Colorado shooting suspect appears to be LDS

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drumdude
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Re: Colorado shooting suspect appears to be LDS

Post by drumdude »

“DCP” wrote: By now, you may be aware of the fact that Anderson Lee Aldrich, formerly known as Nicholas Brink, who assaulted Club Q in Colorado Springs a few days ago, is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

When a certain small population of online critics of the Church that I enjoy watching learned of his membership, they were overjoyed. They immediately blamed President Dallin H. Oaks and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and even the late Elder Neal A. Maxwell. (Please see my Meridian Magazine article “Elder Holland: What They Heard is Not What He Said.”) One expressed his hope that President Oaks is “proud” of his role in the Colorado Springs atrocity and salivated at the prospect of a lawsuit by survivors against President Oaks and the Church. The Brethren, others suggested, should finally stop their preaching of hate and fear.

I’m going to go out on a limb here, though: The evidence doesn’t seem to suggest that Anderson Lee Aldrich is the kind of person whose life is governed by his careful reading of the words of the apostles and prophets:

Newsweek: “Colorado Suspect Anderson Aldrich’s Links to Mormon Church Explained”

MSN: “Mormon church confirms the Colorado Springs shooter was a member”

“LDS officials condemn nightclub shooting, say suspect was not active in church”

“Details are coming to light about the alleged gunman who killed five people at an LGBTQ nightclub”

The Washington Post: “LGBTQ club shooting suspect’s troubled past was obscured by a name change, records show: After suffering online bullying as a boy, Anderson Lee Aldrich altered his identity, documents confirm”
He wasn’t a *real* Mormon. He was just an *inflate the numbers* Mormon.
Father Francis
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Re: Colorado shooting suspect appears to be LDS

Post by Father Francis »

drumdude wrote:
Wed Nov 23, 2022 4:40 am
“DCP” wrote: By now, you may be aware of the fact that Anderson Lee Aldrich, formerly known as Nicholas Brink, who assaulted Club Q in Colorado Springs a few days ago, is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

When a certain small population of online critics of the Church that I enjoy watching learned of his membership, they were overjoyed. They immediately blamed President Dallin H. Oaks and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and even the late Elder Neal A. Maxwell. (Please see my Meridian Magazine article “Elder Holland: What They Heard is Not What He Said.”) One expressed his hope that President Oaks is “proud” of his role in the Colorado Springs atrocity and salivated at the prospect of a lawsuit by survivors against President Oaks and the Church. The Brethren, others suggested, should finally stop their preaching of hate and fear.

I’m going to go out on a limb here, though: The evidence doesn’t seem to suggest that Anderson Lee Aldrich is the kind of person whose life is governed by his careful reading of the words of the apostles and prophets:

Newsweek: “Colorado Suspect Anderson Aldrich’s Links to Mormon Church Explained”

MSN: “Mormon church confirms the Colorado Springs shooter was a member”

“LDS officials condemn nightclub shooting, say suspect was not active in church”

“Details are coming to light about the alleged gunman who killed five people at an LGBTQ nightclub”

The Washington Post: “LGBTQ club shooting suspect’s troubled past was obscured by a name change, records show: After suffering online bullying as a boy, Anderson Lee Aldrich altered his identity, documents confirm”
He wasn’t a *real* Mormon. He was just an *inflate the numbers* Mormon.
So you can have your cake and eat it too?
IHAQ
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Re: Colorado shooting suspect appears to be LDS

Post by IHAQ »

By now, you may be aware of the fact that Anderson Lee Aldrich, formerly known as Nicholas Brink, who assaulted Club Q in Colorado Springs a few days ago, is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeters ... hurch.html

I find it interesting that DCP writes in a way that dehumanises and minimises the senseless tragedy that cost 5 people their lives and many others were injured, saying simply it was an "assault on Club Q". No mention of the victims. No mention of the heroics from a drag queen that likely saved countless more lives. In fact, in reading DCP's comments you could be forgiven for thinking the victims of the tragedy were Oaks, Holland and Maxwell - all of whom exhorted the membership (of which the Club Q shooter and killer of five people is counted among their number) using a metaphor of firing muskets at Church "enemies" whilst knowing America has a gun problem.

