The Orlando terrorist attack continues to dominate the news. Here is an update on some of the latest headlines.

• NBC News reports that Noor Zahi Salman, Mateen’s wife, may be facing criminal charges as an accomplice. Salman told investigators that Mateen had recently been “scouting Downtown Disney and Pulse [nightclub] for attacks,” but she claims she tried to talk him out of it. Downtown Disney is a popular open air venue with numerous shops and restaurants.

• We have focused on how the shooter’s Islamic theology might have fostered a hateful mindset against homosexuals. In addition to that, did his Islamic faith cause him to experience self-loathing that contributed to the violence?

There are multiple reports today that Mateen was a regular at the gay nightclub he attacked. He used a gay social media app and was sending messages to another man “back and forth over a year’s time.” A former classmate at the police academy said that he, Mateen and other friends went to gay bars together and that Mateen even asked him out.

Here’s more: Mateen’s ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, has told foreign media outlets that she believed he had “gay tendencies.” Oddly, her fiancee, Marco Dias, claims that “the FBI asked her not to tell this to the American media.” Now, why would that be?

I suspect it is because the left is desperate to avoid having a serious debate about the dangers of radical Islamism and would prefer to blame guns and conservative Christians.

Obama Responds To Critics

Shortly after lunchtime, Obama held another nationally televised press conference on the Orlando shootings. Once again, he displayed more anger at his critics than he did toward the shooter who murdered 49 Americans.

One thing he chose to zero in on was the criticism he has received for refusing to call the jihadists “radical Islamic terrorists.” Obama said, “What exactly would using this label accomplish? What exactly would it change?”

Well, Mr. President, could we have defeated the Nazis if we refused to call them fascists and refused to explain what that meant? Could we have won the Cold War if we had been unwilling to call the Soviets communists and an “evil empire”?

And if it doesn’t make any difference, then why do you so adamantly refuse to call the radical Islamists what they are?

Rush Limbaugh made an interesting observation Tuesday. He said that every time Obama speaks after a radical Islamic attack, Obama sounds like an attorney representing the jihadists — constantly objecting to any suggestion that Islam had anything to do with the attack.

Of course, Obama again called for tougher laws to make it harder on the 99.9% of gun owners buying guns to defend themselves. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee noted that when a Muslim kills people, Obama and the left insist that we don’t hold all Muslims responsible for the attack. But the same liberals say that all gun owners should pay a price for the attack.

House Liberals Walk Out

Congressional liberals are launching a full-court press to resurrect their radical anti-Second Amendment agenda. Yes, they are trying to exploit the Orlando shootings, but I believe they are also doing this to distract the American people from the fact that they do not have an anti-radical Islam agenda.

This morning, Jeh Johnson, secretary of Homeland Security, declared that “gun control is part and parcel of homeland security.”

Last night, House liberals protested a moment of silence for the victims of the Orlando attack. As Speaker Paul Ryan requested the moment of silence, three left-wing members walked off the House floor.

Protesting a moment of silence? Who does that? Evidently, liberal politicians who are upset that they haven’t succeeded yet in taking your guns away.

As the proceedings resumed, Speaker Ryan called for a vote on pending legislation. But liberals began yelling, “Where’s the bill?” They attempted to hijack the proceedings to call up three anti-Second Amendment bills. Ryan ruled them out of order and they continued with their unbelievable disruptions.

The protest was disgusting. But it is also a reminder that the left fights for its agenda with brass knuckles.

Does Love Defeat Hate?

I understand the impulse for people to mourn and make public displays of their grief. What is troubling, however, is the frequent expression of platitudes indicating that millions of Americans still remain in a dangerous state of denial.

One of the most frequently expressed sentiments right now is “Love defeats hate.”

As a Christian, I certainly believe that was demonstrated by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. But in a fallen world, hate can inflict incredible damage with violence and force. Nazism was not stopped by an outpouring of positive feelings.

Signs and slogans are not enough. We need strong men and women willing to bleed, willing to sacrifice in order to protect our civilization. That kind of love — love of God, love of family, love of country — backed by the righteous use of force, can defeat hate.