Shootings at the UU Church in Knoxville

[lilithu]

In case you haven't heard, a gunman entered the Tennessee Valley UU church in Knoxville yesterday, while the church was full to watch a children's play, and opened fire. Two have died. Seven others injured, five of them seriously. The gunman has no known connection with the church. The rumour is that he said "hateful things" as he was shooting.

This is a link to the story:
2 killed in Tennessee church shooting; suspect charged - CNN.com

This is the church website:
TVUUC

I found out about it when I logged onto SecondLife. The UUs there have been holding vigil and taken up a donation. Weird to hold a vigil virtually, but somehow it works. Anyway, thought yall should know. Please hold the congregation in your prayers and/or thoughts.

[Wandered Off]

Sad news indeed.

[Charity]

Sorry to hear this......I will be praying

[Storm]

We heard about this in services yesterday, but there were no details about it. Thank you for the article.

[Kungfuzed]

That just blew me away this morning when I saw it on the news. It really makes no sense at all. The shooter must have been insane. What a tragedy.

[Engyo]

Evidently the church was targetted because they are liberal.

Church shooting suspect angry over job search, police say - CNN.com

I don't even quite know what to think about this.

[JewishLeftist]

This is truly reprehensible. Although i am not a UU i recognize UU as one of the truly tolerant religions out there in the world today. The shooter should be prosecuted as a terrorist for using violence to force his political beliefs upon ordinary people.

[painted wolf]

my heart goes out to everyone involved. My wife is a member of our local UU church and while I'm not a member it sickens me that someone would attack a group of people who pride themselves on tolarance and respect for others.

wa:do

[lilithu]

Found out from the UUA today that there were two UU congregations affected. Well, all UU congregations are affected, but two were directly hurt by the violence. I don't think the media cares about such details, but UUs and friends may want to know. The shooting happened at the Tennessee Valley UU Church, and the first victim who died on the spot was from that congregation. But since there was a kids' musical production going on, it was a joint worship between two UU congregations, as the kids were from both congregations. Westside UU Fellowship was visiting, so the sanctuary was even more packed than usual. The second victim to die was from Westside. They are hurting just as much so please hold them in your thoughts as well.

I hear that the media coverage is almost as stressful as the shooting, with news crews going to church members' houses and ringing their doorbells for interviews. The media didn't give a bleep when a UU shot his estranged wife, her partner, their (his own) two kids and himself last year. Five dead. But make it about someone committing a hate crime targeting liberals and the media literally is camped out in the church's parking lot. The New Times asked whether we prefer to be called a "religion" or a "cult." Does anyone know anyone who aspires to be called a "cult"?? This is how they, the "liberal media," responds to people's suffering??

I hear the vigil last night was very moving. President Sinkford flew in to speak, and even tho the killer said he specifically targeted the church for its liberalism, Sinkford said this incident would not affect our work for social justice. Amen. And then.... at the end... the kids surprised everyone at the vigil by singing "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" from Annie, which they would have sung on Sunday had they not been interrupted. Can't think of a more fitting thing for them to do.

[Storm]

Thank you for that, Lilithu.