4 shot, possibly 41 hostages in NY
 

Taken from AP:

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (AP) -- A gunman entered an immigration services center in downtown Binghamton on Friday, shot at least four people and took as many as 41 hostage, according to media reports.

Mayor Matthew Ryan told the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin that there was a hostage situation involving a gunman with a high-powered rifle.

The condition of the victims wasn't immediately clear. A Binghamton police dispatcher who spoke to The Associated Press wouldn't confirm a number of people shot or injured.

The newspaper reported 41 hostages in the building of the American Civic Association and said apartments were being evacuated.

Emergency dispatchers were in contact with some people inside by phone, WBNG-TV reported. The gunman might still be in the building, the newspaper reported.

Four people were removed from the building on stretchers and taken to hospitals, and 10 more ambulances were called, the newspaper reported. The Binghamton SWAT team responded.

Linda Miller, a spokeswoman at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, confirmed that a student from Binghamton University was being treated at the emergency room. Miller said she didn't know the nature of the injuries.

"We're on full alert anticipating we're going to get additional casualties," Miller said.

The area is a commercial stretch on the west side of the Chenango River. Police have locked down a nearby high school and advised local business owners to stay inside.

People escaped to the basement of the building and more than a dozen people hid in a closet, WBNG reported.

The American Civic Association describes itself as helping immigrants and refugees with counseling, resettlement, citizenship, family reunification and translators.

It also intervenes with emergencies, including fighting, hunger and homelessness, according to information from the association's Web site.

Never understood how someone can logically think that a hostage taking plan will work for em.

And damn, another anti gun rallying point, way to go you, *******.

People these days....

damn, I hadn't even heard of this..
Uh, if everyone else had a gun you think he would have made it this far?

I hope your being jestful, you think the powers to be see it that way? I think not.

thats crazy

***Update***

Gunman takes up to 41 hostages, kills 12 in Binghamton, N.Y.

JW :D

oh damn. i havent been following this. did they capture or kill the gunman?

WOW what a wonderful world we live in. that insane

still on the large?

Part of me is not surprised. Binghamton is depressing.

12 or 13 dead and the gunman is dead.

people who have common sense will be able to see that and armed civilian could have possibly prevented this situation. Politicians , however, will blame the weapon used instead of the mentally ill operator of said weapon.

exactly. its because they just want more votes from the people that think they are "logical" when they dont use common sense to judge situations. they think with their heart instead of their head...stupid hippies.

Binghamton is a real nasty area, it doesn't shock me one bit. Very unfortunate for the people involved.

Never apply logic to illogical people/actions.

Binghampton is where my cousin is a sharp shooter for SWAT. Not sure what would bring someone to the point of doing something like this, just know that there is a lot of stupid in the world.

too bad the gunman offed himself before your cousin could alleviate his skull of some pink mist :twisted:

:werd:

If guns were banned, then this wouldnt have happend.
Cant kill 14 people with a sling shot.

My cousin, while a very talented crack redneck shot, only has 3 kills to his credit. I believe the tally is 2 pit bull and a rotty. lol

They have a lot of big drug busts(speed) with guard dogs and dog fighting issues up there. As a sharp shooter, defending his fellow officers includes any dog that jumps. Seems the average drug dealers sees his dog picked off from 50+ meters and suddenly they get a moment of clarity about their odds of survival if they fight the cops. lol

Then he could have stabbed someone, he could have bludgeoned them to death with a bat.

The point is if someone is that mentally ill and wants to kill someone then they're going to do it with whatever means they have.

Regardless of that a little thing called the Constitution is in place...but then again that seems to slowly be eroding with each passing president.

BTW, you realize most gun crimes are committed with UNREGISTERED, ILLEGAL guns right? Your average Joe who has his guns legally typically doesn't commit crimes with them.

guns were banned in Washington D.C. and, oh my god, they still had gun crimes! but, but, but that's not possible....the guns were banned. once somethings banned no one in the world has it anymore! this can't be! [/sarcasm]

banning guns disarms honest citizens, thats it! criminals dont follow the laws, ergo criminals will still have guns. banning guns would not have prevented that man from getting a gun and killing those people. Myabe it would have been harder for him to get his hands on one, but if he wanted to he could!

Now lets pretend for a moment that the leftists of America get their wish and guns are now banned and somehow, magically, every gun in America disappears. that does not change the fact that there is something wrong with this guy mentally and he wants to kill people. now he is going to use the next best/most readily available weapon to commit his crimes.

see, banning guns or any weapon for that matter isn't going to make much of a difference if it makes any difference at all. If someone wants to kill someone, they are going to find a way to do it. If every honest citizen in this country was disarmed, criminals would have a field day.

Fine. Want to mass kill without a gun? Make a bomb out of **** you can buy at Home Depot. If you want to get it done you can get it done.

Eh..he would have maybe hurt 1-2 people with a knife, maybe one dead before people beat him down. But with a gun...well, thats a different story.



I dont belive in banning wepons, but this person had both guns registerd and was just another normal human being, and killed 14 people. The police, who also had guns, didnt do jack. the guy killed himself.

IMO, not a great day for gun control.

QFT.

That can't be argued at all.