14 dead, 50 wounded in shooting at Colorado theater, police chief says - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/20/us/colorado-theater-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1)
QuoteAt least 14 people were killed and 50 were wounded when a gunman opened fire during an early Friday morning screening of the new Batman movie at an Aurora, Colorado, theater, Police Chief Dan Oates told reporters.
The man suspected of opening fire on the crowded theater was taken into custody, Oates said.
The heavily armed suspect, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was apprehended by police in a parking lot at the theater, Frank Fania, a police spokesman told CNN. The identity of the suspect has not immediately been released.
"We do no have evidence of a second gunman," Oates said.
Of the wounded, at least 20 were being treated at the University of Colorado Hospital, said spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery. All of the wounded suffered from gunshot wounds, which ranged from minor to critical, she said.
"They're arriving by police, by ambulance. Some are walking in," she said.
The shooting incident occurred during the showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" at the Century Aurora 16 theater, police and witnesses said.
"We saw people running around and screaming," a man, who was not identified, told KUSA.
He said there was confusion in the theater when the shooting began because many believed the sound of gunfire was coming from the movie next door.
Oates said that the suspect used some sort of "smoke device" before opening fire in the theater.
Witnesses, however, told KUSA that the gunman kicked in an emergency exit door and threw a smoke bomb into the darkened theater before opening fire.
More details will be coming, since this is a breaking story.
Local report (includes video)
http://www.9news.com/news/article/278707/71/1-in-custody-14-dead-in-Aurora-movie-theater-shooting
Denver Post story
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21118201/unknown-number-people-shot-at-aurora-movie-theater
QuoteAURORA — Fourteen people were killed and about 50 were injured early Friday when shots rang out at an Aurora movie theater during a premiere showing of the new Batman movie.
A 24-year-old suspect in is custody and an apartment building in north Aurora connected to the suspect was being evacuated and searched for possible explosives, according to Police Chief Dan Oates.
Oates said there was no evidence of a second suspect, but the man in custody had made a statement about possible explosives in his residence.
Ten people died at the scene and four others died at hospitals.
Sometime before 1 a.m., police received reports of gunshots at the Century 16 Movie Theaters at the Aurora Town Center.
Dozens of ambulances and police vehicles were outside the mall, where three theaters were showing "The Dark Knight Rises." Most of the wounded were at Theater 9.
Police from all over the metro area had been called to the scene.
Witnesses told reporters that the guman was masked and clad in black.
"Witnesses tell us he released some sort of canister." Oates said. "They heard a hissing sound and some gas emerged and the gunman opened fire."
A witness, Bejamin Fernandez, 30, said he was watching the movie when he heard a series of explosions. He said that people ran from the theater and there were gunshots as police shouted 'get down!"
Frenandez said he saw people falling, including one young girl.
Salina Jordan, 19, was in Theater 8 and saw people hit in her theater. She said one girl was struck in cheek, others in stomach including a girl who looked to be around 9-years-old.
Jordan said it sounded like firecrackers until someone ran into Theater 8 yelling "they're shooting out here!"
The police came running in, telling people to run out. Some police were carrying, dragging bodies, she said.
Police set up a command post near the Dillards department store and were interviewing hundreds of possible witnesses. Many were taken by buses to Gateway High School for questioning.
Police spokeswoman Cassidee Carlson says "the scene is still very active and we have little information for release at this time."
Swedish Medical Center spokeswoman Nicole Williams says two people injured at the theater have arrived at the hospital in critical condition.
She says emergency workers said there could be several more patients.
Denver Health Medical Center currently has six patients from the Aurora shooting. One is in critical condition and the other five are in currently in fair condition.
And yes, Aurora, Colorado isn't that far from Columbine, Colorado
watching this on fox now. what a frakkin mess.
Way too many sociopathic nutjobs in this world. >:(
Police spokesman just went on MSNBC and told Willie Geist that the death toll has been revised downward to 12.
