1997 Terror Act Forgotten - Palestinian Gunman shoots 7, kills self at Empire State Building

CNN ^ | February 24, 1997 | CNN

[Spar]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A man opened fire Sunday on an observation deck of the Empire State Building, killing one person and wounding six before shooting himself in the head, authorities said.

The gunman, a 69-year-old Palestinian, was taken to a hospital where he died more than five hours later, according to New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's press office.

[Spar]

How did this happen? Florida connection yet again. Giuliani asked the right questions then and got no good answers.

According to police, Kamal, a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip, came to New York City on December 24, 1996 from Cairo. "It's mindboggling to most people that somebody can come in from a foreign country on a visitor's visa and buy a gun in the United States. ... He just shows up in Florida, gets a residence in a motel, walks in and walks out with a gun that could kill 14 people in 3 or 4 seconds. That's absurd," Giuliani said in a press conference Monday. By comparison, New York requires a finger-printing, a criminal and psychological record check, and -- for resident aliens -- a good conduct certificate. Immigrants must be residents for seven years before they're even eligible to buy a gun, Giuliani said.

[Spar]

bump

[BCrago66]

CNN Never erases their archives, which is pretty cool.

[ValerieUSA]

How soon we forget. I remember now -- with this reminder. The Clinton years will haunt us for decades.

[Maedhros]

"War of the Worlds" panic alert.

[sarcasm]

How 'bout the Arab plot to blow up a Brooklyn subway? The murder on the Brooklyn Bridge approach ramp?

[Friedrich Hayek]

Let's not forget, Robert Kennedy was assasinated by a Palestinian in 1968 because of his pro-Israeli stance.

[Spar]

Some would say otherwise in regards to Robert Kennedy's killers.

[Friedrich Hayek]

Some would be wrong.

[xm177e2]

A Christian Palestinian, though, so people don't mention it as much.

[In veno, veritas]

A bigger question, why weren't the people on the Empire State Building armed to defend themselves?

[Jim Ralls]

It is almost impossible to get a concealed carry permit in New York City. Unless you are the Mayor's best friend or something similar, forget it. The rest of the state is a little better, but not much.