COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – A man reported to have a violent past entered a Planned Parenthood clinic Friday with an assault rifle and killed three people, including a police officer who responded to the scene.
Garrett Swasey is now identified as the police officer from Colorado Springs who was killed in a standoff at a Planned Parenthood clinic. Swasey, age 44, responded in support of Colorado Springs Police to the active shooter situation at about 11:50 AM Friday. He was a co-pastor, skating champion, and father of two, the Washington Post reported.
The standoff lasted for hours, according to reports, and gunfire was traded throughout. Multiple persons were injured before the gunman, 57-year-old Robert Dear, was caught and arrested. It’s been reported that he has a violent history, but police had no proof of a motive or reasoning behind his attack, although a Planned Parenthood official blamed a “poisonous environment” in America for leading to shootings like this one.
Planned Parenthood has long been under siege. Attempts to de-fund the agency – which performs abortions – have gained some traction and is strongly supported by the Christian right wing of the Republican party. This shooting is the latest attack on Planned Parenthood.
Reaction was swift, however, even from a powerful anti-abortion voice: GOP Presidential candidate Ted Cruz who said “Praying for the loved ones of those killed, those injured & first responders who bravely got the situation under control in Colorado Springs” via social media.
President Obama released a statement, as well:
President Obama“The last thing Americans should have to do, over the holidays or any day, is comfort the families of people killed by gun violence — people who woke up in the morning and bid their loved ones goodbye with no idea it would be for the last time.
And yet, two days after Thanksgiving, that’s what we are forced to do again.
We don’t yet know what this particular gunman’s so-called motive was for shooting twelve people, or for terrorizing an entire community, when he opened fire with an assault weapon and took hostages at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado. What we do know is that he killed a cop in the line of duty, along with two of the citizens that police officer was trying to protect. We know that law enforcement saved lives, as so many of them do every day, all across America. And we know that more Americans and their families had fear forced upon them.
This is not normal. We can’t let it become normal. If we truly care about this — if we’re going to offer up our thoughts and prayers again, for God knows how many times, with a truly clean conscience — then we have to do something about the easy accessibility of weapons of war on our streets to people who have no business wielding them. Period. Enough is enough.
May God bless Officer Garrett Swasey and the Americans he tried to save — and may He grant the rest of us the courage to do the same thing.”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi also released a statement:
“Once again, the tragedy of gun violence has been visited on an American community. Our hearts are heavy with shock and grief for the families who lost loved ones in the senseless attack at the Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs yesterday – and we join in honoring the heroism of police officer Garrett Swasey, killed responding to the shooting.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and with the entire Colorado Springs community as they heal from the terror of yesterday. But we owe the victims and their families more than just our words.
“Congress has a moral responsibility to act to stop gun violence from shattering the peace in our communities, schools, health centers, and homes. In offering our sincerest condolences to the victims and survivors of this terrible tragedy, we must also strive to ensure that not one more family is forced to suffer the senselessness of preventable gun violence.”
Hillary Clinton said “Today and every day, we Stand with Planned Parenthood.”
Bernie Sanders said he “strongly support(s) Planned Parenthood and its work and hope people realize that bitter rhetoric can have unintended consequences.”
The shooter distributed anti Obama pamphlets to his neighbor. I dont believe taking away our gun rights is the answer though. I dont care for abortion neither.
The silence from any candidate in the Republican Clown Show is deafening, Including the head puppet master T. Rump. That’s cause they are trying to figure out how to collect some political capitol in the standings.
That is the difference between idiots like you and intelligent people. They are waiting to hear the facts before shooting off their mouth’s. Nothing like the democrats who always shoot of their mouths before knowing anything. That is how liars and crooks like Obama get elected. Preying on people who don’t know any better.
That’s hardly surprising.
We’re talking about candidates vying for votes from people who love guns no matter whose hands they’re in, hate abortion even if women’s lives are in danger, and think the biggest thing we have to fear on our soil are radical Muslims terrorists.
Reality, in this case, doesn’t fit any of the narratives of their campaigns.
So instead of showing some basic human decency for the victims of a domestic shooting, they’re opting for silence.
Unlike President Obama, they haven’t even acknowledged this tragedy happened yet.
You didn’t read the article I posted did you, he tried to rob the chase bank and ended up hiding at the planned parenthood. This is what I am talking about, about getting the facts before you make yourself look foolish.
The “article” that you referenced is pure speculation & BS on the so called “attempted bank robbery”
It is you that are the one speculating with references to far right wing web sites.
But then from you that is to be expected as well.
My point is David, that there is very little know about the gunman, Robert Dear, at this time.
All we know for sure is that he killed 3 people and injured others.
Why?
Yet to be determined.
But I would not be surprised if serious mental issues are not in the mix.
The fact that Joseph built the Pyramids in Egypt to store grain. Or Mexico building a wall. These nomads are wandering around Iowa, pandering for votes and making up facts that even children recognize as fairly tales.
Anonymous
8 years ago
By the way – – This event started at the CHASE BANK next door – More than likely he ran next door to hide. Planned parent hoodlems just want people to feel sorry for the sorry azzes. See the old witch of the west and Putins buddy got their 2 cents in.
@David-The guy?? was not registered as a Republican. He was also registered as a woman, what does that tell you? It tells me he already had mental issues. He was from North/South Carolina and had moved to Colorado about a year ago.