It was originally 10 on site and 4 more at hospitals. The spokesman said he didn't have any more details, but the chief had told him as he was going on-air that it was 12.
And the theater was apparently about 3 blocks from the police station, and witnesses said cops were there w/in 60 seconds of the first call.
They beat the ambulances to the theater and had cops hauling wounded to the hospitals in police cars.
Horrible.
Tragic.
Why? It's so pointless. He's got to be insane.
I've never understood the mentality that says that one's life is so bad that the solution is to go kill a bunch of innocent people.....
He will likely be found insane, yet the crime seems to show considerable forethought. I dunno, I literally cannot wrap my mind around someone doing stuff like this. And to rub salt into the wounds, the countdown begins...now... before it becomes a political football.....
Quote from: Steelgrave on July 20, 2012, 11:05:24 AM
And to rub salt into the wounds, the countdown begins...now... before it becomes a political football.....
It already has....
Yep. It has-
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/police-dept-is-sending-officers-to-dark-knight-theaters/
QuoteMayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who has waged a national campaign for stricter gun laws, also discussed the shooting on Friday. In his weekly radio appearance, he called on President Obama and the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, to more concretely address the issue of gun violence in their campaigns.
"You know, soothing words are nice," Mr. Bloomberg said, "but maybe it's time that the two people who want to be president of the United States stand up and tell us what they are going to do about it, because this is obviously a problem across the country."
It's too damned bad someone in the audience didn't have their own gun. That would have saved a lot of lives, saved taxpayers a lot of money, and put an end to that nutcase.
Bloomberg is such a douche.....there are a lot of politicians I don't care for, but he is way up there on my list. But at least he is keeping New York free of sugary soft drinks. And I'm derailing the thread, sorry.....
I'm kind of amazed this guy was captured alive. Usually these nutjobs are aiming for suicide-by-cop. Guess he lost his nerve.
Quote from: Greybriar on July 20, 2012, 11:12:36 AM
It's too damned bad someone in the audience didn't have their own gun. That would have saved a lot of lives, saved taxpayers a lot of money, and put an end to that nutcase.
I have a carry permit, and here in Arizona many, many folks do. The very same thought crossed my mind when I heard of this incident.
Quote from: Greybriar on July 20, 2012, 11:12:36 AM
It's too damned bad someone in the audience didn't have their own gun. That would have saved a lot of lives, saved taxpayers a lot of money, and put an end to that nutcase.
I'm a little surprised someone didn't considering it's Colorado.
I think my heart stopped when I first read that story, as my sister was supposed to be visiting friends over there last night (she lives in Arvada, a suburb on the opposite end of Denver). I had to wait two agonizing hours before she responded to my text that yes, she was okay...but thank God she *is* okay. Too many other people aren't this morning...
Quote from: Greybriar on July 20, 2012, 11:12:36 AM
It's too damned bad someone in the audience didn't have their own gun. That would have saved a lot of lives, saved taxpayers a lot of money, and put an end to that nutcase.
Yep...the video posted by Starfury a few days ago of an armed law-abiding citizen who foiled an armed robbery attempt showed exactly what one, calm, responsible, brave citizen can do to protect his fellows. That episode could have easily turned into a bloodbath, and thankfully, we will never know because of the courageous acts of one individual.
Quote from: Martok on July 20, 2012, 11:17:54 AM
I think my heart stopped when I first read that story, as my sister was supposed to be visiting friends over there last night (she lives in Arvada, a suburb on the opposite end of Denver). I had to wait two agonizing hours before she responded to my text that yes, she was okay...but thank God she *is* okay. Too many other people aren't this morning...
That's scary......glad she is ok, Martok.
Quote from: Martok on July 20, 2012, 11:17:54 AM
I think my heart stopped when I first read that story, as my sister was supposed to be visiting friends over there last night (she lives in Arvada, a suburb on the opposite end of Denver). I had to wait two agonizing hours before she responded to my text that yes, she was okay...but thank God she *is* okay. Too many other people aren't this morning...
