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Judi Lynn

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18. Huff. Post:William Spengler's Note Before Killing Webster Firefighters: 'Do What I Like Doing Best,

Tue Dec 25, 2012, 02:41 PM

Dec 2012

William Spengler's Note Before Killing Webster Firefighters: 'Do What I Like Doing Best, Killing People'
By GEORGE M. WALSH 12/25/12 01:20 PM ET EST

WEBSTER, N.Y. — The ex-con who lured firefighters to their deaths in a blaze of gunfire left a rambling typewritten note saying he wanted to burn down the neighborhood and "do what I like doing best, killing people," police said Tuesday.

Police Chief Gerald Pickering said 62-year-old William Spengler, who served 17 years in prison for the 1980 hammer slaying of his grandmother, armed himself with a revolver, a shotgun and a military-style rifle before he set his house afire to lure first responders into a death trap before dawn on Christmas Eve.

Two firefighters were shot dead and two others are hospitalized in stable condition. Spengler killed himself as seven houses burned around him Monday on a narrow spit of land along Lake Ontario.

One of the guns recovered was a military-style .223-caliber semiautomatic Bushmaster rifle with flash suppression, the same make and caliber weapon used in the elementary school massacre in Newtown, Conn., Pickering said.

More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/25/william-spengler-set-trap_n_2362433.html

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Gunman William Spengler Used Bushmaster, Left Chilling Note [View all] Omaha Steve Dec 2012 OP

If he bought the assualt rifle at a gun show, charged the seller. If underthematrix Dec 2012 #1

The problem is... awoke_in_2003 Dec 2012 #6

Yes, this kind of accountability is totally missing now. mbperrin Dec 2012 #50

Gee, how about going after the company that made the hammer that he used on his grandmother? humblebum Dec 2012 #107

The laws inside gun shows are the same as the laws outside gun shows. PavePusher Dec 2012 #111

To the "we have enough gun laws" folks... awoke_in_2003 Dec 2012 #2

He got it somewhere outside of the prison that he should never have been released from slackmaster Dec 2012 #4

Yep, he should have been left to rot. nt awoke_in_2003 Dec 2012 #7

Yup. That wasn't manslaughter, it was premeditated. freshwest Dec 2012 #19

Do you think the prosecution exboyfil Dec 2012 #68

It was a plea deal. He was originally charged with murder, but plead to manslaughter to LisaL Dec 2012 #69

That is my point exboyfil Dec 2012 #71

Yes, we're looking back after this crime and perhaps making the case worse than it appeared then. freshwest Dec 2012 #72

The problem is some dumbass let a nut out of jail. oldbanjo Dec 2012 #93

Very true... awoke_in_2003 Dec 2012 #98

True, because using, say a crowbar is much more sane. Katashi_itto Dec 2012 #99

What would give you the idea... awoke_in_2003 Dec 2012 #100

agree - anyone who kills his grandmother with a hammer should not be let out of jail wordpix Dec 2012 #134

He should not have been allowed to purchase a gun marshall Dec 2012 #108

I agree... awoke_in_2003 Dec 2012 #126

Our friends who love guns want us to believe Bushmaster is not an assault weapon. LaPierre Disease. Hoyt Dec 2012 #3

there's one thing LaPierre said on Meet The Press that I agree with Trunk Monkey Dec 2012 #12

I think anyone who walks into gun store for assault weapon should be tested for LaPierre Disease. Hoyt Dec 2012 #13

You do realize the guy would have done more damage (and been just as illegal) W/a model 94 right? NT Trunk Monkey Dec 2012 #28

What I realize is that today's gun nuts are attracted to manufacturers' marketing campaigns. Hoyt Dec 2012 #30

I think you are right, the marketing is a big part of the problem... reACTIONary Dec 2012 #95

"militaristic styling cues"? Specifics, please? PavePusher Dec 2012 #110

The assult weapon ban of yore contained the specifics... reACTIONary Dec 2012 #129

Then you'll want to restrict the Winchester .30-30 as well, as it was designed for the military..... PavePusher Dec 2012 #131

