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Scientology security kills man with sword

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Too funny. Moral of the story: if you have a grievance with the Church, probably best to leave your swords in the car.
 
Absolutely not. See below.



I'm sorry to be a hard ass about this, but I'm disappointed by some of the reactions to this story. Some (but not all) of the reactions have three things in common. They are:

1) Morally reprehensible.
2) Stupid.
3) Bad from the standpoint of public relations. In other words, they make "critics" look like a bunch of paranoid, foaming at the mouth idiots so biased by their hatred of Scientology that they completely ignore all available evidence.

Anyone who thinks this is a footbullet for the COS is delusional. Anyone who doesn't realize that, fairly or unfairly, this is a major potential problem for Critics and Anons isn't thinking.

You think this incident won't be on the minds of law enforcement personnel that next time there is a protest, and particularly one that gets heated? You think this won't be presented, and won't be on the judge's mind, the next time there is a request for a restraining order?

I'll say it again. Some of the critics' comments on this thread are not helping matters.

I would hope that others will join me in condemning what appears, based on the presently available evidence and information, to have been a violent, physical assault on members of the Church of Scientology, and perhaps the Church itself.

I would hope that others will join me in making it clear that we do not support, and are in no way associated with, the attacker or the means he used to express whatever grievance he may have had.

I would hope that others will join me in making it clear that, whatever grievances the attacker may have had, his resort to violence is unacceptable and we condemn it.


To begin with, I typed my answer before I saw that little tid-bit. (ie: the tapes).

Second, re-read my answer. I covered the point this is not a winning situation for protesters.

I do not, nor have I EVER supported illegal activity. I do support peaceful protests (complete with the proper paperwork filed with the city).

AND, till this story happened, Anons were attacked by Church members (as caught on film). Anons did NOT attack $cis.
 
I was trained to shoot by ex-secret service, and he pointed out that shooting to the center of mass wouldn't always kill, but you were most likely to get the shot. It's really only in a sniper situation that you'd be shooting for other body parts. Otherwise you go for the big stuff.

I took a handgun class many years ago that was taught by 2 city policemen. This entailed how to load it, how to hold it, what a "target picture" is, and some practice in a shooting range. We used Ruger 22s to learn because using a larger caliber has more kick and will cause a student to develop a bad habit flinch which affects accuracy. (At the end I did test/qualify for a cert as "sharpshooter"... the only one in the beginner's class that did so.)

I know about the rule of shooting into the middle of the chest to stop a deadly assault. I just don't keep up with whatever the latest practices might be... years later. I didn't know if it was still the same now as it was way back.
 
Well, whatever the details tturn out to be, the fact is established that
a man was shot and killed by a scientology armed guard "defending"
a scientology "church".

What this may say to the public is:

1: This is a dangerous place, akin to the areas where
drive by shootings occur.

2. What kind of "church" is attacked by samurai sword
wielding "ninjas"?

3. What kind of nieghborhood "church" is defended by an
armed guard..ready to shoot to kill anyone percieved as
a "threat"?

4. There's something really wierd going on here, there's something
wierd about scientology.

5. Scientology, like drugs, is dangerous. Stay away from it.
When approached by anyone involved with it, walk away...
"Just Say No" to scientology!
 
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-scientology24-2008nov24,0,6552577.story
(new news bolded)

A security guard at the Church of Scientology's Celebrity Centre in Hollywood Sunday shot and killed a man wielding two samurai swords, police said.

Police detained the guard for questioning but said that a surveillance tape at the facility backed his claim that he fired his semiautomatic handgun to protect himself and two colleagues.

"The evidence is very clear the security officers were defending their safety," said Deputy Chief Terry S. Hara of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Police did not release the name of the guard or the man killed in the 1:30 p.m. shooting. An investigator said the man had a history with the church but was not a member now. The tape showed the man arriving at the Celebrity Centre's Bronson Avenue parking lot in a red convertible, getting out of the vehicle and approaching a trio of security guards and waving a sword in each hand, Hara said.

He said the man, who was described as being in his 40s, was "close enough to hurt them" when the guard fired. The man was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Det. Wendi Berndt said the man was involved with the church "a long time ago."

"There was a previous relationship, but it is unclear to what degree," she said.

A teenager who saw the man arrive in the parking lot said he stopped the car abruptly in the driveway and climbed out with a 5-foot sword in his hand and an angry expression on his face. Tony Marquez, 17, said the man, who was bald and had tattoos on his arms, walked toward the building, then returned to the car to get the other sword.
"I thought it was part of a show," said Marquez, of Ontario. He and his mother entered the building before the shooting began.

Police said the guard worked for a private security company. Detectives cordoned off the Franklin Avenue complex with yellow tape as investigators combed through the man's Toyota Solara. The incident occurred at one of Hollywood's most distinctive landmarks. Originally a luxury hotel, the eight-story building was built in the style of a 17th century French castle with a striking white facade and turrets that loom over the nearby Hollywood Freeway.
 