Wow man, that must have been an intense couple hours. Glad your sister's safe.
I love these little things that pop up on facebook. In their haste to make them, they always include terrible grammar and spelling mistakes. Oh well.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/306811_3930627558273_658783658_n.jpg)
They're saying this guy had a Masters in Neuro-Psych and was in school for his doctorate. This is not going to be a typical court case, however it works out. Plus his apartment is apparently boobie-trapped.
Glad to hear your sister is ok Martok. As to this incident, it's not a tragedy, it's an outrage.
just a note so this doesn't get out of hand:
let's NOT turn this into a gun control argument.
start something new in RPFW if that's where people want to go with it.
Quote from: Steelgrave on July 20, 2012, 11:14:57 AM
Quote from: Greybriar on July 20, 2012, 11:12:36 AM
It's too damned bad someone in the audience didn't have their own gun. That would have saved a lot of lives, saved taxpayers a lot of money, and put an end to that nutcase.
I have a carry permit, and here in Arizona many, many folks do. The very same thought crossed my mind when I heard of this incident.
I had that exact conversation about 10 minutes ago with Daughter #1. I told her if ten people in the audience had had CWP it would have likely stopped within a couple of shots.
I realize opinions differ, but I think it's difficult to refute the fact that those poor people were helpless and unable to defend themselves.
Quote from: bayonetbrant on July 20, 2012, 12:16:27 PM
let's NOT turn this into a gun control argument.
So what should we talk about in this thread then? Just prayers and condolences?
I think gun control is an issue deeply intertwined in these massacres and its almost impossible to discuss them and how they can be prevented without mentioning guns.
Quote from: Shelldrake on July 20, 2012, 06:24:12 AM
Way too many sociopathic nutjobs in this world. >:(
You have to go medieval on their ass. As long as they think they will be a face seen around the world there will be more. They need to be a fly infested carcass on a pike for people to see. No name, no picture of who it was. This is what remains of a mass murderer. Ugly isnt it?
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on July 20, 2012, 01:22:54 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on July 20, 2012, 12:16:27 PM
let's NOT turn this into a gun control argument.
So what should we talk about in this thread then? Just prayers and condolences?
I think gun control is an issue deeply intertwined in these massacres and its almost impossible to discuss them and how they can be prevented without mentioning guns.
I'm with JH. It's inevitable that proponents of gun control will jump all over this. It almost (almost) goes without saying that everyone on these boards deeply regrets the incident and shares hearts and prayers with the victims and their families.
Personally, I'm more interested in the warning signs this guy produced and what might or might not have been done about them. That is the issue, because he clearly was intent on harming people - guns or no. After condolences, that is the overriding issue IMHO.
Quote from: Mr. Bigglesworth on July 20, 2012, 01:28:58 PM
Quote from: Shelldrake on July 20, 2012, 06:24:12 AM
Way too many sociopathic nutjobs in this world. >:(
You have to go medieval on their ass. As long as they think they will be a face seen around the world there will be more. They need to be a fly infested carcass on a pike for people to see. No name, no picture of who it was. This is what remains of a mass murderer. Ugly isnt it?
With all due respect, I don't think we fully understand the motive yet. That kind of action might deter some, but I think we have seen many cases before where the troubled individual gave off ample warning signs which were ignored. I would postulate the same will be found here.
Life is rough all over. Weep for his troubles if you like. I don't give a $h*t. If he will kill many he is a liability to society. Might as well get some deterrence from his death.
[edited by mod for language]
I feel very sorry for the victoms, their families, and the people who watched this in the theater who were not shot. Some people are just evil.
Concealed carry could have saved some of the lives - but not all. This was a pretty challenging situation. Dark, smoke/tear gas, nut job wearing a vest, in a loud environment where gun shot noises are not unexpected.
