Aurora, Colorado: 12 Dead in Shooting Rampage at Midnight Showing of The Dark Knight Rises Read mor

[Merlin]

One thing is certain is that this could have been even worse. I believe his original goal was to use the blaring music in his apartment to lure cops to the location, break the door down, and blow up the apartment. This would have caused a split in emergency response, as a chunk of personnel would have been diverted to the apartments instead of all hands on deck helping out at the theater. This idea was misguided since the average apartment dweller never reports noise violations out of fear of retaliation. Of course, in this case it is really good that the other apartment dwellers didn't report it.

In related news, a man was pulled over by police on Sunday for speeding and they discovered he was carrying an AK-47 and four handguns. He told the police he went to a Batman premiere with a loaded gun and was on his way to kill his former employer. When the police searched his home they found even MORE guns. Police: Man brought gun to theater

[Hobaginator]

Personally, I am of the opinion that we should keep him alive -- to study his brain synapses, to better understand the minds of mass murderers; their motives, their triggers, the chemical interactions of their brains. From a purely scientific standpoint, it would be a rare opportunity to learn much about the workings of the human mind, especially a subject as intelligent and ruthless as James Holmes. If this is not possible, then a humane death sentence seems fitting. Let us remember that he has a mother and a family, to make victims of them as well would be beneficial to no one. We have more than enough mourning families already.

[Clint]

especially a subject as intelligent and ruthless as James Holmes.

James Holmes may be ruthless, but the simple fact that he planned a mass murder doesn't make him intelligent by any means. If he were intelligent, he wouldn't have wanted to kill anybody, let alone go through with it. Killers aren't smart. They're morons. That's why they kill.

Let us remember that he has a mother and a family, to make victims of them as well would be beneficial to no one.

Mr. Holmes already made them victims. It wouldn't matter if he was given the death penalty or not. Keeping him alive would serve no purpose other then that the justice system is a complete failure. Though since that's already been proven, I expect Holmes to plead insanity and be allowed to live. However, that's just pure bullshit.

That asshole deserves to be put down, period.

[Hobaginator]

James Holmes may be ruthless, but the simple fact that he planned a mass murder doesn't make him intelligent by any means. If he were intelligent, he wouldn't have wanted to kill anybody, let alone go through with it. Killers aren't smart. They're morons. That's why they kill.

Well, first of all, there are many reasons to kill. Second, I'm not calling him smart by any means. However, he was a Neuroscience major and had been working on his doctorate for a year, resigning shorty before these events. School records show that his academic grades were fair. He clearly displayed a high level of intelligence for quite some time before he eventually snapped.

Mr. Holmes already made them victims. It wouldn't matter if he was given the death penalty or not. Keeping him alive would serve no purpose other then that the justice system is a complete failure. Though since that's already been proven, I expect Holmes to plead insanity and be allowed to live. However, that's just pure bullshit.

That asshole deserves to be put down, period.

Would you forego the opportunity to examine the mental and behavioral patterns of a psychotic, mass-murdering genius -- simply for swift retribution? You're emotionally advocating revenge killing, which is understandable, however you may fail to see the opportunities that circumstances present here. I'm not saying he should be free from justice, I'm simply suggesting the possibility of learning a great deal from studying him as a subject before he is put down for his crimes. If we should ever hope to have a better chance at recognizing red flag behavior and/or preventing tragedies such as this from occuring in the future, it would be logical to strip him of several basic rights and treat him as an experimental specimen for the purpose of obtaining scientific information, would it not? Perhaps a sort of case study. We could obtain some very precious and rare data for the benefit of all mankind.

This link sheds a little more light on his background:
Brain Experts Who Studied With James Eagan Holmes Won't Say If They Saw Warning Signs

Glenn Rotkovich, owner of a private Colorado gun range outside Denver, quickly concluded there was something wrong with Holmes.

Holmes applied to join the range in late June. But Rotkovich said that after calling Holmes back and hearing a "bizarre" voice mail message – spoken in a strange, low-pitched voice with heavy breathing – he concluded he didn't want Holmes as a member.

