Chris Staples, a 40-year-old Georgia man who’s been out for more than twenty years, says on Sunday he “was watching TV and just finished smoking a cigarette and I heard this big thud. Boom!” That’s when a rock went through his window. Attached to it was a piece of paper with anti-gay slurs drawn all over it. (With crayon, I’m guessing, because that’s how Georgia bigots roll.) Read the note: “We know you’re gay. And God hates gays. You won’t be raping anybody in the county and God’s going to make sure that you burn in hell.” But that wasn’t the worst of it. Three hours later, Staples awoke inside his home, southwest of Atlanta, filled with smoke: his bedroom was on fire, the result of an arson attack. “The house was black. And all I could see was an orange glow behind my head.” Even the local police are stunned. “This is the first time I’ve dealt with anything of this nature in 16 years,” says Capt. Shane Taylor of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.
hate crimes
Chris Staples Was Told He Would ‘Burn In Hell.’ Then His House Was Set On Fire
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scott ny'er
Well, I don’t even have to speculate about religion, like in the New Zealand lesbian fire case. Of course, religious brainwashing is the culprit.
Terrible. How Christian to try and kill someone.
Hyhybt
This is exactly what’s wrong with the article-rating system: as of now, the only one that has a vote is “more please,” and presumably we *don’t* really want more arson!
Joseph
But god loves attempted murder apparently.
Hyhybt
@scott ny’er: This is not about Christianity. It *may* be that the attacker really thinks it is, but that’s just pushing onto God what he wanted to do anyway (or possibly whoever convinced him to do it) which is common enough. There are plenty of Christians (including all the ones I know, many of whom live in Carroll County) who would never approve of such a thing. Not even the ones who think being gay is a sin.
justiceontherocks
The next time Georgia tries to secede we should let them.
Of course this is about Christianity. Bible thumping bigots teach that homosexuality is a sin and this is what you get. The same geniuses used to tell people that God didn’t mean for them to “mix with the nigras.”
Their self-esteem depends upon being able to look down on others. Pathetic.
samthor
Who would Jesus Harass?
Jerks, I hope they are caught and punished.
tallest
I hope whoever did this gets shot.
Francis
This is more than just Christianity. “You wont be raping anyone in the county?” “My daddy is going to make sure you burn in Hell?” That’s deeper than Christianity leading someone to do this. This is someone with some sort of personal angst against gay people who obviously thinks that their “God” is telling them to commit this crime, although of course, it’s just their own deluded fantasy turned into action. Hopefully the culprit is caught and immediately put in a mental health facility. And best wishes go out to Chris Staples for going through such a horrible situation.
Chris
Thanx for all the support
Chris Staples
I didn’t know that so many folks I have never met or seen could be so supportive to an ole redneck fucker like me. I have never felt so welcomed or blessed