The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Florida Man Planned Stabbing Attack at Elementary School, Police Say

Posted on | August 16, 2019 | 1 Comment

 

Before we get into this latest “Florida man” story, let me ask you a trivia question: Who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance?

If you knew it was Francis Bellamy, congratulations! You’re a winner, and I’ll permit you to contribute $17.76 to the tip jar. You’re welcome.

What? Never mind.

Very few people would recognize the name Francis Bellamy and although I didn’t know much about his biography, I did know he was the author of the Pledge. But here’s a trivia fact that I learned today: Bellamy, a native of New York, spent the last years of his life in Tampa, Florida.

Now, here’s the latest news from Tampa:

Parents of children who attend a Hillsborough County elementary school are breathing a sigh of relief after authorities stopped a man they said was planning a campus stabbing.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Andrew Ivan Aman, 22, was planning to enter Francis Bellamy Elementary School and stab students and staffers. He allegedly told his roommate about his plans around 9 a.m. Tuesday. . . . .
Aman targeted Francis Bellamy because the school’s red, white, and blue colors reminded him of the American flag, and he was against patriotism, authorities said. . . .
Aman, who has been diagnosed with mental health issues in the past, is being held under the Baker Act at a hospital. Investigators found no weapons at his home.
Aman was arrested in May 2018 on an aggravated assault charge.

It should be obvious why a school named after the author of the Pledge of Allegiance would have a red-white-and-blue theme, but what are the chances that this kook knew who Francis Bellamy was?

Aman is a native of Russia who attended a performing arts school in Tampa. He reportedly has a history of severe mental illness and two years ago wrote on Facebook: “Patriotism is not defined by the love you have for your ‘country’. Tis the respect and natural humility you have for the earth and society around us whether that be in our neighborhood or statewide, so yes I can say I am a patriot of god.” Despite his self-declared devotion to “respect and natural humility,” Aman wanted to kill children, according to a police bulletin:

The bulletin says Aman concealed a kitchen knife in a handbag and was headed for the school with the intent to “stab as many children as possible.” . . .
The document said Aman targeted the school because he hates the United States and “the school’s ‘obnoxious pride in America’ as illustrated by the large American flag mural on the front of the building.”

Just another typical Democrat voter in Florida . . .

Anyway, I hate to be rattling the tip jar again so soon — I just got back from Georgia on Monday — but we leave early Saturday morning to take our youngest son off to college. It’s a 566-mile drive, and Mrs. McCain is expecting me to help foot that bill. Selah.



 

Comments

One Response to “Florida Man Planned Stabbing Attack at Elementary School, Police Say”

  1. News of the Week (August 19th, 2019) | The Political Hat
    August 19th, 2019 @ 10:37 pm

    […] Florida Man Planned Stabbing Attack at Elementary School, Police Say Before we get into this latest “Florida man” story, let me ask you a trivia question: Who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance? […]