Shooter Used Southern Poverty Law Center’s Website to ID Family Research Council as Target

On Wednesday, Floyd Lee Corkins, II, pleaded guilty to three charges including a District of Columbia charge of committing an act of terrorism. The charges stem from the August 15, 2012 shooting at the Family Research Council’s headquarters.

Wednesday’s hearing also revealed that in the interview with the FBI right after the shooting, the shooter admitted his guilt, which was captured on video.  He said he intended to “kill as many as possible and smear the Chick-fil-A sandwiches in victims’ faces, and kill the guard.” The prosecutor said they reviewed the family computer and found that he identified his targets on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s website. 

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins offered the following reaction:

“The day after Floyd Corkins came into the FRC headquarters and opened fire, wounding one of our team members, I stated that while Corkins was responsible for the shooting, he had been given a license to perpetrate this act of violence by groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has systematically and recklessly labeled every organization with which they disagree as a ‘hate group.’ 

“Today both assertions were validated in court as Corkins plead guilty to multiple criminal charges, including terrorism.

“The Southern Poverty Law Center can no longer say that it is not a source for those bent on committing acts of violence.  Only by ending its hate labeling practices will the SPLC send a message that it no longer wishes to be a source for those who would commit acts of violence that are only designed to intimidate and silence Christians and others who support natural marriage and traditional morality. 

“Once again, I call on the SPLC to put an immediate stop to its practice of labeling organizations that oppose their promotion of homosexuality. 

“Whether the SPLC continues to demonize those who hold to biblical morality or not, the Family Research Council will remain unequivocally committed to our mission of advancing faith, family and freedom,” concluded Perkins.