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spaminator

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Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ club mass killer gets life in prison, victim says ‘devil awaits’ defendant
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Colleen Slevin and Jesse Bedayn
Published Jun 26, 2023 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The person who killed five people at a Colorado Springs nightclub in 2022 was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, after victims called the shooter a “monster” and “coward” who hunted down revelers in a calculated attack on a sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community.


During an emotional courtroom hearing packed with victims and family members, Anderson Lee Aldrich pleaded guilty to five counts of murder and 46 counts of attempted murder — one for each person at Club Q on the night of the shooting. Aldrich also pleaded no contest to two hate crimes, one a felony and the other a misdemeanor.


“This thing sitting in this court room is not a human, it is a monster,” said Jessica Fierro, who’s daughter’s boyfriend was killed that night. “The devil awaits with open arms.”

The guilty plea comes just seven months after the shooting and spares victim’s families and survivors a long and potentially painful trial.

People in the courtroom wiped away tears as the judge explained the charges and read out the names of the victims.


“You are targeting a group of people for their simple existence,” said Judge Michael McHenry.

“Like too many other people in our culture, you chose to find a power that day behind the trigger of a gun, your actions reflect the deepest malice of the human heart, and malice is almost always born of ignorance and fear,” the judge continued.

Relatives and friends of victims were able to give statements in court to remember their loved ones and survivors spoke about how their lives were forever altered just before midnight on Nov. 19 when the suspect walked into Club Q and indiscriminately fired an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle.

The father of a Club Q bartender said Daniel Aston had been in the prime of his life when he was shot and killed.


“He was huge light in this world that was snuffed out by a heinous, evil and cowardly act,” Jeff Aston said. “I will never again hear him laugh at my dad jokes.”

Daniel Aston’s mother, Sabrina, was among those who said they would not forgive the crimes.

Another forgave Aldrich without excusing the crime.

“I forgive this individual, as they are a symbol of a broken system, of hate and vitriol pushed against us as a community,” said Wyatt Kent, Aston’s partner. “What brings joy to me is that this hurt individual will never be able to see the joy and the light that has been wrought into our community as an outcome.”

Aldrich’s body shook slightly as the victims and family members spoke. The defendant also looked down and glanced occasionally at a screen showing photos of the victims.


Aldrich did not reveal a motivation and declined to address the court during the sentencing part of the hearing. Defense attorney Joseph Archambault said “they want everyone to know they’re sorry.”

The guilty plea follows a series of jailhouse phone calls from Aldrich to The Associated Press expressing remorse for the shooting.

District Attorney Michael Allen said Aldrich’s statements were self-serving and rang hollow.

“The ‘why’ matters. These victims were targeted for who they were and are,” Allen said to the judge. “Hatred coupled with criminal action will not be tolerated.”

Aldrich originally was charged with more than 300 state counts, including murder and hate crimes. The U.S. Justice Department was considering pursuing federal hate crime charges, according to a senior law enforcement official familiar with the matter who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing case.


The status of those deliberations were unclear Monday and no federal charges were mentioned during the court hearing.

The line to get through security and into the courthouse early Monday snaked through the large plaza outside as victims and others queued up to attend the hearing. One man wore a t-shirt saying “Loved Always & Never Forgotten.”

The attack at Club Q came over a year after Aldrich was arrested for threatening their grandparents and vowing to become “the next mass killer ” while stockpiling weapons, body armor and bomb-making materials.

The charges in that case were eventually dismissed after Aldrich’s mother and grandparents refused to cooperate with prosecutors, evading efforts to serve them with subpoenas to testify. Aldrich was released and authorities kept two guns. But there was nothing to stop Aldrich from legally purchasing more firearms.


Aldrich told AP in one of the interviews from jail they were on a “very large plethora of drugs” and abusing steroids at the time of the attack. But they did not answer directly regarding the hate crimes charges. When asked whether the attack was motivated by hate, Aldrich said that was “completely off base.”

District Attorney Allen said Aldrich knew exactly what they were doing during the attack and had drawn diagrams in advance indicating the best way to carry it out.

That night, when Ashtin Gamblin stared into Aldrich’s face, shots were already going off.

