The Holocaust Museum shooting: What’s happening here?

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Another shooting with potentially far-reaching effects.

At least three people have been shot at the Holocaust Museum in Washington. The Washington Post is providing compelling coverage. It’s also set up a live blog here.

NPR’s Two Way blog is also providing updates. Twitter, breaking a string of performance on major stories, is providing little insight., with the exception of an observation from James Lileks, the Star Tribune columnist:

The fact that the Holocaust Museum has several armed guards tells you why we need a Holocaust Museum.

It’s far too early to know the motive for the shooting, but coming in the wake of two recent acts of domestic terrorism, the answer may spawn more introspection about what’s happening here.

Last month, Dr. George Tiller was gunned down at his church in Kansas, apparently by a man who objected to legalized abortion. The AP reported this week that the suspect in that case claims it’s just the beginning.

A day later, a Muslim man killed a military recruiter in Arkansas, apparently as a protest against the U.S. military.

Update 1:54 p.m. MSNBC reports that the shooter has links to white supremacists (an archive of his Web site here). And here’s a fine example of how this stuff spreads.

Update 3:12 p.m. Press release/statement from the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota:

Minneapolis, MN – Steve Hunegs, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC) issued the following statement today in response to the attack at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.:

“This shooting is a stark and painful reminder that no place, not even a memorial of the Shoah, is a haven from violence and hatred. As long as such hatred exists, all people of good will must work to teach respect and to fight bias. We salute law enforcement for its swift response to this crime. Our thoughts and prayers are with the wounded security guard, his family, and those visiting the museum today. We call on all people of good will to unequivocally condemn this act of hate.

“As the local agency tasked with community security matters, in the wake of this attack, the JCRC has been in contact with relevant law enforcement agencies and with leaders of Jewish communal institutions and synagogues. We have high confidence in our law enforcement agencies and thank them for their attention to security concerns. We urge members of the Jewish community and our communal institutions to conduct business as usual while increasing vigilance and security.”