# 12 people shot dead at BATMAN movie screening in Denver. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2012, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835 "2012-07-20T09:31:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/221 "2012-07-21T04:52:50Z")
I don’t think they were emergency exits. They were just doors near the screen. ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/222 "2012-07-21T05:03:09Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > There’s a dad outside the local high school (where people are being interviewed) asking if anyone’s seen his son. It’s sad. [Link](http://live.denverpost.com/Event/Aurora_Theater_Shooting_July_20_2012). > > I don’t know if it’s the same Alex mentioned in an earlier report? You know how online news is always reporting people’s Twitter feeds? This morning someone was asking if anyone had seen his friend Alex. > [@9 News](#): > > Statement from the family of Alex Sullivan, who was killed in the Aurora theater shooting: > > “The Sullivan family lost a cherished member of their family today. Alex was smart, funny and, above all, loved dearly by his friends and family. Today was his 27th birthday. They respectfully ask that the media allow them time to grieve privately. They will not be giving interviews in the near term. Please honor their wishes by refraining from contacting them on private numbers or at their home while they come to terms with this tremendous loss.” I’ll have to admit, that reading this, looking at the picture of a beautiful young man has completely reduced me to tears. ---
**Author:** ![oreally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ab992/32.png) [@oreally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oreally)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/223 "2012-07-21T05:14:30Z")
Just unbelievable. I’m truly sick to my stomach. PS anyone using this as a platform to rant/whine about gun control, religion, race, blah etc on either “side” I wouldn’t mind also seeing pushed off a cliff. Speaking of warped perspectives. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/224 "2012-07-21T07:23:04Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > For some reason, I always keep forgetting about the vast, _vast_ amount of time you spent living in Europe; Care to remind me please? Hi! I’m someone from Europe. He’s right. Most people, even most criminals, don’t _want_ to shoot people. It usually complicates things. > [@](#): > > I wouldn’t mind also seeing pushed off a cliff. Speaking of warped perspectives. Off a cliff? Thank you for demonstrating the whole ‘warped perspective’ thing. Also, in the whole ‘how could this happen?’ part of the discussion, the whole ‘because he could buy all the gear to commit mass murder freely and legally in a store’ seems relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/225 "2012-07-21T07:42:07Z")
> [@oreally](#): > > PS anyone using this as a platform to rant/whine about gun control, religion, race, blah etc on either “side” I wouldn’t mind also seeing pushed off a cliff. Yes, how could the subject of gun control possibly be germane to a discussing a nutbag with a handgun going on a shooting spree in a crowded movie theatre? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/226 "2012-07-21T08:48:16Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > Yes, how could the subject of gun control possibly be germane to a discussing a nutbag with a handgun going on a shooting spree in a crowded movie theatre? **Two** handguns, an assault rifle, a shotgun and over 6,000 plus rounds of ammo actually. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/227 "2012-07-21T09:47:34Z")
> [@oreally](#): > > - how flimsy are these emergency doors that he can just kick one open? How about they start making it std practice to put door stops on the other side or something? Then wouldn’t they be useless if people had to use them during like, oh say, an _emergency_? Isn’t it state law that they remain unlocked during business hours? And he didn’t kick the door open from outside. He opened it from the inside, and left it propped while he ran out to his car. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/228 "2012-07-21T10:16:32Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > **There’ve been plenty of worse mass shootings:** Virginia Tech, Luby’s in Texas, Charles Whitman way back in 1966… No, I’m hearing this one has shot to No. 1 with a bullet (heh). Seems the number of people shot in this incident has reached a record even though there have been higher death tolls. Looking up just the ones you mentioned, I see Virginia Tech had 32 killed out of “only” 49 shot; Luby’s, 20 dead out of 43 shot; and Charles Whitman, 16 killed out of 48 shot (not counting Whitman himself). Looks like it’s the high victim count they’re tallying, be they killed or injured. And the death toll is probably likely to rise, I’d guess. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/229 "2012-07-21T10:25:29Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Look, as long as NRA types are going to insist on guns for everybody whether they want them or not, this kind of stuff is going to happen again and again. So stop acting so shocked when it does. Oh I absolutely agree, this country would be such a peaceful paradise if guns simply weren’t allowed. You know, [like Norway.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Behring_Breivik) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/230 "2012-07-21T10:26:20Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Oh I absolutely agree, this country would be such a peaceful paradise if guns simply weren’t allowed. You know, [like Norway.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Behring_Breivik) Yeah, because shootings incidents are so common in Norway. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/231 "2012-07-21T10:30:36Z")
> [@oreally](#): > > - how flimsy are these emergency doors that he can just kick one open? How about they start making it std practice to put door stops on the other side or something? From what I understand - according to Wikipedia, so take it with a grain - he bought a ticket, walked into the theater, \*exited \*through the emergency door and propped it open so he could get back in. Then he went to his car to get his shit and there you go. So he didn’t Hey Kool-Aid! the thing; he rigged it. Like \*\*cochran \*\*said … missed the post. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/232 "2012-07-21T10:59:48Z")
