Gunman Tried to 'Clean' His Town of LGBTQ+ People With AK-Style Rifle
Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday in a press release that Howald attempted to shoot and kill a woman in the town of Basin because of her sexuality.
Afterward, he walked further into town to other homes to "target others he perceived to be lesbian, queer, and gay."Howald's intention was to "clean" the town of its LGBTQ+ residents and "inspire similar attacks around the country, according to the DOJ.
His sentencing comes after new polling suggests that a majority of Americans believe that prejudice against the LGBTQ+ community is a problem.A Quinnipiac University survey, conducted between June 8 and June 12, showed that 33 percent of the population consider the instances of targeted attacks against the LGBTQ+ community a "very serious" problem in the country, with 25 percent saying it is a somewhat serious issue.Additionally, the U.S.
has seen the trans debate intensify with boycotts to products and companies that support the LGBTQ+ community, like Bud Light.
