# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/121 "2012-07-20T18:51:35Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > I was just responding to the speculation he might have been linked to the Tea Party which was based on false evidence. OK, that threw more nothing into the pile. It was idiotic of ABC to air that bit of speculation. There were not enough details in the online profile to confirm it was the same James Holmes (not exactly an unusual name). It is at least as stupid of Rush and the Freepers to make shit up based on their opinions about a movie few or none of them have seen. It doesn’t constitute an informed basis for an opinion. If there’s any real evidence of a political link to anybody, we’ll hear about it soon enough. ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/122 "2012-07-20T18:58:56Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I believe he was wearing a bullet-proof vest and that he basically surrendered. Odd that he didn’t off himself as precedent (usually) dictates. I guess he has no issue rotting in a cell for the rest of his life? Assuming that Denver does not have the death penalty. I’m not sure one way or the other. ---
**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 20, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/123 "2012-07-20T19:00:15Z")
Talk about bad comparisons. The speculation that he was involved with the Tea Party was at least based on something – flimsy evidence though it be. To respond with, “well, there’s also speculation that he’s with OWS” when that speculation comes from nothing but a fevered Freeper mind is hardly even-steven. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/124 "2012-07-20T19:01:26Z")
Just found out that a friend of a friend was shot (is being released today), and the son of a friend was shot in the head (is still alive). Colorado does have the death penalty, but no one’s been executed here since 1997. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/125 "2012-07-20T19:06:07Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Just found out that a friend of a friend was shot (is being released today), and the son of a friend was shot in the head (is still alive). I’m very sorry. I hope they both make full recoveries soon. ---
**Author:** ![jdubs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cdc98d/32.png) [@jdubs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdubs)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/126 "2012-07-20T19:09:15Z")
> [@elninost0rm](#): > > Odd that he didn’t off himself as precedent (usually) dictates. > > I guess he has no issue rotting in a cell for the rest of his life? Assuming that Denver does not have the death penalty. I’m not sure one way or the other. Colorado is a death penalty states. Source: [http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/states-and-without-death-penalty](http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/states-and-without-death-penalty) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/127 "2012-07-20T19:09:47Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Why? What would you have done? The same thing I would have done if sent there during work. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/128 "2012-07-20T19:11:19Z")
I also saw CNN speculate that military in the audience “may have acted heroically.” I rolled eyes and shut off the TV. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/129 "2012-07-20T19:13:39Z")
Anybody see this boneheaded PR move by[Celeb Boutique](http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2012/07/20/celeb-boutique-you-freaking-morons/)? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/130 "2012-07-20T19:17:13Z")
Looks like this shooter was similar to the Batman villain The Scarecrow. So far I do not think that speculating on political reasons is useful. More likely to me, and based on previous incidents, what we have is a guy with mental problems, what I expect is that many sources will continue to ignore the problems caused by the inadequate mental health care system that we have now. And at the same time ignore also the inadequate system that we have now that keeps people like this away from guns. AFAIK the system that supposedly keeps track of people like this away from guns and other deadly items is mostly a voluntary and grossly inadequate effort in many states, the reports and lists that go to the feeble federal systems in place are minimal. So we are getting the results I unfortunately expected that we could get. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/131 "2012-07-20T19:19:19Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Anybody see this boneheaded PR move by[Celeb Boutique](http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2012/07/20/celeb-boutique-you-freaking-morons/)? There was also this morning greeting from [the NRA.](http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/20/tech/social-media/nra-tweet-shooting/index.html?iid=article_sidebar) To be 100% fair, both tweeters say they were unaware of the shootings at the time they tweeted. ---
**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 20, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/132 "2012-07-20T19:32:46Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Yea, I don’t really see the point. Unless the political ads were specifically about gun violence or something, I don’t see why an Obama ad is anymore upsetting then the Geico ad or whatever that will replace it. I’m glad they are pulling the Political ads for the simple fact that they have about two each that they are running nonstop, every time any show breaks for commercial. I’m sick of hearing Mitt singing America the Beautiful… In other news, I needed to go to the grocery store, which runs right past the Aurora Mall. The theater is completely detached from the mall, kinda far out and across a service street, and the ENTIRE mall is sealed off as a crime scene. Cops blocking every entrance. I guess I didn’t expect to see that considering how far from the mall the theater is. I’ve never seen the parking lot that empty. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/133 "2012-07-20T19:36:26Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Mostly by right-wing discussions such as FreeRepublic, Laura Ingram and Breitbart News. When you go back, say hi to your Freeper pals for us, OK? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/134 "2012-07-20T19:39:16Z")
> [@Darth\_Nader](#): > > WASHINGTON – Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said Friday that the shootings that took place in an Aurora, Colo. movie theater hours earlier were a result of “ongoing attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs” and questioned why nobody else in the theater had a gun to take down the shooter. > > [Louie Gohmert: Aurora Shootings Result Of 'Ongoing Attacks On Judeo-Christian Beliefs' | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/louie-gohmert-aurora-shootings_n_1689099.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009&utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false) Now cue Westboro Baptist Church announcing they’re going to picket the funerals, three major news shows of gun control and anti-gun control activists screaming at each other, and this somehow being expected in Obama’s America. I have a theory that the stupid comments and WBC and asinine over-the-top accusations and CNN ass-showing following horrifying events is almost a necessary ritual to return to charted territory. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/135 "2012-07-20T19:44:37Z")
I thought the news organisations learned their lesson the _last_ time they failed to do the proper research before jumping in with their speculating. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/136 "2012-07-20T19:45:25Z")
Which time? ---
**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 20, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/137 "2012-07-20T19:46:54Z")
9 news is reporting that at least two of the weapons were purchased in the last month or two at Gander Mountain and Bass Pro Shop, completely legally and in accordance with all screening procedures. Seems like this is going to be used to tighten gun control procedures… ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/138 "2012-07-20T19:48:13Z")
Apparantly, in the news, being first is more important than being right now-a-days. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/139 "2012-07-20T19:48:29Z")
> [@D-bear](#): > > Seems like this is going to be used to tighten gun control procedures… Care to back that up with some citation or source, or would you mind at least trying to keep your paranoid accusations to yourself until there’s an actual reason to worry? ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/140 "2012-07-20T19:49:24Z")
I can’t post this in the other Batman thread because of spoilers. I’m just wondering if/how this tragedy, along with the suicide of Heath Ledger, will effect the way people think about think about the franchise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835.md?page=8)