Fake News Prompts Gunman To 'Self-Investigate' Pizza Parlor (arstechnica.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: A rifle-wielding North Carolina man was arrested Sunday in Washington, DC for carrying his weapon into a pizzeria that sits at the center of the fake news conspiracy theory known as "Pizzagate," authorities said Monday. DC's Metropolitan Police Department said it had arrested 28-year-old Edgar Maddison Welch on allegations of assault with a dangerous weapon. "During a post arrest interview this evening, the suspect revealed that he came to the establishment to self-investigate 'Pizza Gate' (a fictitious online conspiracy theory," the agency said in a statement. "Pizzagate" concerns a baseless conspiracy theory about a secret pedophile group, the Comet Ping Pong restaurant, and Hillary Clinton's campaign chief, John Podesta. The Pizzagate conspiracy names Comet Ping Pong as the secret headquarters of a non-existent child sex-trafficking ring run by Clinton and members of her inner circle. James Alefantis, the restaurant's owner, said he has received hundreds of death threats. According to Buzzfeed, the Pizzagate theory is believed to have been fostered by a white supremacist's tweets, the 4chan message board, Reddit, Donald Trump supporters, and right-wing blogs. The day before Thanksgiving, Reddit banned a "Pizzagate" conspiracy board from the site because of a policy about posting personal information of others. Alefantis, the pizzeria's owner, told CNN, "What happened today demonstrates that promoting false and reckless conspiracy theories comes with consequences. I hope that those involved in fanning these flames will take a moment to contemplate what happened here today, and stop promoting these falsehoods right away."

Comments

Re:Fake News?

[PopeRatzo]

Right wing fake news is always angry. I wonder why that is?

If you were one of those dipshits, you'd be angry too. What kind of lives could they possibly have?

These wackos are cows with guns

[presidenteloco]

Seriously, extreme right-wing nutjob gun owners with mad cow disease dementia https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Run for your lives.

Re:These wackos are cows with guns

[Sam36]

You should buy a gun. It's a great experience, kinda like loosing your virginity.

I was not a gun owner until Nov 1st. I was prompted by not only Hilary's attitude on gun control and the possibility of her getting into office, but also by her supports protesting against the "right" and white people in general. I've never felt so unsafe in my life.

So I googled for "best 9mm 2016," can came across several recommendations for the CZ 75 P01 9mm, it holds 18 rounds. Cool! I went the next day to a local gun shop and they had one in stock, so I bought it for $630.

Normally I never spend money, so that was a big step. But it felt good and I figured it was now or I'll never be able to buy a gun again.

I also wanted something that was smaller and something with more style. So the next weekend I went to a local gun show. At the second table I looked at was an older man selling a collection of Smith and Wesson revolvers that he bought at an estate sale. I bought a never been fired smith and wesson revolver with a 2" barrel for $600 and a larger one with a 4" barrel also for $600 (still in the original box, both were from the 1970's).

Then I bought about $300 in ammo online.

Went to my grandparent's farm only once so far to shoot, but it was great.

Now the other thing is that I want to carry my guns around with me everywhere. It feels great so I've got to get my concealed carry license.

With three guns in the house I can pretty much always be in a room with one. I've never felt so safe. Just the other night some neighbors were playing loud spanish music and there was lots of people shouting. I couldn't tell if they were fighting or just partying (this went on for hours). I just got my 2" smithy and laid it on the dining room table which is where I was working with my laptop at the time. I even at one time thought I could hear these party people running in my backyard, but I didn't care. I got smithy sitting right here, I just kept working.

And just today, I was in the bathroom taking a crap, my wife was out and I was the only one home. I heard some noises coming from another room, probably just the walls popping from the cold front that came in, but still. I was like what is that? I didn't have any of my guns in the bathroom with me, I didn't really like that at all. Guess I'll have to do something different next time.

In short, buy a gun. It's great. It's also your right. And you should carry it around with you everywhere. If having a gun in your possession makes you feel unsafe then I'm sorry, but you need to fix that. If the price is keeping you back, there are plenty of non-american made guns out there that are $300 new, and $100 - $200 at a pawn shop. I wanted something made in america and something that I could pass down to my kids. So just buy something.

Fake Fake News

[sexconker]

Was he wielding a rifle as stated in TFS, or was he carrying it?
Why would he be arrested for carrying a rifle? It's his right to do so.
Why is investigating something on your own bad? In this era of Fake News, it's the only way to be sure.
Further, why are we saying this is bogus conspiracy theory? Read the emails, something is definitely up. The media and powers-that-be are trying VERY hard to discredit this revelation. "Nobody is listening to your phone calls." and "You can keep your plan." hard.

Fear not - in a few short weeks President Trump's justice department will drain the swamp that is Washington, D.C..

Re:Fake News?

[sexconker]

And at least the Daily Show is sometimes funny.

You lost me there.

Re:Fake News?

[EzInKy]

Right wing fake news is always angry. I wonder why that is?

There once existed a species of hominids known as Neanderthals that stubbornly resisted change. Unfortunately some of their genes persist even to this day.

Re:I don't think he understands trolling

[DNS-and-BIND]

Besta Pizza's logo was one well-known to the FBI as a pedo symbol. If it wasn't incriminating, then why did they change it when it was exposed? Here's the same symbol on the The Elpida part of the Ratcliffe Foundation's website: all the way at the bottom row, first photo, the wall mural. Archived here for when it gets deleted - and why would it ever get deleted if it's not incriminating? Clearly a pedo symbol, aka "BL" aka "Boy Lover" according to the FBI. The art in Podesta's house is super-creepy and definitely pedo. See that gold one of the man bent over backwards? That's a recreation of a photo that a serial killer took after he beheaded his victim. More importantly, powerful people are telling you not to pay any attention. What should you do when this happens?

The guy is screaming for the investigation to stop. This narrative is being forwarded by the same people who brought you the fake news about the election. Who do you trust? The gatekeepers that we know for a fact are corrupt, or a bunch of independent investigators? It's one thing if the investigation turns up nothing. But it is entirely another to shriek and demand that the investigation stop, and attack the investigators. It was the "crazies from the internet" who took down Michelle Fields and her lies. Nobody is telling you to believe a crazy conspiracy theory. Just read for yourself, make your own decisions, come to your own conclusions. Don't trust the gatekeepers, they don't deserve your trust. We're in a new era of real citizen journalism and the media is scared shitless.

Re:Michael Flynn Jr believes it

[BlueStrat]

Why would you? What ever made you think you could trust a doctor with a computer?

Good point. Wait... then why wold we trust a real estate developer and pyramid marketing purveyor to run a country again?

Because the Democrats couldn't figure out ways to both bring Castro back from the dead and get him elected as POTUS so they had to settle for the runner-up, HRC?

Strat

Re:But bringing an assault rifle???

[Mashiki]

Good, point, but unfortunately, you're Mashiki. So, based on previous actions the link is:

This coming from the person who can't click on a link. Refuses evidence when presented. Doesn't believe when a person actually posts something that contradicts the narrative, and believes that actual quotes are fake. I'll bet you still believe that Anita Sarkeesian was threatened by Gamergate too. FYI, this was the threat. The only thing missing is 300 confirmed kills and a navy seal.

You keep enjoying that echo chamber.