What kind of nieghborhood "church" is defended by an armed guard..ready to shoot to kill anyone percieved as a "threat"?
Unfortunately, the answer will be a church that is the victim of religious discrimination and bigotry that has now reached the level of violence.

I'm sorry, but again, people who think that this event is bad publicity for the Church of Scientology are simply mistaken. Fairly or unfairly, this will be bad publicity for Critics and Anons. This will tend to convince the public, law enforcement and judges that the Church of Scientology does have some reason to fear physical violence.
 
The press should also be told that this is not the first scientology related death.

whyaretheydead.net

Scientology has a long list of "suicides", murders and suspicious deaths.
 
Unfortunately, the answer will be a church that is the victim of religious discrimination and bigotry that has now reached the level of violence.

I'm sorry, but again, people who think that this event is bad publicity for the Church of Scientology are simply mistaken. Fairly or unfairly, this will be bad publicity for Critics and Anons. This will tend to convince the public, law enforcement and judges that the Church of Scientology does have some reason to fear physical violence.

Only the guy is an ex scientologist. Can't claim terrorist there.
 
Imagine causing a flap in the Vatican with a couple of swords and see how many guns you have in your face in short order.
It is normal for any security guard to have a gun. Standard tool of that hat. No issue there.

I’d have to say that if someone was waving swords around in my vicinity with the intent to harm, I wouldn’t be trying to reason with them tone 40 or otherwise, nor waiting around to find out if he was going to stick it in my face, or my colleagues before acting on it.
Emerging Evidence points to some nutter trying to hurt people. Regardless of my thoughts toward scientology, I do not condone that sort of dangerous behavior from anyone to anyone. It appears that the security guard was acting in self defense to protect not just him, but others as well.

I agree with Kha Kahn in regards to his comments about things being turned onto the critics if they see a “window”. We all know how good the organization is at manipulating situations to its advantage.

As an Ex I do not condone life threatening actions by anyone towards members of the organization or anyone else, regardless of whatever this sword wielders “beef” may or may not be.
 
One wonders if the rhetoric and invective thrown around by the anon could have provoked this poor guy to go off the deep end and show up with swords...
 
An investigator said the man had a history with the church but was not a member now

Det. Wendi Berndt said the man was involved with the church "a long time ago."

"There was a previous relationship, but it is unclear to what degree," she said.
A teenager who saw the man arrive in the parking lot said he stopped the car abruptly in the driveway and climbed out with a 5-foot sword in his hand and an angry expression on his face. Tony Marquez, 17, said the man, who was bald and had tattoos on his arms, walked toward the building, then returned to the car to get the other sword.

:banghead:
 
One wonders if the rhetoric and invective thrown around by the anon could have provoked this poor guy to go off the deep end and show up with swords...

You would, wouldn't you.
The answer is NO. Anon is publicly pro legal actions and non violence, which is why this (me) ex scientologist supports them.
 
Samarai Jack

the Church of Scientolgy will tarnish the victim's reputation, just so they can say anyone who attacks Scientology must be crazy :nervous:
 
The press should also be told that this is not the first scientology related death.

whyaretheydead.net

Scientology has a long list of "suicides", murders and suspicious deaths.

Exactly! Why does a church need security guards? And why are ex members showing up with swords? It may not make critics look good, but critics only exist because there is something more to know about the cult.

Funny, but when I was in I felt that any publicity was "good". Now I feel the same way. Anything that gets people to look and question what is going on in the cult is good.

GT
 
the Church of Scientolgy will tarnish the victim's reputation, just so they say anyone who attacks Scientology must be crazy :nervous:

It's a two edge sword... no punt intended. If they say he was crazy then they run the risk of it coming out that they, and their dangerous mental practices, drove him crazy.
 
Huh?

What ever happened to tazers and pepper spray?

A nice PR flap for DM to handle.

So much for a safe space for the "movers and shakers of the world".

Life is putting in ethics on CoS on a gradient it seems.

Things will get uglier in time until DM and his out-ethics culture are banished.
 
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Why does a church need security guards?
Because it is the victim of religious bigotry and discrimination that has now reached the level of physical violence.

Violence which people here are apprently reluctant to condemn and distance themselves from.
And why are ex members showing up with swords?
If you make this argument, you will be perceived a blaming the victim.
 
Lovesnightsky

It's a two edge sword... no punt intended. If they say he was crazy then they run the risk of it coming out that they, and their dangerous mental practices, drove him crazy.

{Sarcasm} but CoS is the most ethical group on the planet, it is EVERYONE else who does not understand
 
Because it is the victim of religious bigotry and discrimination that has now reached the level of physical violence.

Violence which people here are apprently reluctant to condemn and distance themselves from. If you make this argument, you will be perceived a blaming the victim.

Is this your opinion or what you think will be put forward?
 
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