Everything You Need To Know About The FRC Shooting

You may have heard about the recent shooting at the Family Research Council headquarters.

Here's a quick rundown of what happened as well as what to expect in the near future.

WHERE: The Headquarters of the anti-gay hate group The Family Research in Washington, DC

WHEN: Wednesday, August 16th just before 11am.

WHO: Floyd Corkins II, a 28-year-old volunteer at the Washington DC Center for the LGBT Community. For six months, he staffed the center's front desk, his most recent shift being about two weeks ago.

WHAT: Corkins walked into the FRC Headquarters, removed a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol from his backpack and shot 46-year-old security guard Leonardo "Leo" Johnson in the shoulder. Johnson then tackled Corkins, took away his weapon and held him until the FBI arrested Corkins. Johnson was later taken to a hospital and has survived.

WHY: Corkins reportedly said that the shooting wasn't about Johnson but about the FRC's policies.

In his backpack at the time of his arrest, Corkins had 50 rounds of Federal brand 9mm ammunition as well as 15 sandwiches from the anti-gay fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A. No word yet on what the hell he was gonna do with all those sandwiches after killing everyone.

Worst Chick-fil-A protest ever.

Corkins will face between 30 to 40 years in prison for assault with intent to kill and transporting firearms across state lines. He is currently in custody and undergoing psychological evaluation.

Police are still investigating whether Corkins targeted the FRC for their religious beliefs, which would make this a hate crime (ironically, the FRC has long opposed hate crimes legislation).

HOW: Today FRC president Tony Perkins appeared on FOX News and said, "Corkins was given a license to shoot an unarmed man by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center that have been reckless in labeling organizations hate groups because they disagree with them on public policy.”

In response, Mark Potok, Senior Fellow of the SPLC issued a statement saying, "Perkins’ accusation is outrageous. The SPLC has listed the FRC as a hate group since 2010 because it has knowingly spread false and denigrating propaganda about LGBT people [including that gay people are child molesters, and should be jailed and deported just for being gay]— not, as some claim, because it opposes same-sex marriage."

Soon after the shooting, 33 major LGBT organizations signed a joint statement condemning violence and expressing hope for Johnson's recovery.

WHAT NEXT: Don't expect politicians to discuss gun control even though this follows on the heels the Aurora, Colorado shooting and the Wisconsin shooting at a Sikh temple—it's an election year and discussing gun control is just Republican red meat.

We might expect SPLC and big gay organizations such as Gays and Lesbians Allied Against Violence to help explain the FRC's designation as a hate group on national media. LGBT media will likely cover right-wing commentary on the shooting as well as denounce Corkins as a troubled individual who does not represent the community as a whole. LGBT organizations will more than likely stay out of this issue from here on out.

Expect the FRC and the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage to push the narrative that this shooting is proof that the gay rhetoric on the left has incited violence, even though this is the first documented case of a gay person committing violence against Christians for being anti-gay. Oddly, the FRC hasn't mentioned whether calling us child molesting criminals has incited any of the hundreds of well-documented gay bashings.