Even if someone were carrying concealed it would have taken some time to realize what was happening. The shot would not have been easy in this environment. Still, even if the shots hit the vest each hit is like being struck with a hammer. A vest does not eliminate the laws of physics.
If I had been there with a shotgun (yeah - I know not a concealed weapon) or many of my buddies with their handguns we could have done a body shot followed by a head shot in short order. Its hard for people who are not shooters to realize that a close range shot with a large target that is not moving very fast does not take a huge amount of skill to hit.
Even with a handgun (which I shoot less than 20 rounds a year), I can hit 4 out of five shots in the diameter of the palm of your hand at 10 yards while standing. I'm really not good at all with a handgun since I fire one very, very infrequently.
Every year I shoot more than a hundred birds and probably 1,000 clays with a shotgun. All of them are small targets which are moving really fast. I'm good - but there are lots of people who are better. I really wish that someone with the skill who was carrying would have been in the theater.
Quote from: airboy on July 20, 2012, 03:13:53 PM
....Concealed carry could have saved some of the lives - but not all. This was a pretty challenging situation. Dark, smoke/tear gas, nut job wearing a vest, in a loud environment where gun shot noises are not unexpected.
Even if someone were carrying concealed it would have taken some time to realize what was happening. The shot would not have been easy in this environment. Still, even if the shots hit the vest each hit is like being struck with a hammer. A vest does not eliminate the laws of physics....
But at least the people in that theater would have had a chance. The way things came down, they were sitting ducks.
One of the reports I read indicated that concealed weren't allowed in the theater.
Quote from: LongBlade on July 20, 2012, 03:56:24 PM
One of the reports I read indicated that concealed weren't allowed in the theater.
That made it a lot easier for the killer, didn't it? And it sure didn't prevent him from entering the theater fully armed.
Quote from: LongBlade on July 20, 2012, 03:56:24 PM
One of the reports I read indicated that concealed weren't allowed in the theater.
Do you have a link, LB? I've been looking for that in stuff I've been reading and haven't seen anything yet.
Quote from: mirth on July 20, 2012, 05:36:10 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on July 20, 2012, 03:56:24 PM
One of the reports I read indicated that concealed weren't allowed in the theater.
Do you have a link, LB? I've been looking for that in stuff I've been reading and haven't seen anything yet.
Looks like it came from a rather unbiased source. Doesn't mean it's wrong, but just consider the source: http://www.nationalgunrights.org/exploiting-the-blood-of-innocents/
I went to that theater's webpage, the corporate webpage, and the webpage of another theater from that chain in Colorado. None of them had anything about a weapons policy one way or another.
The corporate webpage is pretty identical to another movie chain - carmike cinemas with whom I am very familiar. I've met their corporate officers and visited Carmike's HQ in Columbus, Georgia. Carmike's web page also has nothing about a weapons policy one way or another.
My guess is that if they have a weapons policy, it is a sticker on the doors and not on the website.
The theater was a "gun free zone."
Below is a link to a detailed and (from my degree of training) pretty darn accurate analysis of the tactical shooting situation. David Weigel has historically been very accurate. I've emailed him on other gun issues in the past - and he has always been pretty good (even when he was mistaken).
http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/07/20/could_an_armed_person_have_stopped_the_aurora_shooting_a_second_opinion_.html
This was a truly evil situation.
Shooter drops tear gas first. He is in a position that blocks the aisles in the front (theater seating). He is wearing a vest. Very crowded environment. Dark. Shooting can be mistaken for a promotion or just another sound effect. When people realize what happens they panic.
Although I think some lives would have been saved if theater goers had been carrying concealed - a lot of people still would have died in this situation.
In a gun saturated society, letting nuts know where there are "gun free zones" is really asking for trouble. Better screening for mental illness prior to gun purchase would also be a good thing.
Quote from: airboy on July 20, 2012, 07:24:21 PM
....Better screening for mental illness prior to gun purchase would also be a good thing.
That would mainly cause upright citizens in our society to jump through more hoops. It would not prevent killers from getting guns.