“I nuzzled up with my friend’s body, soaking my clothes in his blood, terrified that this person might come back,” said Gamblin, who was shot nine times. “I hope for the worst things possible in prison, and even that won’t be good enough.”
 

Ron in Regina

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Apr 9, 2008
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Thank goodness. TBH the PC's can do better than this jerk.
So how does this fit (or does it) into the LGBTQ or 2SLGB…etc…agenda? I can’t recall the current series of letters & symbols but the Australian News Folks where laughing at Trudeau spewing off a new string of them recently.
“Bud Light sponsors Toronto Pride Parade attended by naked men: Videos from the event showed naked men riding bikes and waving to a crowd that included kids,” said the headline on FOX News.

Mayoral candidate and former Toronto Police officer Blake Action asked “should children really be exposed to this?” and opined that “the Toronto Pride Parade should be toned down?”

While participants in the Pride parades and events possess differing views on this, it certainly appears that people are breaking the law if they expose their genitals in public. Sec. 174 of the Criminal Code makes it very clear that public nudity — like displays at Toronto’s Pride Parade — is illegal.

Look closely and you will find a loophole written into the law that ties the hands of police should they want to enforce it.

“Marginal note: Consent of Attorney General. No proceedings shall be commenced under this section without the consent of the Attorney General.”

So, when you see those participants walking along displaying full-frontal and rear nudity, they cannot be prosecuted unless the Ontario Attorney General and his staff say it is OK to proceed. But, even so, does it make it a right to strip and show one’s private parts in public — especially when it’s being done in front of children?

Most have turned a blind eye to this controversial matter, while in the past, Toronto has seen a Christian pastor charged with mischief and causing a disturbance for praying in the area of the parade. While those charges were eventually withdrawn, it’s clear some things are tolerated and others are not.

But some members of the gay community have told The Toronto Sun that nudity and sexual simulations on floats have nothing to do with advancing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. It seems a small minority of Pride participants involved in these actions are above the rules that would apply to anybody else in any other public setting.

There is no other public place or parade where this would be considered acceptable.

While the Attorney General and Pride Toronto have yet to comment, Toronto Police — while not denying the public nudity violates the law — responded that officers have a responsibility to exercise discretion.

(Now, admittedly, I haven’t been to a football game in years, but the Cheerleaders where not naked to the best of my recollection)

“At events like the Pride Parade, which might attract as many as a million people, our number one priority is public safety and ensuring a peaceful event,” said police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer. “It’s not in the best interest of officers or the community to have police wading into crowds to arrest people for public nudity.”


Authorities don’t have to work hard to find examples of full nudity at Pride. Images are all over social media, complete with areas that are blurred out to cater to online sensibilities that don’t seem to apply on the street.
 
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petros

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Nov 21, 2008
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So how does this fit (or does it) into the LGBTQ or 2SLGB…etc…agenda? I can’t recall the current series of letters & symbols but the Australian News Folks where laughing at Trudeau spewing off a new string of them recently.
“Bud Light sponsors Toronto Pride Parade attended by naked men: Videos from the event showed naked men riding bikes and waving to a crowd that included kids,” said the headline on FOX News.

Mayoral candidate and former Toronto Police officer Blake Action asked “should children really be exposed to this?” and opined that “the Toronto Pride Parade should be toned down?”

While participants in the Pride parades and events possess differing views on this, it certainly appears that people are breaking the law if they expose their genitals in public. Sec. 174 of the Criminal Code makes it very clear that public nudity — like displays at Toronto’s Pride Parade — is illegal.

Look closely and you will find a loophole written into the law that ties the hands of police should they want to enforce it.

“Marginal note: Consent of Attorney General. No proceedings shall be commenced under this section without the consent of the Attorney General.”

So, when you see those participants walking along displaying full-frontal and rear nudity, they cannot be prosecuted unless the Ontario Attorney General and his staff say it is OK to proceed. But, even so, does it make it a right to strip and show one’s private parts in public — especially when it’s being done in front of children?

Most have turned a blind eye to this controversial matter, while in the past, Toronto has seen a Christian pastor charged with mischief and causing a disturbance for praying in the area of the parade. While those charges were eventually withdrawn, it’s clear some things are tolerated and others are not.

