A southwestern Montana man has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after being convicted of a hate crime and firearms charges for threatening a woman with violent, homophobic slurs and shooting at her house with an assault rifle as part of a self-described “mission” to rid a small town of its LGBTQ community. John Russell Howald of Basin was sentenced Tuesday in Great Falls. Prosecutors say Howald shot into the house of a woman who is lesbian, then headed into town intending to target others he perceived as homosexual. Local residents who were leaving church that morning and knew Howald stalled him long enough for a sheriff's deputy to respond. Howald's attorney plans an appeal.
  • buddhabound@lemmy.world
    7·
    2 years ago

    I’d probably say “consenting adults” when it comes to who people love instead of “within legal constraints”, because if conservatives could make gay people illegal, they would. But otherwise, I’m with you 100%.

    I don’t go to church, think church is probably one of the most dangerous places for kids to be around adults, and still don’t care if people choose to force their kids to go to church. It’s just not my business who people choose to associate with as long as they’re not harming others.

    • sin_free_for_00_days@lemmy.one
      5·
      2 years ago

      That a much better way of phrasing it, because you are 100% correct. Conservatives would make Gay people illegal and child marriages A-OK.