Quote from: Greybriar on July 20, 2012, 10:52:09 PM
Quote from: airboy on July 20, 2012, 07:24:21 PM
....Better screening for mental illness prior to gun purchase would also be a good thing.
That would mainly cause upright citizens in our society to jump through more hoops. It would not prevent killers from getting guns.
My money is on some warning signs that folks around him missed/ignored.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.memegenerator.net%2Finstances%2F250x250%2F23766160.jpg&hash=6bda2a11a3dab0810b3a8bb6743ac0d9ac8330f4)
...saw this comin ::) ... you just gotta luv The Internet :o
^to soon... way too soon..... :-\
is there a death penalty in this state? or what kind of punishment will he have to face?
Quote from: Keunert on July 21, 2012, 03:54:15 PM
is there a death penalty in this state? or what kind of punishment will he have to face?
If he's truly mentally ill then he won't face a death penalty, if one exists (it's out west, likely they have one...but I haven't googled to check).
Colorado does have the death penalty:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Colorado
Quote from: Greybriar on July 20, 2012, 11:12:36 AM
It's too damned bad someone in the audience didn't have their own gun. That would have saved a lot of lives, saved taxpayers a lot of money, and put an end to that nutcase.
Sounds like the killer was expecting a shootout since he was kitted out in a bulletproof vest and other gear.
Quote from: Shelldrake on July 22, 2012, 05:04:27 AM
Quote from: Greybriar on July 20, 2012, 11:12:36 AM
It's too damned bad someone in the audience didn't have their own gun. That would have saved a lot of lives, saved taxpayers a lot of money, and put an end to that nutcase.
Sounds like the killer was expecting a shootout since he was kitted out in a bulletproof vest and other gear.
Yeah I was surprised to hear the he surrendered so easily to the police. It seemed like he was ready to make a stand before being arrested. For the officers involved I am glad he didn't.
It sounds like his rifle jammed. If that is the case, then he may not had a weapon to use for a shootout with the police.
Often in cases like this the perpetrator is killed or kills himself. In this case he was captured alive and unharmed. I hope he does not put up a legal fight for the sake of the families left behind but I do have a morbid curiosity as to what makes this guy tick. He's obviously not a stupid person.
Quote from: LongBlade on July 21, 2012, 05:38:32 AM
Quote from: Greybriar on July 20, 2012, 10:52:09 PM
Quote from: airboy on July 20, 2012, 07:24:21 PM
....Better screening for mental illness prior to gun purchase would also be a good thing.
That would mainly cause upright citizens in our society to jump through more hoops. It would not prevent killers from getting guns.
My money is on some warning signs that folks around him missed/ignored.
Up until he pulled the trigger he did not break any laws. That means no-one would really be able to do anything. Only after the fact people can piece together some clues. Unfortunately if we want to live in a free society we need to be able put up we outrages commited by individuals. We need to wait for more info on this to make judgments.
Quote from: Gusington on July 22, 2012, 10:23:56 AM
Often in cases like this the perpetrator is killed or kills himself. In this case he was captured alive and unharmed. I hope he does not put up a legal fight for the sake of the families left behind but I do have a morbid curiosity as to what makes this guy tick. He's obviously not a stupid person.
Too bad that this type of killer doesn't just start out with themselves!
Quote from: Centurion40 on July 23, 2012, 07:54:26 AM
Quote from: Gusington on July 22, 2012, 10:23:56 AM
Often in cases like this the perpetrator is killed or kills himself. In this case he was captured alive and unharmed. I hope he does not put up a legal fight for the sake of the families left behind but I do have a morbid curiosity as to what makes this guy tick. He's obviously not a stupid person.
Too bad that this type of killer doesn't just start out with themselves!
+1
+1+1=+2
On the anniversary of the Norway shooter this guy in plastered all over the news with neon red hair. F him and F the news for giving him what he wants. The lawyers are saying it may take a year to get to trial. All these groups want to feed of their creation. They are the enemy as much as him.