"I flagged him to people and said, if he shows up, I don't trust him," Rotkovich said.

[Crescent]

..On a lighter note, heres an update!

Batman actor Christian Bale visits victims, hospital personnel - The Denver Post

How sweet.

[Order]

I was reading over some previously posted responses to my arguement and I'm going to throw this out there in case it has been difficult to follow my logic:

I'm not saying other countries have crime.
I am saying that countries with strict gun control have more crime.

Yep.
That's what I said.
The more ownership is restricted for law-abiding citizens, the more violent crimes are committed.
Jox threw down a serious bomb in an earlier post and it actually surprised me how much I learned all at once.
All arguements for limitations on lawful possesion are blown away when you realize that the US in fact does not have more crime, higher chances of being a victim or worse murder cases. The truth is, other countries do not record and document these statistics publicly and honestly.
One source Jox cited even states that in the UK, if a murder is not solved, it is not documented.

See, in the US, we are honest about this stuff because we really are trying to make our country safer rather than sweep organized crime, shootings and murder under the carpet.
Because we know,
That house of cards is built to fall.

The way to really keep firearms in the right hands is screening, licensing and registration.


So, I'll repeat myself. To ensure that you aren't scoffing this time and actually read it:

I am saying that countries with strict gun control have more crime.

[Clint]

Well, first of all, there are many reasons to kill. Second, I'm not calling him smart by any means. However, he was a Neuroscience major and had been working on his doctorate for a year, resigning shorty before these events. School records show that his academic grades were fair. He clearly displayed a high level of intelligence for quite some time before he eventually snapped.

Perhaps he was intelligent before he snapped, but after anybody loses their minds, they're not longer smart. They don't follow reason or logic, and they sure as hell throw all morals and principals out the window. Just take a look at Adolf Hitler. The guy was a genius who built Germany up for years, before losing his mind and completely destroying everything he worked for.

If we should ever hope to have a better chance at recognizing red flag behavior and/or preventing tragedies such as this from occurring in the future, it would be logical to strip him of several basic rights and treat him as an experimental specimen for the purpose of obtaining scientific information, would it not?

It would be ideal to do that, however, the law prevents it from happening. I realize even the government doesn't obey the law when it comes to prisoners, but the way I see it, the law is the law. It's cruel and unusual punishment to treat a prisoner as an experimental specimen. The only choices available are life in prison, or death by lethal injection. I'll go with death.

[Order]

The guy was a genius who built Germany up for years, before losing his mind and completely destroying everything he worked for.

No, Hitler always planned on creating the Nazi germany which would eventually fall in WW2.
There was never a time in Hitler's campaigning that he did not want a socialist germany where the correct races lived in peace and the wrong races worked prison camps.
Hitler was not a genius. He was a politician who saw opportunity in the german people's despiration and fear to create a militaristic government of which he would slowly gain complete control...

Starting with disarming civillians and giving the fed control of private industries.

He did not build germany up for years. He created a socialist government and gave it the authority to seize private mining operations and farmland. The economic improvements of Nazi germany were the result of dishonest federal action and abuse of civillians of the wrong race or nationality.
Just like Margret Thatcher said, "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." Which is exactly what happened to Nazi germany and the solution was to invade other countries to find more people to work labor camps and resources to steal.

Once again,
It started with disarming the civillian population and giving the fed control of private industries.

It is not genius one day, snap the next.
It is calculating, insane, living on their own planet where other people are insignifigant and human life is meaningless. It is a transition into psychosis.

Do you see how the topics of mass murder and gun control have a history together?
This topic naturally moved in this direction before individuals complained about the evolution and I started pushing it.
Because the one subject always leads to the other, especially in the US.

[Hobaginator]

It would be ideal to do that, however, the law prevents it from happening. I realize even the government doesn't obey the law when it comes to prisoners, but the way I see it, the law is the law. It's cruel and unusual punishment to treat a prisoner as an experimental specimen. The only choices available are life in prison, or death by lethal injection. I'll go with death.

