fat-tailed distributions very poorly, and in their evaluation are guided easy and quick emotional thinking and pre-set thinking patterns (like race/ethnicity and politics and the need to dis those outside one's own group).

That there are so many wannabe "terrorists" all arrested at once doesn't mean there was a wave of attacks about to take the country but that most people who even think and might plan such attacks don't actually follow through.

[marble falls]

4. People are finally paying attention to the whacko RWers they know.

[Aristus]

5. A combination of factors.

Gun massacres in this country have almost always been followed by a surge in gun sales. Which is why neither gun manufacturers, nor gun retailers, nor gun enthusiasts have wanted to do anything substantive to rein them in. Too much money for the first two, and more squalid validation for the latter.

However, the spectre of the PTB doing nothing to curb these mass-murders is finally hanging over the people who can do something about it. People are finally responding to all of the signs that have always been there. People's disingenuous on-camera reports that the murderer was "quiet...kind of a loner...kept to himself...harmless...never bothered anyone..." are being viewed as the crap-fests that they are. Mass murderers have almost always advertised their intentions beforehand, just like they're doing now. And finally people are paying attention.

Also, law-enforcement authorities are realizing that the more they do to apprehend potential murderers, the less they'll have to do in the way of promoting gun-control legislation. A lot of cops are white-supremacists. They want to keep their Rambo-style bang-bang.

[ck4829]

6. K&R

[Skittles]

7. Trump is bringing gun humping cowards out of the shadows

Trump loves him some NRA