Sure. Whatever works... (nt) reACTIONary Dec 2012 #132

Well, that was... unresponsive. n/t PavePusher Dec 2012 #133

FWIW I do not own a single weapon that would be affected by an AWB NT Trunk Monkey Dec 2012 #106

I'm not so sure. sulphurdunn Dec 2012 #46

Oswald got off 3 shots in 5 seconds with a bolt-action rifle w/scope. HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #51

He could have sulphurdunn Dec 2012 #58

Ummmm.... unless you actually use the sights on any AR15.... PavePusher Dec 2012 #109

Not so. sulphurdunn Dec 2012 #112

None of that negates anything I said. PavePusher Dec 2012 #114

I suppose sulphurdunn Dec 2012 #118

Sorry, but your training is quite out-of-date. PavePusher Dec 2012 #119

Spray-n-pay? sulphurdunn Dec 2012 #121

Sorry, I meant "spray-n-pRay". Darn typos... n/t PavePusher Dec 2012 #123

I figured that out finally. sulphurdunn Dec 2012 #127

He was a convicted felon - somehow he got a gun - that's the issue. geckosfeet Dec 2012 #54

An "accomplice" would have to have known... HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #65

And eventually those weapons will be removed from private hands also. It will take time. RC Dec 2012 #86

They aren't experienced gun owners. They are copy-cats HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #91

True. If there was a required bg check this guy would have shown up. geckosfeet Dec 2012 #103

NY gun laws here: PavePusher Dec 2012 #115

Then if someone sold it to him at gun show they broke the law. geckosfeet Dec 2012 #120

Only if they knew, or should have known, that he was a felon or had criminal intent. PavePusher Dec 2012 #122

There is a lot of fail in this story. Chorophyll Dec 2012 #5

Gun show probably. nt awoke_in_2003 Dec 2012 #8

New York requires back ground checks on all sales at guns shows so probably not. NT Trunk Monkey Dec 2012 #26

So maybe he took a few hours' drive to Ohio starroute Dec 2012 #32

Which would STILL be illegal. You get that right? NT Trunk Monkey Dec 2012 #104

Lots of states around New York don't. nt awoke_in_2003 Dec 2012 #42

OK, does that somehow make it legal for a convicted felon to purchase a firearm? Trunk Monkey Dec 2012 #105

A prison record for murdering his grandmother and we sold him a gun? aquart Dec 2012 #9

One More Victory For The NRA And Gun Apologists cantbeserious Dec 2012 #10

I'm surprised he didn't decide to use a chainsaw. dkf Dec 2012 #11

advertising that money cannot buy for the manufacturer nt msongs Dec 2012 #14

He did 18 years for murdering his grandmother, and he was then able to get hold of a gun? LeftishBrit Dec 2012 #15

But you see, he used a hammer on his mother rather than a gun, because shooting her would have... slackmaster Dec 2012 #16

What's the name of your advocacy group? IveWornAHundredPants Dec 2012 #23

American Symmetry Association slackmaster Dec 2012 #25

I thought you were... awoke_in_2003 Dec 2012 #48

I read his post as tongue in cheak... socialindependocrat Dec 2012 #52

Gun Militancy Movement's Response To Victims And Their Families: Tough Shit. (nt) Paladin Dec 2012 #17

Huff. Post:William Spengler's Note Before Killing Webster Firefighters: 'Do What I Like Doing Best, Judi Lynn Dec 2012 #18

Free Republic just lost another member. alfredo Dec 2012 #20

So true. Baitball Blogger Dec 2012 #21

I guess FR is still in operation. alfredo Dec 2012 #61

sales of this brand, of course, will go up--that's now TWO "field trials" MisterP Dec 2012 #22

Question I'd be asking, is how much the manufaturers... TheMadMonk Dec 2012 #62

Don't you just know that somewhere there's some fuckwad with an MBA coalition_unwilling Dec 2012 #102

He beat somone to death with a hammer and he was out of prison? Third Doctor Dec 2012 #24

he did not have a right to own a gun bossy22 Dec 2012 #45

And how, exactly, does that billh58 Dec 2012 #53

Anyone can buy a gun with no paperwork in any City. oldbanjo Dec 2012 #96

A felon I know was arrested, he had three guns, oldbanjo Dec 2012 #94

The NRA should be charged like a driver who's passengers go to bathroom in gas station graham4anything Dec 2012 #27