But some members of the gay community have told The Toronto Sun that nudity and sexual simulations on floats have nothing to do with advancing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. It seems a small minority of Pride participants involved in these actions are above the rules that would apply to anybody else in any other public setting.

There is no other public place or parade where this would be considered acceptable.

While the Attorney General and Pride Toronto have yet to comment, Toronto Police — while not denying the public nudity violates the law — responded that officers have a responsibility to exercise discretion.

(Now, admittedly, I haven’t been to a football game in years, but the Cheerleaders where not naked to the best of my recollection)

“At events like the Pride Parade, which might attract as many as a million people, our number one priority is public safety and ensuring a peaceful event,” said police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer. “It’s not in the best interest of officers or the community to have police wading into crowds to arrest people for public nudity.”


Authorities don’t have to work hard to find examples of full nudity at Pride. Images are all over social media, complete with areas that are blurred out to cater to online sensibilities that don’t seem to apply on the street.
Butt butt butt...they will commit suicide if they arent naked or whipping an ass dressed in BDSM gear in public.
 
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Dixie Cup

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After more than 50 years of being impressively ahead of the curve on gay and trans rights issues, Canadians may have finally encountered an LGBT issue that they consider a bridge too far.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs recently took the controversial stand of becoming the first high-profile Canadian politician to resist a policy of having public schools accommodate the gender transition of young students without informing parents.

The move was met by a miniature revolt within Higgs’ own cabinet and was quickly branded as “far right” by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Deadnaming Children Would Be Allowed Under School Policy,” was how The New York Times covered it – “deadnaming” here referring to the practice of using the birth name of a trans person.

But according to a Leger poll last May, a clear majority of Canadians are on Higgs’ side. Of respondents, 57 per cent agreed with Higgs, while a mere 18 per cent agreed that schools should continue facilitating gender transitions without parental consent.
Finally, some common sense!
 
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Taxslave2

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"Let parents raise kids". Funny, that's what Higgs said.

I'll give PP credit though, he is right, this is a provincial issue.

But Trudeau is allowed to share his opinion, just like anyone else. Else PP should have STFU too and not said "Let parents raise kids".

Funny that right now the province ISN'T running the schools all that well, and teachers thus far have no clue what they're supposed to do, but don't let that get in the way of the issue I suppose.

Lastly, Trudeau is right, trans kids in NB DON'T have the right to be themselves thanks to this change of Higgs's. They have to either be outed to, or come out to, parents, maybe before they're ready to, just to be themselves. Kids DO need to feel safe, that's why 713 was set up, to give those kids a safe space.

And many in NB right now support Trudeau's point of view, NOT Higgs.
The trans kids have exactly the same rights as every normal kid.
 

Taxslave2

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So how does this fit (or does it) into the LGBTQ or 2SLGB…etc…agenda? I can’t recall the current series of letters & symbols but the Australian News Folks where laughing at Trudeau spewing off a new string of them recently.
“Bud Light sponsors Toronto Pride Parade attended by naked men: Videos from the event showed naked men riding bikes and waving to a crowd that included kids,” said the headline on FOX News.

Mayoral candidate and former Toronto Police officer Blake Action asked “should children really be exposed to this?” and opined that “the Toronto Pride Parade should be toned down?”

While participants in the Pride parades and events possess differing views on this, it certainly appears that people are breaking the law if they expose their genitals in public. Sec. 174 of the Criminal Code makes it very clear that public nudity — like displays at Toronto’s Pride Parade — is illegal.

Look closely and you will find a loophole written into the law that ties the hands of police should they want to enforce it.

“Marginal note: Consent of Attorney General. No proceedings shall be commenced under this section without the consent of the Attorney General.”

So, when you see those participants walking along displaying full-frontal and rear nudity, they cannot be prosecuted unless the Ontario Attorney General and his staff say it is OK to proceed. But, even so, does it make it a right to strip and show one’s private parts in public — especially when it’s being done in front of children?

Most have turned a blind eye to this controversial matter, while in the past, Toronto has seen a Christian pastor charged with mischief and causing a disturbance for praying in the area of the parade. While those charges were eventually withdrawn, it’s clear some things are tolerated and others are not.

But some members of the gay community have told The Toronto Sun that nudity and sexual simulations on floats have nothing to do with advancing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. It seems a small minority of Pride participants involved in these actions are above the rules that would apply to anybody else in any other public setting.