The Church has troubled people within its membership. Influential Church Leaders, such as Oaks and Holland, need to be more circumspect in their choice of metaphors when encouraging members to action. It's a basic and obvious conclusion. Yet DCP can't bring himself to grasp it. Cowardice?
drumdude
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Re: Colorado shooting suspect appears to be LDS

Post by drumdude »

IHAQ wrote:
Wed Nov 23, 2022 8:54 am
By now, you may be aware of the fact that Anderson Lee Aldrich, formerly known as Nicholas Brink, who assaulted Club Q in Colorado Springs a few days ago, is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeters ... hurch.html

I find it interesting that DCP writes in a way that dehumanises and minimises the senseless tragedy that cost 5 people their lives and many others were injured, saying simply it was an "assault on Club Q". No mention of the victims. No mention of the heroics from a drag queen that likely saved countless more lives. In fact, in reading DCP's comments you could be forgiven for thinking the victims of the tragedy were Oaks, Holland and Maxwell - all of whom exhorted the membership (of which the Club Q shooter and killer of five people is counted among their number) using a metaphor of firing muskets at Church "enemies" whilst knowing America has a gun problem.

The Church has troubled people within its membership. Influential Church Leaders, such as Oaks and Holland, need to be more circumspect in their choice of metaphors when encouraging members to action. It's a basic and obvious conclusion. Yet DCP can't bring himself to grasp it. Cowardice?

Someone has to stand up for the poor millionaire leaders of the Mormon religion. Who else will?
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Re: Colorado shooting suspect appears to be LDS

Post by Jersey Girl »

IHAQ wrote:
Wed Nov 23, 2022 8:54 am
By now, you may be aware of the fact that Anderson Lee Aldrich, formerly known as Nicholas Brink, who assaulted Club Q in Colorado Springs a few days ago, is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeters ... hurch.html

I find it interesting that DCP writes in a way that dehumanises and minimises the senseless tragedy that cost 5 people their lives and many others were injured, saying simply it was an "assault on Club Q". No mention of the victims. No mention of the heroics from a drag queen that likely saved countless more lives. In fact, in reading DCP's comments you could be forgiven for thinking the victims of the tragedy were Oaks, Holland and Maxwell - all of whom exhorted the membership (of which the Club Q shooter and killer of five people is counted among their number) using a metaphor of firing muskets at Church "enemies" whilst knowing America has a gun problem.

The Church has troubled people within its membership. Influential Church Leaders, such as Oaks and Holland, need to be more circumspect in their choice of metaphors when encouraging members to action. It's a basic and obvious conclusion. Yet DCP can't bring himself to grasp it. Cowardice?
Which drag queen and what action did she take?
We only get stronger when we are lifting something that is heavier than what we are used to. ~ KF

Slava Ukraini!
IHAQ
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Re: Colorado shooting suspect appears to be LDS

Post by IHAQ »

Jersey Girl wrote:
Wed Nov 23, 2022 9:23 am
IHAQ wrote:
Wed Nov 23, 2022 8:54 am

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeters ... hurch.html

I find it interesting that DCP writes in a way that dehumanises and minimises the senseless tragedy that cost 5 people their lives and many others were injured, saying simply it was an "assault on Club Q". No mention of the victims. No mention of the heroics from a drag queen that likely saved countless more lives. In fact, in reading DCP's comments you could be forgiven for thinking the victims of the tragedy were Oaks, Holland and Maxwell - all of whom exhorted the membership (of which the Club Q shooter and killer of five people is counted among their number) using a metaphor of firing muskets at Church "enemies" whilst knowing America has a gun problem.

The Church has troubled people within its membership. Influential Church Leaders, such as Oaks and Holland, need to be more circumspect in their choice of metaphors when encouraging members to action. It's a basic and obvious conclusion. Yet DCP can't bring himself to grasp it. Cowardice?
Which drag queen and what action did she take?
A father and a drag performer managed to subdue a gunman who opened fire at an LGBT nightclub in the US state of Colorado, it has emerged.
The attacker killed five people and left 17 others with injuries at Club Q in Colorado Springs on Saturday night.
Officials named the "heroes" who halted the attack as Richard Fierro and Thomas James, without detailing their actions.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63698165
"One of the performers was walking by and I told her kick him," he said. "And she took her high heel and stuffed it in his face."
Mr Fierro said one of the dead included his daughter's boyfriend, 22-year-old Raymond Vance.
Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers hailed the bystanders' "incredible act of heroism".
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Doctor CamNC4Me
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Re: Colorado shooting suspect appears to be LDS

Post by Doctor CamNC4Me »

I don’t disagree with Dowsin’ Dan. Here’s Heavy’s 5 FastFacts on the murderer and his family:

https://heavy.com/news/anderson-lee-aldrich/

Unless something comes out where he’s a DezNat type it’s hard to place him into an ideological box. You’ve got parental porn actors, a methhead dad, a MAGAt grandpa, a single mom, the murderer being bullied online when he was younger, and who knows what with regard to his time spent online. Even his nonbinary claim could be a clue as to why he shot up the club. Mass shooter often target places they themselves frequent or are familiar with.