Only Obama would politisize something as terrible as this. Obviously the guy has mental issues. He has the same vacant look in his eyes as the idiot in Clear Lake. Obama didn’t even wait to find out the facts, he just started right in. He is going no where with his gun control because no one trust him to stick to his word. Experience shows he lies about most everything.
Where is Obama’s outrage over the nine year old boy who was executed by a gangbanger in a alley in Chicago by a black thug? Where is his outrage over the poor preacher’s wife who was pregnant and gang raped and killed by some black thug’s/? What is wrong with this guy that he only goes after white guys?
LVS, I don’t really see where the President is politicizing this nor do I think he is any more outraged at this than he is at all the things you mentioned. Read that first paragraph. He is expressing his shock and sadness at, once again, the senseless violence that this country is experiencing once again.
Garrett Swasey is now identified as the police officer from Colorado Springs who was killed in a standoff at a Planned Parenthood clinic. Swasey, age 44, responded in support of Colorado Springs Police to the active shooter situation at about 11:50 AM Friday. He was a co-pastor, skating champion, and father of two, the Washington Post reported.
The shooter distributed anti Obama pamphlets to his neighbor. I dont believe taking away our gun rights is the answer though. I dont care for abortion neither.
the article said he was registered as a member of the UAF party which I have never heard of
Under Colorado voter registration:
UAF = Unaffiliated
well that makes sense
The silence from any candidate in the Republican Clown Show is deafening, Including the head puppet master T. Rump. That’s cause they are trying to figure out how to collect some political capitol in the standings.
That is the difference between idiots like you and intelligent people. They are waiting to hear the facts before shooting off their mouth’s. Nothing like the democrats who always shoot of their mouths before knowing anything. That is how liars and crooks like Obama get elected. Preying on people who don’t know any better.
That’s hardly surprising.
We’re talking about candidates vying for votes from people who love guns no matter whose hands they’re in, hate abortion even if women’s lives are in danger, and think the biggest thing we have to fear on our soil are radical Muslims terrorists.
Reality, in this case, doesn’t fit any of the narratives of their campaigns.
So instead of showing some basic human decency for the victims of a domestic shooting, they’re opting for silence.
Unlike President Obama, they haven’t even acknowledged this tragedy happened yet.
You didn’t read the article I posted did you, he tried to rob the chase bank and ended up hiding at the planned parenthood. This is what I am talking about, about getting the facts before you make yourself look foolish.
The “article” that you referenced is pure speculation & BS on the so called “attempted bank robbery”
It is you that are the one speculating with references to far right wing web sites.
But then from you that is to be expected as well.
so if anybody wants to really know what happened then forget the guy that was actually there, ask you cause you are the expert.
My point is David, that there is very little know about the gunman, Robert Dear, at this time.
All we know for sure is that he killed 3 people and injured others.
Why?
Yet to be determined.
But I would not be surprised if serious mental issues are not in the mix.
the article talks about his run ins with the law and his voting registration, mental illness is probably the main cause.
Either that or they are waiting for the facts to come out instead of making their own facts up and end up looking like a fool.
Well, you are an expert on what a fool is.
The least that the candidates on the right could do express some form of care. But they want to wait and see how they can make it benefit them.
The fact that Joseph built the Pyramids in Egypt to store grain. Or Mexico building a wall. These nomads are wandering around Iowa, pandering for votes and making up facts that even children recognize as fairly tales.
By the way – – This event started at the CHASE BANK next door – More than likely he ran next door to hide. Planned parent hoodlems just want people to feel sorry for the sorry azzes. See the old witch of the west and Putins buddy got their 2 cents in.
@anonymous-No one believes a thing those two space cases say except their followers and even a lot of them know better.
They are already throwing around more gun control, white christian republicans against abortion. i read an article that in the comments below a person that said he was there when it happened said that this guy came from a bank and was trying to hide out at the planned parenthood. Read this article then go to the comments below. http://conservativefiringline.com/report-court-records-indicate-colorado-shooter-registered-to-vote-as-a-woman/
@David-The guy?? was not registered as a Republican. He was also registered as a woman, what does that tell you? It tells me he already had mental issues. He was from North/South Carolina and had moved to Colorado about a year ago.
http://thewriteamerica.com/murder-at-colorado-springs-planned-parenthood/
Only Obama would politisize something as terrible as this. Obviously the guy has mental issues. He has the same vacant look in his eyes as the idiot in Clear Lake. Obama didn’t even wait to find out the facts, he just started right in. He is going no where with his gun control because no one trust him to stick to his word. Experience shows he lies about most everything.
Where is Obama’s outrage over the nine year old boy who was executed by a gangbanger in a alley in Chicago by a black thug? Where is his outrage over the poor preacher’s wife who was pregnant and gang raped and killed by some black thug’s/? What is wrong with this guy that he only goes after white guys?
or the 19 people killed by a black guy in new orleans.
LVS, I don’t really see where the President is politicizing this nor do I think he is any more outraged at this than he is at all the things you mentioned. Read that first paragraph. He is expressing his shock and sadness at, once again, the senseless violence that this country is experiencing once again.
you must not have seen the video of him with his daughters talking about more gun control then.
I want to know of this POS was a biker. He looks like he might be. Yes it is relevant.