There is no other public place or parade where this would be considered acceptable.

While the Attorney General and Pride Toronto have yet to comment, Toronto Police — while not denying the public nudity violates the law — responded that officers have a responsibility to exercise discretion.

(Now, admittedly, I haven’t been to a football game in years, but the Cheerleaders where not naked to the best of my recollection)

“At events like the Pride Parade, which might attract as many as a million people, our number one priority is public safety and ensuring a peaceful event,” said police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer. “It’s not in the best interest of officers or the community to have police wading into crowds to arrest people for public nudity.”


Authorities don’t have to work hard to find examples of full nudity at Pride. Images are all over social media, complete with areas that are blurred out to cater to online sensibilities that don’t seem to apply on the street.
This would mean that it is perfectly legal for anybody to flash kids at school as well.
 

Ron in Regina

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Apr 9, 2008
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This would mean that it is perfectly legal for anybody to flash kids at school as well.
Most have turned a blind eye to this controversial matter, while in the past, Toronto has seen a Christian pastor charged with mischief and causing a disturbance for praying in the area of the parade. While those charges were eventually withdrawn, it’s clear some things are tolerated and others are not.
Mmmm…no. I wouldn’t pray in front of the school either (not that I pray), but I’m assuming nobody wants to be dragged in front of a human rights tribunal with its reverse onus (guilty until proven innocent, instead of innocent until proven guilty), as the few that seem to have won against the tribunal have had to have deep, deep pockets…plus the publicity of that happening, etc…so ‘discretion’ is the Enforcement word of the day from police or politicians (or Police-Politicians), but I wouldn’t try that at home and I sure wouldn’t try it in front of the school. 😉

The ONLY one I can think of off the top of my head who has actually won against the human rights tribunal is Ezra Levant back years ago….& his legal fees were crowd sourced, but I think they were somewhere around the $250,000.00 mark to go from being guilty until found innocent to actually being found innocent.

Levant rose to prominence in 2006 after publishing the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons in The Western Standard, which led to a protracted legal battle with the Alberta Human Rights Commission regarding hate speech legislation and freedom of speech. The complaint against Levant was ultimately withdrawn.
 
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Dixie Cup

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Thank goodness. TBH the PC's can do better than this jerk.
So parents apparently have no business knowing what's going on with their kids. WOW!!
"Let parents raise kids". Funny, that's what Higgs said.

I'll give PP credit though, he is right, this is a provincial issue.

But Trudeau is allowed to share his opinion, just like anyone else. Else PP should have STFU too and not said "Let parents raise kids".

Funny that right now the province ISN'T running the schools all that well, and teachers thus far have no clue what they're supposed to do, but don't let that get in the way of the issue I suppose.

Lastly, Trudeau is right, trans kids in NB DON'T have the right to be themselves thanks to this change of Higgs's. They have to either be outed to, or come out to, parents, maybe before they're ready to, just to be themselves. Kids DO need to feel safe, that's why 713 was set up, to give those kids a safe space.

And many in NB right now support Trudeau's point of view, NOT Higgs.
Hokey Smokes, the teachers "don't know what to do?" Seriously? They simply need to teach what they've been teaching for 100 years or so. Reading, writing, arithmetic, science, etc. Hopefully when the "smoke" clears, everyone will then be on the same page & minors will be left alone to be the kids they were born to be.

When it comes to sexuality/sex:

In my school, in grade 9 we had sex educations classes (I went to a Catholic School) and had experts in to speak with us. There was a social worker, a doctor, a nurse & a psychologist and they each spoke to the all the girls & boys separately. Then, towards the end, we were all put together & encouraged to ask questions. We were all given a pieces of paper so we could ask questions anonymously without fear of ridicule. It was terrific & while I knew some of the stuff, there was a lot I didn't know at that age & I certainly appreciated the information. Because my parents didn't talk to us about sex not because they didn't want to but because they didn't know how. My dad had a grade 7 education & my mom a grade 9 so they were happy to sign on for us to take the classes.

It also meant getting the correct information as well & not myths. And, in grade 9, while I was one of the youngest in the class, I along with my classmates were ready to hear all about this b'cuz we were in the right age range 13 - 14 years of age. I certainly wasn't at 4 or 5 or 8 or even 9 which is what is happening today and which is why there is so much virulent objection to this.