He was a convicted felon KareBear Dec 2012 #29

He could have bought it off anyone and not broken any law, how would the seller doc03 Dec 2012 #31

And what exactly is the background check for? LisaL Dec 2012 #34

There is no background check for private sales in most states. n/t doc03 Dec 2012 #39

Well, there should be. LisaL Dec 2012 #41

That is the problem. HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #40

I don't know how knowledgeable another person on DU was a couple days ago doc03 Dec 2012 #44

I believe federal law prevents felons from buying guns. HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #49

He could could have bought a gun off of me or you, there is no doc03 Dec 2012 #60

Exactly. There's no record-keeping or background checks. HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #73

To be pedantic, laws don't "prevent" anything. PavePusher Dec 2012 #113

That is true. HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #116

And therein lies the billh58 Dec 2012 #55

Not to mention he looks like evil Santa.... eilen Dec 2012 #67

A law banning private sales may have helped, HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #35

He might be able to have killed grandma with a hammer. Not so easy to do that with LisaL Dec 2012 #37

He could have killed them with several other weapons. HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #43

And as YOU well know. NOT AS FUCKING EASILY! /nt TheMadMonk Dec 2012 #64

Several propane tanks rigged to explode when firefighters arrived? HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #87

Still not as easy as <crack>, <crack>, <crack> TheMadMonk Dec 2012 #92

So why do hunters use guns? primavera Dec 2012 #135

N.R.A. , Republicans morn the loss of recent killers. pwb Dec 2012 #33

Am I mistaken here? lexw Dec 2012 #36

I don't believe we were hearing anything of the sort. LisaL Dec 2012 #38

Thx. I found the original article I saw on 12/24, and indeed, I misread it. :/ lexw Dec 2012 #130

AFAIK, it was descibed as an ambush from the beginning. nt HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #47

Yes, you're mistaken. n/t Tarheel_Dem Dec 2012 #59

Holy Moly, Mother of God... ReRe Dec 2012 #56

Prison does nothing to address people with psychological/emotional illnesses/issues. Live and Learn Dec 2012 #57

Oh give me a break. LisaL Dec 2012 #63

Are you saying you disagree? Live and Learn Dec 2012 #70

So instead of prisons, we should be now sending criminals to hospitals for treatment? LisaL Dec 2012 #76

Or get him in a treatment facility before he murdered his grandmother with a hammer. HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #74

So you would have him treated before he did anything? For what, exactly? LisaL Dec 2012 #77

Did he display any signs before the murder? HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #80

It used to be much easier. It is very difficult now. Live and Learn Dec 2012 #83

For what? Certainly you don't think that someone who Live and Learn Dec 2012 #84

That would be the optimum. We are a long ways from that Live and Learn Dec 2012 #81

A perfect example of a Gun Nut! Odin2005 Dec 2012 #66

Or a hammer-nut...or arsonist...or suicide attacker. HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #89

He beat his grandmother to death with a hammer. MrSlayer Dec 2012 #75

He beat his own grandmother to death with a hammer Aerows Dec 2012 #78

Because he plead to manslaughter. LisaL Dec 2012 #79

What idiot offered a manslaughter plea? HooptieWagon Dec 2012 #85

I suspect a DA, who had a case where he had a good chance of losing. happyslug Dec 2012 #125

What the fuck was he doing out of prison in the first place? Jamastiene Dec 2012 #82

that's what i want to know, he was already in his mid 30s when he beat her to death JI7 Dec 2012 #88

He should have never went to jail he should have been hung the next day. oldbanjo Dec 2012 #97

He got out on good behavior, because they needed the room for another pot smoker. RC Dec 2012 #90

Which is ridiculous. Jamastiene Dec 2012 #101

This article is some tribute to a dingbat complete with picture and manifesto. Paul E Ester Dec 2012 #117

Posters sure do get caught up on the imagery of "beat to death". ieoeja Dec 2012 #124

It was fucking murder SpartanDem Dec 2012 #128