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The active shooter at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood should remind us all that Republicans are wrong. The biggest terror threat in the US remains domestic ideologues with easy access to guns.

According to KRDO Newschannel 13 in Colorado Springs:

Latest: 3 Springs officers hurt, unknown number of civilians hurt, unknown if any fatalities. Planned Parenthood shooting remains active. — KRDO NewsChannel 13 (@KRDONC13) November 27, 2015

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CORRECTION: The Planned Parenthood shooting situation remains active. — KRDO NewsChannel 13 (@KRDONC13) November 27, 2015

CSPD says the shooter has been detained. Three officers shot, possible other victims. — KRDO NewsChannel 13 (@KRDONC13) November 27, 2015

#Breaking: reports of an officer down at Planned Parenthood. — KRDO NewsChannel 13 (@KRDONC13) November 27, 2015

We can confirm an active shooter situation near Planned Parenthood on Centennial Blvd. in the Springs. Stay away from the area. — KRDO NewsChannel 13 (@KRDONC13) November 27, 2015

While Republicans whip up hate of Muslims and obsess over how to keep innocent refugee women and children out of the country, the shootings at a Planned Parenthood should remind everyone that the biggest terror threat in this country remains the homegrown shooter with easy access to firearms.

The New York Times reported on the growing right-wing terror threat in June:

Despite public anxiety about extremists inspired by Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, the number of violent plots by such individuals has remained very low. Since 9/11, an average of nine American Muslims per year have been involved in an average of six terrorism-related plots against targets in the United States. Most were disrupted, but the 20 plots that were carried out accounted for 50 fatalities over the past 13 and a half years.

In contrast, right-wing extremists averaged 337 attacks per year in the decade after 9/11, causing a total of 254 fatalities, according to a study by Arie Perliger, a professor at the United States Military Academy’s Combating Terrorism Center. The toll has increased since the study was released in 2012.



The motives for this attack are unclear at this time, but today’s shootings could be a consequence of the Republican Party’s coordinated political attacks on Planned Parenthood. From bogus edited videos to show trial style congressional hearings Republicans have gone on a hate campaign against the organization.

There have always been right-wing anti-choice extremists who are capable of violence, but the recent Republican rhetoric against Planned Parenthood threw gasoline on the fire.

While Republicans are spreading hate and fear against refugees, a bigger or equal threat to the American people continues to be domestic terrorism. It would surprise no one if today’s shootings were linked to the growing right-wing extremist threat.