Further evidence that the war between Israel and Hamas has come to our shores. On December 7, at around 2 pm, in Albany, New York, an Iraqi man (naturalized US citizen) named Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 28, approached a synagogue on the first day of Hanukkah and fired two shots from a shotgun into the air. About two dozen pre-school children were in the synagogue at the time. Alkhader reportedly yelled, "Free Palestine". He has been federally charged with one count of illegally possessing a firearm.
It is my understanding that hate crime charges may still be brought, but given the nature of the current US Justice Department, who knows? Same goes for the New York State prosecutorial apparatus. (I'm not sure who would bring charges for unlawful discharge of a weapon.) Here is one point I think should be considered. If you want to make a statement (legally) regarding the Israel-Hamas war, do it in front of the Israeli embassy or a consulate (peacefully). When you do it in front of a synagogue, that is not just a statement against Israel. It is much more a statement against the Jews as a people. So firing a gun in front of a synagogue seems like a hate crime to me. Had he caused damage to the synagogue, would that not be a hate crime? If someone vandalizes a mosque, is that not a hate crime?
As to further charges, in my mind, there have to be. What if he had legally possessed the weapon and had a concealed carry permit? Would there not be charges for firing the gun? (I know: it's pretty hard to conceal a shotgun and even harder to fire it while it's concealed. Save your cards and letters,)
I hope the feds and/or the State of New York throw the book at the guy.
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