Heavy Metal The Next Scapegoat in Tucson Arizona Gunman Case?

The sad events that transpired yesterday in Tucson Arizona where a twenty-something deranged gunman opened fire at a political meet-n-greet for congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford are soon to bring the metal world into the spotlight. It turns out that gunman Jared Lee Loughner was a metal fan. While he attended Pima Community College, "he would listen to his iPod during class playing loud metal music that would disrupt those around him." The Gauntlet's source which does not wish to be identified also stated "he [Loughner] would often draw metal band names on paper" while sitting in class.

Loughner's college instructor Ben McGahee also told CNN that Loughner turned in an assignment last July which only read "Mayhem Fest!". CNN was reporting earlier today that it may have been code for 'what is to come'. Once they realize Mayhem Fest is a heavy metal festival that stopped in Phoenix, AZ and was possibly attended by Loughner, the media will begin jumping to conclusions.

The events that transpired yesterday had nothing to do with metal, however within a few days, the metal community will most likely become a scapegoat for this one mans psychotic actions. Hopefully the news media won't jump to conclusions like they did with Columbine, Richard Ramirez (aka The Nightstalker) and others. As a long time fan of metal myself along with the thousand of metal fans I come in contact with each year are among the nicest and most intelligent people. Let's see if for once the media who looks to jump to conclusions rather than seek out the truth will spend the extra couple minutes to look at countless studies that show no correlation between metal and violence.


UPDATE:
Rush Limbaugh stated on Monday Jan 10, 2011 show, even "the Obama government" -- the FBI -- calls Loughner a "deranged, insular irrational kid" who acted alone, Limbaugh said. "The kid was evil. He was into the occult. He had an altar with a skull in his yard. Was God in his life? He was stalking the congresswoman. The guy listened to heavy metal, and some of that anarchist stuff. We're dealing with an insane individual."

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Tags:  Gunmen, heavy metal, Gabrielle Gifford  

Jason Fisher    January 09, 2011