Man shoots himself in Notre Dame Cathedral over Gay Marriage Law
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22614994
A 78-year-old man has killed himself inside the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris in the French capital, police say, causing its evacuation. The man pulled out a shot-gun and shot himself through the mouth beside the main altar shortly after 16:00 (14:00 GMT). He has been named as Dominique Venner, an award-winning far-right historian. Mr Venner had recently been involved in the campaign against the government's decision to legalise gay marriage. On Saturday, President Francois Hollande signed the bill into law.
Earlier on Tuesday, he had written on his blog a damning critique of the same-sex marriage bill."New spectacular and symbolic actions are needed to wake up the sleep walkers and shake the anaesthetised consciousness," he wrote.
"We are entering a time when acts must follow words."
Mr Venner is also a former member of the Secret Army Organisation (OAS), which opposed Algerian independence in the early 1960s and tried to assassinate Charles De Gaulle.
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says Notre-Dame is the most visited landmark in France, attracting more than 13 million visitors each year, but security is relatively relaxed.
It would not be difficult to conceal a weapon in a shoulder bag, he says.
The cathedral is celebrating its 850th year, and at the time of Mr Venner's death, it would have been busy, our correspondent adds.
I suppose it could have been worse--he could have used the gun to kill a homosexual before committing suicide. As much as I don't want to care about people like him, it's hard not to feel bad for a person who's so trapped by their own hatred that they'd rather die than live in a world where their prejudices are no longer law.