Quote from: Mr. Bigglesworth on July 23, 2012, 12:21:09 PM
On the anniversary of the Norway shooter this guy in plastered all over the news with neon red hair. F him and F the news for giving him what he wants. The lawyers are saying it may take a year to get to trial. All these groups want to feed of their creation. They are the enemy as much as him.
+100 >:(
Now we have the wisdom of Jason Alexander to contemplate-
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/if2nht
Quote from: mirth on July 23, 2012, 01:29:43 PM
Now we have the wisdom of Jason Alexander to contemplate-
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/if2nht
Meh.
Quote from: mirth on July 23, 2012, 01:29:43 PM
Now we have the wisdom of Jason Alexander to contemplate-
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/if2nht
What a mealy mouthed wimp he is.
I can't figure out if James Holmes was putting on his delirium today in the court or if he really is as insane as he looks. I'm leaning towards a put-on for now.
Quote from: LongBlade on July 23, 2012, 01:46:58 PM
Quote from: mirth on July 23, 2012, 01:29:43 PM
Now we have the wisdom of Jason Alexander to contemplate-
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/if2nht
Meh.
Double Meh ... i liked him in the role of George much more ::)
Why doesn't he speaks about the real problem. The society kills ppl (turns ppl into maniacs on a misson, criminals, lunatics, ...)
In the Swiss there were fullauto assault rifles in many households (i bet our friend Keunert can tell us the exact percentage)
The number of Swiss ppl killed is not significant different from countries with very strict gun-laws.
(with the exception of those guns used in suicide or jealousy crimes, just because they were handy, instead of a rope/sleeping pills, or a simple kitchen knife, but the overall number of suicides and jealousy crimes was not enlarged, just the chosen method)
qed.
There must be
something wrong with the US society in comparison to the Swiss society? and its not the guns.
triple meh
i don't like how we handle assault guns. there is no need to have them at home. my last time in military i've been with immigrant youths from former yugoslawia boasting about their cocaine habits. i am confident that this tradition is just dying.
Quote from: Keunert on July 23, 2012, 04:51:13 PM
triple meh
i don't like how we handle assault guns. there is no need to have them at home. my last time in military i've been with immigrant youths from former yugoslawia boasting about their cocaine habits. i am confident that this tradition is just dying.
My high school civics teacher used to say, "With increased freedom comes increased responsibility."
Quote from: MikeGER on July 23, 2012, 04:01:52 PM
There must be something wrong with the US society in comparison to the Swiss society? and its not the guns.
Well, yes and no. Yes - there is something wrong with
many societies...and you are right...it's not about gun ownership. Per se.
The real challenge, at least from a larger socialogical perspective, is the image or role that guns play within society. Sometimes that image / role is dictated by formal institutions (the law or a constitution); sometimes by factual and anecdotal history (a fight for independence, the "taming" of the frontier) ; and sometimes by popular media. Many discussions / images / representations about guns focus on ideas of defense, empowerment and strength. There are literally thousands of bumper stickers, window signs, t-shirts, buttons, slogans etc that reflect this thinking. We sometimes even overlook cases where egregious behaviour is supported by guns...partially because we are responding to the expression of will (empowerment) even over the carriage of justice. So more people know about Billy the Kid than Judge Roy Bean, and others like Al Capone, Jesse James, and John Dillinger are surrounded with a kind of "romantic" mythos.
And for the most part there's nothing philosophically, morally or legally wrong with this, as resposible citizens who own guns owerwhelmingly tend to act in acceptable, legal, professional and respectable ways.
But what about those individuals who want to defend their narcotics business, or scare their ex-wife and her new boyfriend, or punish people who are playing Angry Birds because the game sends brain-washing transmissions from outspace? Society is so constantly bombarded by images and stories of how guns empower individuals to a point where the two are not only linked, but where one (the gun) stands for the other (freedom, power, strength). Is anyone really surprised that these individuals, misguided or delusional as they are, choose to use guns to exert their will?
