Print 
PDF
A mass shooting occurred yesterday in Umpqua Community College, an Oregon community college in southern Oregon.
The New York Post and local sources are reporting that the shooter forced students to stand up and state their religion before shooting them.
As of this writing, authorities are confirming that 10 students are dead. The shooter is also dead.
As many as 10 were injured, 4 critically.
The Post and other local and national news sources are reporting that eyewitnesses say the shooter was singling out Christians.
The New York Post quotes a woman whose grandmother was inside a writing class in Synder Hall where a portion of the shooting took place.
She says, "The shooter lined people up, asking if they were Christians. If they said yes, he shot them in the head. If they said no or didn't answer, they were shot in the legs."
At this writing, the mainstream press---ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox are not reporting this aspect of the shooting.
Other news sources are, however, confirming that the shooter did indeed ask Christians to declare themselves.
However, I suspect the news industry will not widely publish the Christian aspect of this story, unless it becomes apparent they can't ignore it.
Kortney Moore, an 18 year old student who was also in the room, told Oregon's News Review he was indeed on the hunt for Christians.
The Oregonian newspaper and the New York Post are both reporting these accounts.
The Oregonian is also reporting that government officials found "some sort of race-related manifesto" before the crime.
Breitbart News is reporting, "A frustrated President Obama demanded change on gun control after the Oregon college shooting which grabbed the nation's attention Thursday."
The president said, "Our thoughts and prayers are not enough. It's not enough. It does not capture the heartache and grief and anger that we should feel and it does nothing to prevent this carnage from being inflicted somewhere else in America."
It's disappointing to hear the president marginalize and diminish the value of prayer. While prayer may not capture his anger, it certainly captures the attention and heart of God.
It's also disappointing to see the President of the United States politicizing this tragedy, while the bodies of sons and daughters are still being removed from the scene.
Could he not have waited 1 day?
Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said last night he did not anticipate naming any of the victims for another 24 to 48 hours.
The president insisted that states with the most gun laws have fewer deaths from gun violence and even recommended draconian gun laws in other countries that severely restrict firearm ownership.
While Obama may not believe prayer is adequate, I was told last night that pastors and youth ministry leaders were almost immediately among the students who survived, praying with them and consoling and praying with those who lost family members. People and students were returning to the scene with their Bibles in hand.
The shooter was identified last night as Chris Harper Mercer.
USA Today reported last night that officials say Mercer was a local Oregon man. He was carrying up to 4 firearms, including 1 rifle. Investigators were interviewing his mother last night to try and determine what caused his rampage.
USA Today says Mercer is believed to have had some connection to the college. They also say authorities are trying to determine whether he specifically targeted victims, rather than engaging in random gunfire.
Much more will likely be learned about this throughout the day today and over the weekend.
I could help compare the president's angry response to comments made by both Mike Huckabee and Dr. Ben Carson in recent months.
Both have said we do not have a "gun" problem in America, we have a "sin" problem.
God help us.