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Columbine High School Massacre Discussion Forum
A place to discuss the Columbine High School Massacre along with other school shootings and crimes. Anyone interested in researching, learning, discussing and debating with us, please come join our community!
Posts : 550 Contribution Points : 74139 Forum Reputation : 63 Join date : 2016-04-15 Age : 24 Location : Croatia
Subject: The Suicide of Budd Dwyer Sat Oct 29, 2016 3:49 pm
Robert Budd Dwyer (November 21, 1939 – January 22, 1987) was an American politician in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He served from 1971 to 1981 as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate representing the state's 50th district. He served as the 30th Treasurer of Pennsylvania from January 20, 1981 up until his death. On that day, Dwyer called a news conference in the Pennsylvania state capitol of Harrisburg where he killed himself in front of the gathered reporters with a .357 Magnum revolver. Dwyer's suicide was broadcast later that day to a wide television audience across the state of Pennsylvania.
This is Dwyer's final speech:
You can find the video of his suicide on youtube, I won't post it here.
This is a case that affected me for a long time, but only recently did I start reserching it. Have you guys heard of this? What are your thoughts? He really seems like a nice and honest man, a victim of a corrupt justice system. He was to be sentenced to a max. of 55 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. His bribery accusations were proven false after the man who testefied against him admitted that he lied under oath to get a reduced sentence.
_________________ Falling out of airplanes and hiding out in holes Waiting for the sunset to come, people going home Jump out from behind them and shoot them in the head Now everybody dancing, the dance of the dead The dance of the dead, the dance of the dead
shades
Posts : 2382 Contribution Points : 79011 Forum Reputation : 38 Join date : 2016-03-05 Location : 13th Beach
Subject: Re: The Suicide of Budd Dwyer Sat Oct 29, 2016 3:56 pm
Heard it watched it, actually chuckled a little bit for what a coward he was.
Also, the available video has been the go-to for anybody who wants to witness a gunshot suicide. Look at the way the blood gushes!
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TheSpiral
Posts : 550 Contribution Points : 74139 Forum Reputation : 63 Join date : 2016-04-15 Age : 24 Location : Croatia
Subject: Re: The Suicide of Budd Dwyer Sat Oct 29, 2016 4:28 pm
shades wrote:
Heard it watched it, actually chuckled a little bit for what a coward he was.
Also, the available video has been the go-to for anybody who wants to witness a gunshot suicide. Look at the way the blood gushes!
Is it really fair to call him a coward? I can understand him leaving his life and not dealing with his problems, but I don't care what anyone says, it takes immense courage to commit suicide. Do you think he got his message across or did he die in vain. I don't think there was anything new to be learned from that, he died and the justice system is still the same. I'd still rather die by my own hand than serve a sentence for a crime that I didn't commit.
_________________ Falling out of airplanes and hiding out in holes Waiting for the sunset to come, people going home Jump out from behind them and shoot them in the head Now everybody dancing, the dance of the dead The dance of the dead, the dance of the dead
shades
Posts : 2382 Contribution Points : 79011 Forum Reputation : 38 Join date : 2016-03-05 Location : 13th Beach
Subject: Re: The Suicide of Budd Dwyer Sat Oct 29, 2016 4:30 pm
I called him a coward from the POV that while it is hard all the negative attention he got, he could've chose another way to handle it. Also I learnt very vaguely regarding him being framed and such, I didn't study this case up. And he killed himself infront of everybody so isn't the trauma he left those people and on live TV selfish?
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shades
Posts : 2382 Contribution Points : 79011 Forum Reputation : 38 Join date : 2016-03-05 Location : 13th Beach
Subject: Re: The Suicide of Budd Dwyer Sat Oct 29, 2016 4:32 pm
See I had no idea about the prison sentence he got until you summed it up for me. Nevertheless, for everybody to see the carnage wasn't a good thing either...
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TheSpiral
Posts : 550 Contribution Points : 74139 Forum Reputation : 63 Join date : 2016-04-15 Age : 24 Location : Croatia
Subject: Re: The Suicide of Budd Dwyer Sat Oct 29, 2016 4:45 pm
shades wrote:
I called him a coward from the POV that while it is hard all the negative attention he got, he could've chose another way to handle it. Also I learnt very vaguely regarding him being framed and such, I didn't study this case up. And he killed himself infront of everybody so isn't the trauma he left those people and on live TV selfish?
