The Shooting No One is Talking About

A typical Sunday morning in the south took a tragic turn at one Nashville area church this past Sunday when one person was killed and seven others were wounded during another mass shooting.

With the shooting happening so recently, details are still forthcoming and the incident is still being actively investigated by law enforcement. However, through the witness testimonies of those who were there as well as various statements from first responders, what happened before and after the attack can be patched together and is as follows.

What Actually Happened

Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessee, is a small church, with only 42 people in attendance the morning of the shooting. Emanuel Kidega Samson, the alleged shooter, posted at least one Facebook message prior to his attack that alluded to his eventual evil actions. Samson waited until the service ended, then attacked as the congregation members were leaving the building.

His first victim was Melanie Crow Smith, a mother of two who Samson shot in the church’s parking lot. Catherine Dickerson, a 64-year-old who was new to the congregation came next. She was shot as she darted for the church’s door, attempting to get away from the madman. At this point, Samson enters the church and seemingly opens fire, shooting at will, both at no one in particular and everyone at once.

Joey Spann, the church minister shouts to members to “run.” Spann is then shot directly in the chest. (He remains in critical condition as of Monday.) Mass chaos ensues, with screams and panic abounding. In the midst of this, someone begins to fight back.

Caleb Engle, who is described by friends as a gentle giant of a man, is pistol-whipped after confronting the shooter. This doesn’t stop him from fighting though. During the struggle, Samson ends up accidentally shooting himself in the left side with his own gun, taking him out of commission.

Thankfully, one of the church members had a license to carry permit and had a gun in their truck in the parking lot. They grabbed the gun to keep Samson there and ensure he was unable to harm anyone else until authorities could arrive.

Although there were many members wounded, only the first person shot lost her life. However, as horrible as this event was, it was the NFL National Anthem protests that took precedence in the media coverage and on social media throughout the day Sunday. The question that begs to be asked is why? Why would this story be ignored?

There is no motivation stated as of yet from the shooter, but it is clear this man targeted a place-of-worship, a location that is supposed to be safe. Therefore, why isn’t this story being covered by more media outlets? There has to be a reason or reasons… perhaps the following could have something to do with it.

The Shooter Was Sudanese, The Victims Were White

The Burnette Chapel Church of Christ was diverse in that there were people of many races who attended. However, it was primarily a white congregation. The shooter was originally from Sudan, but has most recently resided in Rutherford County and was a former member of the congregation. This narrative doesn’t lend itself well to the left’s view of welcoming refugees, though.

In fact, in direct contrast to the way the refugee acted, this congregation has been very active in welcoming the refugees within their community. He should have felt welcome in this location, not want to strike out.

It Promotes Gun Owner’s Rights

Another reason this might be getting a bit hidden in the media is the fact that the shooting was in essence ended by someone on the good side having a firearm on the church grounds, and being willing to fight back. Yes, the shooter had been shot, by his own gun. However, there is no way to determine how much further the shooting spree might have gone had someone not had access to a gun they could use to hold him at the location until the authorities were able to get there.

This also goes against what many on the left desire for Americans. They don’t want just anyone to be able to have the right to carry a gun. They want this to remain the sole right of law enforcement — if even that. However, it was the victims on location who needed the power to fight back. Thankfully, they did have this ability.

It Doesn’t Play Into the Racism Narrative

A Sudanese man who was welcomed into this predominately white congregation who later comes back and opens fire on them doesn’t fit well with what the media is trying to paint when it comes to racism in this country, mainly that white people as a whole are against those of other races. Of course, there is certainly a debate to be had about how law enforcement interacts with minority communities. However, this story doesn’t do anything to promote this focus. There is nothing to protest or rally behind.

This story, for whatever reasons has gotten buried behind stories about millionaires who refuse to stand for the anthem and what the president said about them. Incidentally, President Trump has yet to make a statement on the shooting at Antioch either. For the victims and those who love them, though, this story deserves more focus than millionaires ever will as it is the definition of a tragic event that has forever changed their lives.

~ Liberty Planet


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