Homeland Security says Uvalde shooting, abortion ruling could spur violence

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The Department of Homeland Security has issued a warning a couple of potential improve in extremist violence fueled by latest mass shootings, together with the bloodbath in Uvalde final month; an anticipated Supreme Court ruling on abortion rights; and November’s midterm elections.

“In the coming months, we expect the threat environment to become more dynamic as several high-profile events could be exploited to justify acts of violence against a range of possible targets,” DHS mentioned in a bulletin launched early Wednesday.

The warning comes within the aftermath of an 18-year-old gunman killing 19 college students and two lecturers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Just weeks earlier than, a white supremacist in Buffalo, New York, walked right into a neighborhood grocery retailer and killed 10 individuals, most of whom had been older Black residents.

Officials mentioned future targets of extremist violence could embody extra individuals of coloration and non secular minorities, authorities personnel and members of the press. The division additionally mentioned it’s working with the FBI and different authorities businesses to share well timed information and supply “tools and resources” to federal, state, native and tribal entities.

In 2022, the U.S. has seen greater than 250 mass shootings — occasions wherein 4 or extra individuals had been killed — in accordance with the Gun Violence Archive. Since the Uvalde bloodbath, the deadliest faculty capturing within the state’s historical past, Texas Republican officers have expressed little curiosity in implementing stricter gun legal guidelines. In April 2021, 59% of Texans surveyed in a ballot by the University of Texas at Tyler and The Dallas Morning News mentioned they disagreed that elected officers had been doing sufficient to forestall mass shootings. Only 38% of respondents agreed.

At some level this month, the Supreme Court is anticipated to concern a choice in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a ruling that could doubtlessly overturn Roe v. Wade and go away Texans with out abortion entry.

The company mentioned the risk is anticipated to final till Nov. 30.

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