Gunman shot dead by police as authorities look for a second suspect following shooting in annual California food event. The final hours of Santino Legan’s life were filled with anger and hatred. On July 28, 2019, the 19-year-old stormed the Gilroy Garlic Festival near San Jose, California, killing three people and injuring 19. As he drove to the festival, armed with a semi-automatic rifle and six high capacity magazines, he made a series of Instagram posts lashing out at the world around him. The last thing he ever posted on the internet was a book recommendation: “Read Might is Right by Ragnar Redbeard.” Those words have been uttered countless times in the darkest corners of the internet. On 4chan, 8chan, and Stormfront, angry young men push it onto other angry young men, claiming it will change their lives and open their eyes. The book reads pretty much how you would expect given its fanbase: furious rants about how white people are superior and women should be subservient, encouraging violence and rebellion. Might is Right never had any mainstream publishing success, but for 130 years it has survived and thrived in the shadows. It has been cited by terrorists, screamed at Klan rallies, and become the bible for an entire religion. The book’s author, Ragnar Redbeard, has always had an air of mystery around his identity. That’s just the way his biggest fans like it. The intrigue adds to his allure, helping to grow his legend. But it’s not true. Historians know who Ragnar Redbeard was. His real name was Arthur Desmond, a failed politician from Napier. And until recently it was still available to buy here. This is the story of what may be New Zealand’s most notorious book.
via stuff co nz: White supremacists, satanists, and terrorists: The true story of NZ’s ‘hideous virus’ of a book