Intelligent response. I agree with you. However, could you clarify "even the government doesn't obey the law when it comes to prisoners"? Are you indicating that the United States govornment is corrupt, or all govornments in general are corrupt? Which part of the govorning body is unlawful towards prisoners and how?

[Clint]

However, could you clarify "even the government doesn't obey the law when it comes to prisoners"? Are you indicating that the United States govornment is corrupt, or all govornments in general are corrupt? Which part of the govorning body is unlawful towards prisoners and how?

Guantanamo Bay detention camp is still operational under the control of the United States, despite President Obama's announcement that all prisoners would be moved onto US soil. That means there are no restrictions of prisoner treatment, since it's outside of the United States. Prisoners can therefore be unlawfully tortured and punished.

I am indeed indicating that the US government is corrupt, to a certain degree. All governments are corrupt in one way or another. That's not to say that every single aspect of the government can't be trusted. For example, I don't have any problem at all with the US Postal Service.

No, Hitler always planned on creating the Nazi germany which would eventually fall in WW2.

His plan wasn't to have his empire eventually fall. That was my point. The man was a genius up until he lost his mind and destroyed what he created by starting a war that couldn't have been won.

Hitler was not a genius. He was a politician who saw opportunity in the german people's despiration and fear to create a militaristic government of which he would slowly gain complete control...

That's called being a genius. It takes a higher intellect to manipulate millions of people without anybody noticing what you're doing.

He did not build germany up for years.

He was in power six years before the start of the war. So yes, he did indeed build Germany up for years. Six years, to be exact. He did a hell of a job, too. He made Germany so rich and powerful that he was named Time Magazine's Man of the Year in 1938.

[Hobaginator]

He was in power six years before the start of the war. So yes, he did indeed build Germany up for years. Six years, to be exact. He did a hell of a job, too. He made Germany so rich and powerful that he was named Time Magazine's Man of the Year in 1938.

Yeah but in the end he shot himself in the dome like a little prissy coward.

[Cheesevixen]

In related news, a man was pulled over by police on Sunday for speeding and they discovered he was carrying an AK-47 and four handguns. He told the police he went to a Batman premiere with a loaded gun and was on his way to kill his former employer. When the police searched his home they found even MORE guns. Police: Man brought gun to theater

Looks like everyone's going "batty" these days. LOL
I know....I am going to hell. That was in bad taste.

I heard about all this on the news. Been following it since it happened. It really sucks, and I'm sure it's not doing anyone in Colorado any good as far as tourist $, but then again who takes a vacation in Colorado?

It's sad there are people out there like this. He was obviously a very deranged sick man. There must've been signs. I read somewhere he in fact had told someone his intentions, and it was never reported. I think we need to take a good look at those around us. Some people cry out for help, but we do not always actually listen. I feel for those families. Couldn't imagine losing someone that way.

Last night I saw this women who's daughter was shot and killed. She was sitting up there with a sly lil smile, perfect make up, well spoken. I was like WTF ??? You're daughter JUST died and you're taking interviews and smiling talking about how eager you are to see the characteristics of the man who shot her? Wow. Messed up mom.

[Taco-Calamitous]

There must've been signs. I read somewhere he in fact had told someone his intentions, and it was never reported.

I hadn't heard this, but I had heard that had been planning this, buying guns and stuff to build bombs with for 6 months. No red flags were raised apparently. That concerns me. ...actually, I just did a search and found this.

There were lots of cool stories about the survivors though; one girl saving another girl's life by applying pressure to her neck wound until the SWAT team could get inside being one. Also just read that a shooting victim had a miscarriage... Hope those who are still in the hospital make a speedy recovery, and that their community takes care of them. Here is a fund raiser for the victims, btw. Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

[Martin]

Sorry to say but love how off topic this got further up, Hitler, really?
And a little embarrassing how little some people know about the Third Reich as absolutely anyone with access to even Wikipedia would know that as Clint said he was elected in 1933, and by 1936 unemployment was less than five percent. After the failings of Weimar I'd say that was genius.

Great what Bale did though - raised him up in my estimation immensely.