He shot himself in front of a crowd of journalists to leave a lasting image, an impression. This is the part of his speech that he didn't get to read:
"I've repeatedly said that I'm not going to resign as State Treasurer. After many hours of thought and meditation I've made a decision that should not be an example to anyone because it is unique to my situation. Last May I told you that after the trial, I would give you the story of the decade. To those of you who are shallow, the events of this morning will be that story. But to those of you with depth and concern the real story will be what I hope and pray results from this morning–in the coming months and years, the development of a true Justice System here in the United States. I am going to die in office in an effort to '...see if the shameful facts, spread out in all their shame, will not burn through our civic shamelessness and set fire to American pride.' Please tell my story on every radio and television station and in every newspaper and magazine in the U.S.. Please leave immediately if you have a weak stomach or mind since I don't want to cause physical or mental distress. Joanne, Rob, DeeDEe - I love you! Thank you for making my life so happy. Good bye to you all on the count of 3. Please make sure that the sacrifice of my life is not in vain."
Seconds before he shot himself: "Please leave if this will affect you..."
_________________ Falling out of airplanes and hiding out in holes Waiting for the sunset to come, people going home Jump out from behind them and shoot them in the head Now everybody dancing, the dance of the dead The dance of the dead, the dance of the dead
TheSpiral
Posts : 550 Contribution Points : 74139 Forum Reputation : 63 Join date : 2016-04-15 Age : 24 Location : Croatia
Subject: Re: The Suicide of Budd Dwyer Sat Oct 29, 2016 4:46 pm
Also his death was not on live television, contrary to popular belief.
_________________ Falling out of airplanes and hiding out in holes Waiting for the sunset to come, people going home Jump out from behind them and shoot them in the head Now everybody dancing, the dance of the dead The dance of the dead, the dance of the dead
shades
Posts : 2382 Contribution Points : 79011 Forum Reputation : 38 Join date : 2016-03-05 Location : 13th Beach
Subject: Re: The Suicide of Budd Dwyer Sat Oct 29, 2016 4:53 pm
Okay, I understand it better now.
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sscc
Posts : 1322 Contribution Points : 82296 Forum Reputation : 523 Join date : 2016-02-27
Subject: Re: The Suicide of Budd Dwyer Sun Oct 30, 2016 12:07 am
BornToKill wrote:
shades wrote:
I called him a coward from the POV that while it is hard all the negative attention he got, he could've chose another way to handle it. Also I learnt very vaguely regarding him being framed and such, I didn't study this case up. And he killed himself infront of everybody so isn't the trauma he left those people and on live TV selfish?
He shot himself in front of a crowd of journalists to leave a lasting image, an impression. This is the part of his speech that he didn't get to read:
"I've repeatedly said that I'm not going to resign as State Treasurer. After many hours of thought and meditation I've made a decision that should not be an example to anyone because it is unique to my situation. Last May I told you that after the trial, I would give you the story of the decade. To those of you who are shallow, the events of this morning will be that story. But to those of you with depth and concern the real story will be what I hope and pray results from this morning–in the coming months and years, the development of a true Justice System here in the United States. I am going to die in office in an effort to '...see if the shameful facts, spread out in all their shame, will not burn through our civic shamelessness and set fire to American pride.' Please tell my story on every radio and television station and in every newspaper and magazine in the U.S.. Please leave immediately if you have a weak stomach or mind since I don't want to cause physical or mental distress. Joanne, Rob, DeeDEe - I love you! Thank you for making my life so happy. Good bye to you all on the count of 3. Please make sure that the sacrifice of my life is not in vain."
Seconds before he shot himself: "Please leave if this will affect you..."
Also, because he shot himself before he was sentenced, his family received over a million dollars in death benefits from his pension that they probably would not have otherwise received because of a law that barred state officials who were convicted of crimes from collecting on their pension. He was set to be sentenced the next day. It's been suggested that this may have been one motivating factor for his suicide.
Posts : 550 Contribution Points : 74139 Forum Reputation : 63 Join date : 2016-04-15 Age : 24 Location : Croatia
Subject: Re: The Suicide of Budd Dwyer Sun Oct 30, 2016 10:06 am
Wow... Good plan on his part.
_________________ Falling out of airplanes and hiding out in holes Waiting for the sunset to come, people going home Jump out from behind them and shoot them in the head Now everybody dancing, the dance of the dead The dance of the dead, the dance of the dead
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: The Suicide of Budd Dwyer Sun Sep 15, 2019 1:04 pm
The song Hey Man Nice Shot by Filter was based on this incident
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: The Suicide of Budd Dwyer Mon Dec 09, 2019 2:55 am
In the video, Budd is getting everything in order before becoming an Encyclopedia Dramatica meme.