Anyway. Obvs speculation - but I wouldn’t doubt this act is personal and something went down online between the murderer and someone affiliated with the club to whatever extent. The murderer, feeling rejected or bullied, takes it out on the club because he knows there’s an event and it’ll be full.

- Doc
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Re: Colorado shooting suspect appears to be LDS

Post by Kishkumen »

Yesterday a friend came out as demi-sexual. I had to look that up. A demi-sexual evidently only feels physical attraction after forming an emotional bond. On the post, people were congratulating my friend and expressing love and support. It struck me that I could have gone my whole life not knowing this detail, and it would not have affected our friendship whatsoever. In any case, I shrugged and moved on.
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”~Thomas Pynchon, Gravity’s Rainbow
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Kishkumen
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Re: Colorado shooting suspect appears to be LDS

Post by Kishkumen »

Doctor CamNC4Me wrote:
Wed Nov 23, 2022 12:53 pm
I don’t disagree with Dowsin’ Dan. Here’s Heavy’s 5 FastFacts on the murderer and his family:

https://heavy.com/news/anderson-lee-aldrich/

Unless something comes out where he’s a DezNat type it’s hard to place him into an ideological box. You’ve got parental porn actors, a methhead dad, a MAGAt grandpa, a single mom, the murderer being bullied online when he was younger, and who knows what with regard to his time spent online. Even his nonbinary claim could be a clue as to why he shot up the club. Mass shooter often target places they themselves frequent or are familiar with.

Anyway. Obvs speculation - but I wouldn’t doubt this act is personal and something went down online between the murderer and someone affiliated with the club to whatever extent. The murderer, feeling rejected or bullied, takes it out on the club because he knows there’s an event and it’ll be full.
Thanks, DocCam. I think you are probably right. Sad event all around. The question should be not how the church can avoid culpability, even when the blame is misplaced, but how can we all do better at creating a world where things like this do not happen or, at least, happen much, much more rarely.
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”~Thomas Pynchon, Gravity’s Rainbow
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Re: Just how stupid is Herschel?

Post by Hawkeye »

So basically, some crazy welfare queen and an absentee father get a no fault divorce and raise a crazy kid that commits an unspeakable crime. And in response the media uses this as an opportunity to bludgeon and blame anyone who believes that marriage means one man/one woman, don't want their grade school age kids indoctrinated in homosexuality, thinks transgender athletes shouldn't be competing in women's sports, and that American citizens should be able to legally own firearm for self defense.

The suspect in the mass shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado had a tumultuous upbringing in which he was bullied as a teenager and raised for a time by his grandmother, according to an emerging portrait of the alleged gunman pieced together by CNN.

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Anderson Lee Aldrich ended up in the care of his grandmother as his mother struggled with a string of arrests and related mental health evaluations, according to court records and an interview with a family member. 

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The suspect’s grandmother, who a relative described as his primary caretaker, declined to be interviewed by CNN.

Aldrich’s relationship with his mother appeared volatile last year when she called police on her son and said he threatened to harm her with a homemade bomb and other weapons. 

No charges were filed, and the case has since been sealed, leaving unanswered questions about how Aldrich avoided prosecution in a matter that may ultimately have prohibited him from legally possessing a weapon if convicted.

A little over a year after the bomb threat incident, Aldrich allegedly opened fire at Club Q in Colorado Springs, killing five people and leaving more than a dozen injured. Aldrich, 22, faces five counts of first-degree murder and five counts of a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury, according to an online docket in the El Paso County Court. The 6’4”, 260-pound suspect had been in the hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries after he was subdued by club patrons during the attack.

Details are coming to light about the alleged gunman who killed five people at an LGBTQ nightclub
Details are coming to light about the alleged gunman who killed five people at an LGBTQ nightclub
© Provided by CNN
Anderson Lee Aldrich and his mother Laura Voepel in July. - Provided to CNN
Aldrich was born in May of 2000 under the name Nicholas Brink, and is the son of Laura Voepel and Aaron Brink, who married in 1999. Neither parent could be reached for comment. His father filed for divorce in September 2001 in Orange County, California, citing irreconcilable differences. In his initial petition, he requested legal custody and visitation rights but asked that the court grant full physical custody to Voepel. Voepel stated in a 2007 filing that her son had had no contact with his father.

Aldrich’s father was a mixed martial arts fighter and a porn actor who spent time in federal prison for illegally importing marijuana, according to court documents, interviews, and an entertainment website. 

About a year before Aldrich was born, Brink pleaded guilty in 1999 to a misdemeanor domestic battery charge and received a suspended sentence, according to the San Diego County Superior Court. Federal court records state that the victim in that case was Voepel, who was described as his girlfriend. 

