since there are 24-25 people in Colorado with the same first and second name. How many parents did the reporters call whose children had nothing to do with the shooting?

Okay - kind of creepy this morning..., I passed a semi on the freeway for the Aurora Casket Company. Motto on the side "Aurora - Because You Care."

I know it's not the company's fault, but it kind of creeped me out just the same.

To ease the creepy feelings, remember that company is based in Aurora, In.

Would have creeped me out too!

That's located about 30 miles from where I live!

Yeah, there was also some drunk that stood up in a theater and yelled some sort of threat (during Batman) and onther guy was pulled over with an arsenal, that told police he was going to see the movie and then go shoot someone.
I thought it was national Ice Cream month. Apparently its National Nutball Month!

In my own humble opinion, prayer for the families and first reponders. I too wonder what such young kids were doing out at that hour. I also have to wonder how many would have died if some"one" or more had a concealed carry permit? Food for thought.

From what I have read, the shooter wore bullet-proof protection, so if anyone had tried to shoot with their concealed weapon, they would probably have wound up as just another target.

Slate: Real threat was body armor

^^^ The "body armour" he wore was nothing other than slightly better than paintball gear. The company that sold it to him has already came forward and posted the receipt..

Regardless of that, even if he would have had legit bulletproof stuff, a well placed 9mm or larger round would have done some damage. Even if it didn't penetrate it would still generate enough force to stop or knock him down.

I'm not saying anybody with a CCW would have been able to stop it, but it is a good possibilty.

I know I would have rather had the option of a CCW instead of hiding under my theatre seat hoping he didn't come for me.

I have had the same thought John. As for him wearing "Bulletproof" attire. Level IV aromour is much harder to come by than you think. Most of the stuff that the average person can purchase is less bulletproff than they might like to think. Also, even Level IV does not stop the bullet impact or protect all areas of the body. An armed and willing citizen could have made a difference.

or someone may have got him with a head shot

I would rather be armed and have that option than just wait to be killed, just my opinion

I'm not going to give a strong opinion either way, but a "well-placed 9mm" would be difficult to come by in a hail of bullet from an assault rifle....in the dark....etc.

To piggy-back on Pup's comment, I think s/he would be worried about accidentally injuring another patron by accident while trying to hit the shooter.

Both of the above points are valid.

Everybody's situation in the theatre would have been different and not all would have been able to do anything, but there might have been one or two that could have changed things.


In the end none of this really matters as what is done is done. I just hate hearing(not saying this is what any of you are saying) all of the cries of "more strict gun laws could have stopped this."

I agree with you there. A criminal/crazy person is going to get their hands on a gun/weapon whether legally or not to carry out their crimes. If they are willing to kill someone, they obviously don't care about any of our laws.

Agree 125%.

FWIW, and I'm not really advocating heroic efforts in this situation...you'd have to almost know what was going to happen and be close enough to do any good with a handgun...HOWEVER,
I have a .38 with bullets that aren't called 'cop killers' for nothing...they go thru "bullet-proof" materials.

Thankfully, not only did this deranged individual not know much about bullet proof equipment, he bought the high capacity drum for the assault rifle that is known to jam, and it did.

I read today that he mailed his diary to a psychiatrist at the University of Colorado which detailed his plans for the attack. The package sat, unopened, in the mailroom for about a week.

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/25/usa-shooting-denver-idINL2E8IPC2B20120725

I thought this was a prayer thread designated for the victims??

Gossiping about this monster (did ya hear, did ya hear?) or discussing our right to bear arms is probably better suited for the Cooler, no?

True. That was my intention.
Kind of natural series of conversation though.
Thanks for bringing it back to center.

Thanks for the reminder, AG. It's easy to get off on tangents. I find myself trying to figure out what this guy was thinking... but I don't think we'll ever really get the answers we want. Moreso, I am just so sorry for the victims. Trying to imagine what those few chaotic moments were like is so disturbing.

I did see that Christian Bale made the trip out there to visit survivors, which is really heart warming. I hope the healing can begin soon for everyone involved.

Yeah, that was a nice thing to do.

Agreed, This is about those people. Colorado has had a sad summer and we need to stay together and keep the faith. This too shall pass. We must not let one or more disturbed individual(s) keep the rest of us from being kind to one another.