Earlier, I had written a post that I took down, leading some to wonder why I revised it and possibly thinking I was changing information. I said then that the reasons would be revealed shortly. I hope this short post will explain to those who were wondering. The original contained reference to this incident that was premature in releasing on my part as I had mistakenly assumed the man was already arrested.
I received word by phone early this morning that a person, 50 year-old Gary Owen, who had been sending threatening emails to Republican 49th Legislative District candidate Eileen Qutub had been arrested on suspicion of two counts of malicious harassment, a Class C felony.
Owen, obviously not a supporter, indicates extreme anger over receiving a campaign mailer in the mail and instead of just throwing it out, as a sane person would do, sent the following email,
From: G Owen [luckybulldog13@yahoo.com]
Date: Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 12:54 AM
Subject: Message from Constituent
To: eileenqutub@.comI do not know how you got my name and address but I would rather put a bullet in your stupid pathetic republican c**t brain than vote for you. Being a republican and a woman you have no right ever speaking or having an opinion about anything. Please go kill your pathetic c**t a**!
If you ever send me one more piece of mail I will personally return it by shoving it up your c**t with a hot poker!
You republicans do not care one f***ing bit about people or the rights of others other than christians, and do not lie to me and try and tell me you do.
Of note, the G. Owen is not the Greg Owens that is known to comment here and on the Columbian.
A subsequent email was received by Mrs. Qutub that was even more vile and threatening,
From: G Owen <luckybulldog13@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Subject: Message from Constituent
To: “eileenqutub@.comI EMAILED AND TOLD YOU TAKE MY NAME AND ADDRESS OF YOU MAILING YOU STUPID UGLY REPUBLICAN C**T! I WOULD RATHER KILL YOUR C**T A** THAN VOTE FOR YOU! I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND SHOVE YOUR SPAM JUNK MAIL FLYER UP YOU’RE A** WITH HOT POKER!
F**K OF C**T!
NO I AM NOT AFRAID OF PUTTING MY INFO ON HERE. TAKE IT OFF YOU MAILING LIST NOW C**T!
GARY OWEN
1114 E 37TH ST
VANCOUVER, WA
Asked about the emails, Mrs. Qutub said, “It is one thing to exercise free (political) speech, which I wholeheartedly endorse, however, this is not political speech…this is vile, perverted, angry threats and has NO place in political dialog.”
I am left to recall a similar incident a few years ago where a campaign mailer/survey was received in the mail by a retired Democrat couple that made front page news in the Columbian’s Local Section, here and here.
The emails from Gary Owen are even more vitriolic and over the top and completely uncalled for.
Qutub is right as she adds, “this isn’t the ‘silly season’ this is the ‘mean season’.”
There is no excuse for such vitriolic outbursts over a simple piece of paper. It doesn’t matter where you fall in your political beliefs, such over the top threats and rhetoric has no place in society.
Owen, who claims to be a liberal, is an example of those who have demanded “tolerance” and “civility” while returning hateful, sexist threats against a Republican woman.
This must stop if we are to survive as a viable country.
Tone it down, people. The psychopaths don’t need any more fuel than they already have.
See also the Oregonian and KPTV.com for video report
UPDATE: Owen was arraigned Friday morning, August 10, 2012 in Clark County Superior Court. Bail has been set at $25K
Some photos from Gary Owen’s Photobucket page