Voepel, the daughter of California Assemblyman Randy Voepel, was granted sole legal and physical custody of her son in 2007. In May of that year, Voepel stated in court records that she was unemployed and engaged with a new baby on the way, in addition to Aldrich, who was six years old at the time.  

In 2009, Aldrich’s mother received three years of probation for convictions of public intoxication and falsely reporting a crime to police. The false report conviction stemmed from a 2008 incident in Murrieta, California in which police responded to a reported home invasion and found Voepel lying on her bed with her hands and legs bound with duct tape. Voepel initially told police a man had put string around her neck, bound her with tape and placed a knife on her chest. She admitted the following day, however, that she had been under the influence of narcotics and fabricated the incident because “she was lonely and wanted attention,” a police report states.

In 2010, Voepel underwent court-ordered mental health treatment in Riverside County, California that stemmed from those cases, according to court records obtained by CNN.

The records show Voepel sought custody of her then-10-year-old son – the age Aldrich would have been at the time. A document filed later noted that Voepel said her son had begun living with her and that she planned to seek medical, welfare and food stamp assistance.

It was unclear during what periods Aldrich lived with his grandmother who, according to public records, maintained residences in the same areas where her daughter and grandson lived in California, Texas and Colorado. 

While in Texas, Aldrich’s mother continued to struggle with the law  and mental health issues. A relative who spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity described Voepel as “sweet” but also as having a “tumultuous life.” 

In 2012, she allegedly used a lighter to start a fire in her room at the Baptist Medical Center in San Antonio, according to a police report. Voepel, who was rescued by a hospital staffer, initially denied setting the fire, but security footage showed that she was the only person in her room when the blaze began, according to the police report. 

A licensed psychologist concluded that she suffered from severe borderline personality disorder and alcohol dependence, among other issues, records show. According to court documents, she was originally charged with arson, but pleaded no contest to a reduced offense of criminal mischief in August 2013. She was sentenced to five years of community supervision. 

Following his mom’s struggles, Aldrich was apparently having troubles of his own with at least some of his peers. In 2015, he was the subject of an online bullying page on a parody website. The site, which resembles Wikipedia, has photos of Aldrich as a teenager and uses offensive slurs to mock his weight and accuse him of engaging in illegal activity. 

The site derided an apparent attempt by Aldrich’s grandmother to raise money for him to travel to Japan with classmates.  A screenshot of a fundraising appeal says “Make a dream come true for a young man who has survived many bad knocks over his young life.” The fundraising goal was not reached, according to the post. 

A history of revisions on the page shows that the bullying posts about him were updated several times over a five-month period in 2015. The page, which was first reported by the Washington Post, is still active. 

Later that same year, just before his 16th birthday, the teen legally changed his name from Nicholas F. Brink to Anderson Lee Aldrich. A reason for the name change, also first reported by The Post, was not given.

Aldrich later moved to Colorado Springs where he lived with his grandmother. His mother lived in a rented room in a house nearby. Last year, Aldrich livestreamed a video from his mother’s Facebook page purportedly showing himself inside that house during a stand-off with police in the wake of the alleged bomb threat.

Leslie Bowman, who owns the home where the standoff took place and where Aldrich’s mother had been renting a room, said she screen recorded the video, which has since been deleted, and provided it to CNN. 

The brief video shows a few seconds of an agitated young man – identified by Bowman as Aldrich – wearing a helmet and some type of body armor, and challenging law enforcement to breach the house where he had holed up. 

He ends the video with what seems like a message to law enforcement outside: “So, uh, go ahead and come on in, boys! Let’s f**king see it!”

The video does not actually show any officers outside the house and it’s not clear whether Aldrich had any weapons. 

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release at the time that Aldrich had threatened to harm his mother “with a homemade bomb, multiple weapons, and ammunition,” and that several nearby homes had been evacuated. 

Aldrich later surrendered to sheriff’s deputies, which was seen in other video footage previously reported by CNN. The sheriff’s office said no explosives were found in the house. 

It is not immediately clear how the bomb threat case was resolved, but the Colorado Springs Gazette reported that the district attorney’s office said no formal charges were pursued in the case. The district attorney’s office did not respond to a request for comment from CNN. 

CNN’s Melanie Hicken, Casey Tolan, Isabelle Chapman, Audrey Ash, Scott Bronstein, Nelli Black, Daniel A. Medina, Rob Kuznia and Bob Ortega contributed to this report.

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[Moved post to relevant thread -- RI]
The best part about this is waiting four years to see how all the crazy apocalyptic predictions made by the fear mongering idiots in Right Wing media turned out to be painfully wrong...Gasoline would hit $10/gallon. Hyperinflation would ensue.
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