I'm certainly wondering about the values & morals of parents who don't have an issue with their minor kids taking drastic medical transformations without actually knowing what the child is going through & unfortunately, most psychiatrists & psychologists are just as bad in deciding what is best for these kids. It's not transitioning - it's getting Mental Health help & understanding what they're going through & it usually doesn't have anything to do with becoming the opposite sex. That's just what they're told to make them feel better. Thus, DE transitioning is becoming more & more apparent & will likely increase as these kids get older with not only medical issues but with mental health issues still at play. That's why there's no difference in suicides pre/post transitioning.
 

Serryah

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Dec 3, 2008
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So how does this fit (or does it) into the LGBTQ or 2SLGB…etc…agenda? I can’t recall the current series of letters & symbols but the Australian News Folks where laughing at Trudeau spewing off a new string of them recently.
“Bud Light sponsors Toronto Pride Parade attended by naked men: Videos from the event showed naked men riding bikes and waving to a crowd that included kids,” said the headline on FOX News.

Mayoral candidate and former Toronto Police officer Blake Action asked “should children really be exposed to this?” and opined that “the Toronto Pride Parade should be toned down?”

While participants in the Pride parades and events possess differing views on this, it certainly appears that people are breaking the law if they expose their genitals in public. Sec. 174 of the Criminal Code makes it very clear that public nudity — like displays at Toronto’s Pride Parade — is illegal.

Look closely and you will find a loophole written into the law that ties the hands of police should they want to enforce it.

“Marginal note: Consent of Attorney General. No proceedings shall be commenced under this section without the consent of the Attorney General.”

So, when you see those participants walking along displaying full-frontal and rear nudity, they cannot be prosecuted unless the Ontario Attorney General and his staff say it is OK to proceed. But, even so, does it make it a right to strip and show one’s private parts in public — especially when it’s being done in front of children?

Most have turned a blind eye to this controversial matter, while in the past, Toronto has seen a Christian pastor charged with mischief and causing a disturbance for praying in the area of the parade. While those charges were eventually withdrawn, it’s clear some things are tolerated and others are not.

But some members of the gay community have told The Toronto Sun that nudity and sexual simulations on floats have nothing to do with advancing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. It seems a small minority of Pride participants involved in these actions are above the rules that would apply to anybody else in any other public setting.

There is no other public place or parade where this would be considered acceptable.

While the Attorney General and Pride Toronto have yet to comment, Toronto Police — while not denying the public nudity violates the law — responded that officers have a responsibility to exercise discretion.

(Now, admittedly, I haven’t been to a football game in years, but the Cheerleaders where not naked to the best of my recollection)

“At events like the Pride Parade, which might attract as many as a million people, our number one priority is public safety and ensuring a peaceful event,” said police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer. “It’s not in the best interest of officers or the community to have police wading into crowds to arrest people for public nudity.”


Authorities don’t have to work hard to find examples of full nudity at Pride. Images are all over social media, complete with areas that are blurred out to cater to online sensibilities that don’t seem to apply on the street.

Okay, first off, naked people in a parade should not happen, at all.

Second, toplessness is legal for everyone, regardless for gender.

Third, I wasn't able to find ANY unbiased reporting of this at all. And yet the same thing happened in Seattle, allegedly. So... it brings up questions of legitimacy, IMO. Unless there's an unbiased source out there Dr. Google missed...

Fourth - again, ALL nudity - complete nudity - is illegal and should be treated as such regardless of who does it. If this DID happen at any pride parade, I hope that A) the organizers deny those people any future involvements with the parade and B) they condemn it totally and absolutely.
 
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Ron in Regina

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“…If” this DID happen at any pride parade, I hope that A) the organizers deny those people any future involvements with the parade and B) they condemn it totally and absolutely.
This is kind of funny in hindsight, but I’m out for a cigarette at work as I’m reading this…& the Wi-Fi in the building must have some kind of filter on it 😁 and I’ve never noticed this before, so it could’ve been there for years (I guess my searches are pretty tame so I’ve never stumbled across this before)….But I googled regarding the “IF” above… and it’s being censored.
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