Austin Shooter Fired 100 Shots Into Downtown Buildings

An unidentified man, described as in his 50s with likely anti-government motivations which were possibly fueled by immigration, took to the streets of Austin, Texas while openly carrying his weapon.

Police say the man had targeted “multiple downtown buildings” in the gunfire before dawn, with about 100 shots ringing out into the dark streets.

Jesse Van Wallene, 29, told NBC News that he found himself around 15 feet away from the shooter when he stopped at a red light and spotted him with a “large gun in his hand.”

“He was in full gear so he didn’t seem like a civilian, but there was no writing on any of the equipment,” the restaurant server said.

“It seemed like he was wearing a bullet-proof vest,” he added.

As Governor Elect Abbott and other lawmakers are working to expand the open carry of guns in the state it remains unclear how private citizens and law enforcement officers are supposed to be able to tell the difference between the “good guys with guns” and the “bad guys with guns”.

Somehow, we’re supposed to know that these anti-government types are not the same as the other anti-government types.

So far, the “more guns” rhetoric hasn’t panned out too well.

In Texas, for example, there is no requirement to adhere to a background check or any weapons training to carry these loaded rifles in public. There is also no age limit.

Some groups have targeted Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America over their actions in seeking Kroger to change its policies in regards open carry in its stores.

The man in the image below, Kory Watkins, was seen carrying a loaded AK47 inside a Kroger store in Mansfield, Texas.

 

As for the Austin shooter, Police and FBI agents are still trying to determine a motive. Police Chief Art Acevedo said the shooter could be “anti-government” or have a political agenda based on his apparent targets: government buildings and police.

“The national debate today about immigration, that certainly comes to mind,”

Acevedo said. “Political discourse becomes very heated, sometimes very angry. The rhetoric is not healthy.”

I agree. It’s time for Kroger to wake up.

Personally, I’m sick of the self-serving extremists who believe the Second Amendment was created to scare the shit out of the public.  We deserve to feel safe.

Big thanks to my pal out there whose anonymity will be respected here.

All images obtained via social media thereby making them fair use.