> [@oreally](#): > > - how flimsy are these emergency doors that he can just kick one open? How about they start making it std practice to put door stops on the other side or something? It defeats the purpose of an emergency door to make them difficult to open. Also, the “kick one open” thing is just one of the many descriptions used, others have said he simply went out the door and propped it open as he did so. > [@](#): > > - I read that hundreds of police offiers swarmed on this place after initial reports. I don’t know how many are on the force but that sounds like a VERY high percentage and a ridiculous overkill. But this is nothing new for cops. Mostly nothing happens so when something does, they all “flock” like ants at a picnic. Hello yahoos, do you realize the open invitation this gives other criminals? Maybe a dozen or so is plenty and the rest of you should keep monitoring the rest of the city? Or maybe, it being a mass casualty event, having _several_ dozen cops helps with the emergency response, first aid, and transport to the hospital. Supposedly, the cops were driving people to the ER instead of waiting for ambulances so that might have saved one or two lives. Also, if there isn’t much else going on why not send a lot of cops to the One Big Event? > [@](#): > > - even if we forego the rare danger of something like this, what kind of brain-dead loser brings a 3 mo old child to the theater - a midnight showing no less? I’m all for making this illegal. Someone whose sitter didn’t show up? Usually the worst danger from taking a 3 month old to a theater is that the kid will start crying and annoy the crap out of the rest of the audience, and one of the parents will have to take the kid out to the lobby until he/she settles down. It’s not like the 3 month old will be “harmed” by a violent movie. But thanks for being judgmental. > [@](#): > > - speaking of idiotic, why do they rush to get some meaningless token statement from the President about stuff like this? Why the frick do we care what Obama (or Romney for that matter) think about this? And did you really expect anything other than a predictable “it’s a terrible tragedy let’s keep the families in our thoughts blah blah blah” Cultural custom. Why should hold funerals, it doesn’t do the dead guy any good and it’s just a predictable series of speeches. Same thing. It’s formulaic, but expected. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/233 "2012-07-21T11:18:33Z")
I’d be interested to know if it was actually an emergency exit door. I don’t know the design of that theater, but the Century I used to go to a lot was built as a stand-alone. Each theater has at least one, maybe two, exit doors at the front of the theater. These are not emergency exits but are meant to allow you to get from the theater to the parking lot without having to go through the mass of people caused by having 24 screens in a single building (this assumes you don’t need to get to the restroom.) Similarly, there are a number of non-emergency doors at the end of and off of hallways. Again, these let you leave without having to go through the main lobby (now that you’re out of the restroom but don’t want to deal with all those people) and are also used to make specific lines for specific screens for very high-demand showings. There are very few, if any, alarmed emergency doors that I can think of. The doors are built for one-way access, obviously, but it never surprised me when someone went out one of the doors at the front. I guess the constant use of the term “emergency exit” is yet another example of the media not being able to find their ass with both hands. Apparently nuance and correct terminology gets in the way of the disaster porn. Which has given us a sadly dead-on [Onion](http://www.theonion.com/articles/sadly-nation-knows-exactly-how-colorado-shootings,28857/) article. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/234 "2012-07-21T11:23:57Z")
$50 says that within a year, we have to walk through metal detectors to enter a theater, in at least 2 States of the Union. $25 that an anti-comic book movement is born from this. :rolleyes::smack: ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/235 "2012-07-21T11:29:25Z")
Ah, putting the theater in security theater. Yes, because he came strapped past the ticket-taker after picking up his $10 popcorn. Metal detectors would probably kill theaters. Waiting four months for Netflix is a viable option. Fewer idiots at home as well. Or I’d stick with the drive-in, though that’s only seasonal. [Though that isn’t always gun-free either.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=648504) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/236 "2012-07-21T12:07:09Z")
If he left his junk in the car, how would a metal detector have stopped him? After all, according to the news accounts, he didn’t smuggle his weapons through the lobby. He propped open a door to the outside in the particular theater in which he entered without his weapons. Would people propose we have metal detectors at all of the exits, too, where most people normally go out instead of coming in? ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/237 "2012-07-21T12:07:17Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > $50 says that within a year, we have to walk through metal detectors to enter a theater, in at least 2 States of the Union. It’s already the only place harder than a TSA line to sneak a bottle of water through. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/238 "2012-07-21T12:29:26Z")
Also, does an exit have to be alarmed to be considered an emergency exit? It seems to me that the quickest and most direct exit to the outside would also be the safest. I’m sure the exits were designed with both purposes in mind. Any exit that gets you outside in the least amount of time would serve in an emergency. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/239 "2012-07-21T12:32:56Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > I also saw CNN speculate that military in the audience “may have acted heroically.” I rolled eyes and shut off the TV. Would it interest you to learn that there does appear to be a documented, witnessed, verified, heroic act by a member of the military? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/240 "2012-07-21T12:37:57Z")
phila., pa already has metal detectors in movie theatres due to stabbings. they were put in about 15ish years ago. also most of the emergency exits are alarmed. so if you went out them security are alerted and they come around rather quickly. that was put in decades ago due to people sneaking in. there are some that are not that high security, but the crowds are not as high at those theaters. most people do not camp out to see midnight showings of french subtitles movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835.md?page=13)