The reality, of course is that freedom/power/strength are realized through expressions of personal will, strength of character, moral determination and dedication. Unfortunately, there are a few who abandon those values and turn to guns when the pathway becomes difficult or distant...or in this most recent case...completely obscured and confused.
[/soapbox]
Jack Nastyface
FWIW, this is not unique to US society (last years killings in Norway, recent shootings in Toronto, Mexico on any day, most of sub-Saharan Africa) nor is the linkage between material items and a particular lifestyle / personal expression (think: cars = freedom). I think it just becomes more poignant when made tragic, and the thinking, moral, responsible citizen will become reflective.
I'm no sociologist, but that looks like a pretty good synopsis, Jack.
FWIW, the last statistic I saw indicated that since the 1994 gun ban was lifted, the number of deaths by firearm have declined. Don't have a source, it was on TV.
It is horrific, but when we consider how the US is awash in guns - I have two here and several more at my dad's - the surprise is how limited these things on. Most gun crime these days (and this is me talking, not backed by any recent statistics just observation on the local news) most local gun crime is limited to drug dealers shooting each other. Yes, there are other acts like domestic violence, but for those outside the US the picture should not be one of a nation where you cannot leave your house. That's false. We have millions of guns here and in living four decades I have yet to hear a shot fired in anger.
Quote from: LongBlade on July 24, 2012, 09:58:52 AM
...
but for those outside the US the picture should not be one of a nation where you cannot leave your house. That's false. We have millions of guns here and in living four decades I have yet to hear a shot fired in anger.
Good point LB, but I think it shows up part of the problem. Perception. These wingnuts that take a bunch of people out are mostly doing it for the glory and attention. Because the Newsies obsess over these stories they can see that it's the best way to achieve their immortallity.
Take a second right now and name one victim of this shooting......? I can't but the crazy's name is mentioned at least every 1/2 hour on any news outlet.
Stop the news from digging and posting every last detail of these wingnuts lives on TV/papers etc. and they get no glory, no immortality..... What good does it do the victims or the rest of us to see the piece of sh!t sitting in a courtroom. Let teh process happen without the cameras.... then hang'em. Don't store him in a prison where he can later write a book......
I hear you.
Not sure how much immortality drives those guys but I will say that it took about ten minutes for me to get sick of seeing that idiot's face on every news website I hit.
They should put a hood on the guy so he won't be able to claim any of the notoriety that the media will feed into. Take away his sense of being recognized.
Here's a genius from my own state. Stopped for doing 112mph on the highway, he's stoned, has several weapons in his vehicle and tells the cops he's on his way to kill his former employer (after watching Dark Knight Rises).
http://www.pressherald.com/news/Biddeford-man-with-arsenal-is-mentally-ill-not-violent-says-family.html
^I heard about that guy on the news this morning. What an idiot.
Some of these people are looking for notoriety.
Some have psych issues. Some psych issues they are born with. Some are developed. Some of those developed, are developed through the use of drugs, legal or not.
I do not know the male in question here. i can only go on what I have seen, which is far from a complete picture.
He would appear to have some psych issues. The technical term for this person, I believe, is a Fruit Loop straight from a Kelloggs packet.
I'm not sure the notoriety would be high on his richter scale.
In the end, he killed numerous people and should be judged on that, but if I was his defence, I know where my angle would be starting from.
As to guns. Guns give a person instant power. Learning to shoot one, doesn't give a person the wisdom or integrity to shoot one (with exceptions!) It's just an instantaneous change from nopower/power!
This is different to...a blackbelt in karate, or even becoming a soldier or a policeman. Hopefully, in these other 'empowerments' the subject is not only given power, the power is hard worked for and treasured for what it is, and there is a moral groundwork instilled.
There's many a person out there who has a 'right' to bear his arm, who should never have been given a gun.