Philadelphia mayor calls gun violence 'domestic terrorism'

[SecularMotion]

Source: Fox News

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia's mayor on Monday called gun violence in American cities "domestic terrorism" that is no different from international terrorism.

Mayor Michael Nutter said in a phone interview after a meeting with Attorney General Loretta Lynch and members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington that citizens want to feel safe, no matter where they live.

"Domestic terrorism is international terrorism," Nutter said. "There is really no level of distinction between the violence that goes on, on the streets of America on a daily basis and the episodic acts of international terrorism that also take place — primarily in cities."

Mayors from Washington, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Gary, Indiana, also attended the previously-scheduled meeting. All acknowledged the tragedy in Paris that killed 129 people and injured 350 others.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/11/17/philadelphia-mayor-calls-gun-violence-domestic-terrorism/

[onehandle]

1. I agree with our mayor. nt

[AZ Progressive]

2. Not true. International Terrorism is not just violence or fear, its strategic with political...

ramifications. If the violence on city streets was orchestrated by organized crime, then it'd be more akin to terrorism.

[BlueMTexpat]

4. Domestic terrorism is not international. eom

[erronis]

10. I think the NRA is organized crime and a terrorist group

Their base purpose is to increase gun sales.

Their mo is to sow terror around every campus, mall, church, street, backyard, and within families. They do it at least as well as CNN and Faux videos of atrocities video'd from around the world.

[rurallib]

15. well said erronis

the RW media (which is basically your only choice any more) stokes the fear and pushes the 'more guns' solution in concert with the NRA. Then add in fringe groups like oath keepers and the storm front people and they sow enough fear to disrupt people's lives.

And they certainly do affect politics. Seems like especially in big cities fear of 'others' is a constant theme.

[ThePhilosopher04]

17. Zero difference.

It's all designed to strike fear and terror and send a political message, regardless of whether it's organized or not. Should all be treated exactly the same.

[malachi]

3. Agree 100%

Live in Philadelphia, voted for Nutter twice. He's been a so-so mayor, but on this subject he's spot on. I'm sure that he'll recieve a ration of crap from critics in the city.

[Gregorian]

5. Us versus them. Way to go.

[Old Union Guy]

6. Yadda! What a great rhetorical flourish to avoid addressing the problem. n/t

[patsimp]

7. I agree with him.

[NobodyHere]

8. While any death is a tragedy

I'm not sure I agree that mixing the two together is wise.

Foreign terrorism is usually in response to the federal government's foreign policy.

"Domestic terrorism" will have a myriad of causes and requires a different solution.

[hack89]

9. So who are terrorists?

and why can't they be arrested and put in jail?

[perdita9]

11. Politicians with this much courage are rare

Kudos to you, Mr. Nutter!

[SpankMe]

12. Nutter is stealing my thunder.

Without quibbling about the fine points of how "terrorism" is defined (domestic vs. international, etc.) it's all deaths of innocent people at the hands of madmen. That's how Nutter's characterizing it.

When Sandy Hook happened - close to 2 dozen first graders and a half dozen or so teachers slaughtered - not only was there no call to action from congress, but there was concerted effort to resist any action directed at gun violence.

Now, we have people murdered on foreign soil with a single perpetrator MAYBE coming from Syria; we have no deaths in the US...and within 48 hours of this event, Republicans were proposing legislation to ban the acceptance of any Syrian refugees - even though our vetting process is more thorough than that of the open-bordered Europe.

The lack of logic staggers the mind.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. He's right in that a lot of these people are doing it for political reasons too....

The media glosses over that because they're right-wing reasons. They're described as "mentally disturbed" but so far nobody has shot up a church because they're upset about whaling or logging.

[Blackjackdavey]

14. I agree with him

Despite the sensational comparison to international acts of terror, the mayor is drawing attention to an absolutely important point of view -- namely, there are 240 gun deaths in America every single day -- twice the death rate of the Paris attacks Every. Day. Naturally, many of them are accidents or self inflicted gun shots. However, one cannot deny that the death toll from mass murders in America continues to mount and that many of those mass murders a carried out by individuals who share an ideology and even a theology that is disseminated in a very organized fashion. While society is whipping into a hysteria regarding Muslims in general there are those among us committing acts of violence against innocent bystanders, students, shoppers etc. getting a pass -- I believe calling out the cognitive dissonance is an important message that must be articulated. This discussion MUST take place.

[Vinca]

16. Exactly right.

The leaders of this country start talking all out war after a terrorist attack in Paris, but totally ignore the same body count or more happening week after week after week in this country.