Dark Night for Colorado

Twelve people died, with fifty-nine out of seventy-one injured at a Colorado movie theater. People who for no other reason other than taking in a movie for some enjoyment out of their busy, hectic, chaotic lives.

This was premeditated murder, by a sick individual who had the presence of mind to purchase a ticket, walk through a theater, exit through a fire door, propping the door open as he went to his car which contained two 40-caliber Glock handguns, a Remington 870 single-barrel pump shotgun and a Smith & Wesson AR-15 assault-style rifle; taking the time to grab a helmet, gas mask, two gas canisters, a tactical vest, throat and groin protectors, black tactical gloves and a Glock pistol.

Because a handgun was used, it now gives a pulpit for a feeding frenzy to all those anti-gun activists, due to this tragic and sad event. Is it possible, that had there been anyone in the theater with a permit to carry, or a right to carry they could have put a stop to a mad man? Could a simple thing such the activation of an alarm when the Fire Door was opened have prevented this from happening at all?

Banning guns from responsible gun-owners because of the actions of a depraved mortal, I believe is wrong. Eliminating guns will not stop those with minds like James Eagan Holmes. Taking the time and the forethought to plan out a heinous crime such as this would not hinder those like Holmes. Banning guns would not stop someone like Holmes, individuals that are so intent on harming innocent citizens would look for another alternative to obtain the end result. James Holmes would have found a way to acquire the weapons he needed for his calculated purpose, even if that meant obtaining them illegally. Taking guns away from responsible individuals will prevent them from impeding the actions of those like Holmes to further their unrealities.

There are those who now blame the Tea Party, Rush Limbaugh, those who are looking to take away gun owners rights citing this as an example of what happens when people have guns. Any sane person would not have done this, and anyone of sound mind with a gun would not have walked into a crowded movie theater opening fire at unarmed innocent people.

Let’s not use this tragedy as a reason to pursue a political agenda, for throwing accusations at those such as the Tea Party, blaming Rush Limbaugh, or saying that the Bane personality in the movie was a reason for what happened as a protest in reference to Romney’s Bain Capital, or any other impetus as a catapult for stupidity.

Even for arguments sake, with all guns being eliminated, if Holmes took such pains to plan out such a crime, and his intentions were to hurt as many people as possible; he could have done the same thing, using the same method without a gun. Perhaps he would have used another method such as homemade pipe bombs, zip guns, plastic explosives, and Molotov cocktails to carry out his mission. It remains to be seen, but it may have not have been beyond his capabilities as it has been reported that he placed sophisticated explosive booby traps in his apartment that would have detonated upon entry. Authorities stated they saw trip wires, bottles of liquid and containers of ammunition, fireworks and powders through a window camera.

Fifty-nine movie goers were wounded, twelve were killed, and while the ‘Dark Knight’ may rise again, there are 12 innocent people who will not.

Let’s give them the respect and attention that they deserve, and let their families grieve without the rhetoric, 2nd amendment oratories, or to allow the intrusion of politics to interfere with the reality of what took place.

This was a tragedy; the cause of ‘why’ it happened had nothing to do with guns.

 Yes, a gun was used in the process, which just gives cause for more anti-gun stump speeches. But if a gun were not used, it would have been carried out by another method, and the ‘why’ at this time is known only to a deranged character that goes by a self-named moniker of the ‘The Joker."


~ Joe Sinagra