# 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:** 9
**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 20, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/161 "2012-07-20T21:10:22Z")
> [@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). > > Colorado does have the death penalty, but no one’s been executed here since 1997. i hope that they have quick and full recoveries. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/162 "2012-07-20T21:11:38Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Canada seems to get along ok. 🙂 Except for that mass shooting in Toronto last week. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/163 "2012-07-20T21:12:04Z")
> [@D-bear](#): > > The building is fairly new, all stadium seating digital sound and picture, so it’s not exactly a given that it’ll be closed and torn down. What do the teeming millions say? Would you go there to catch a flick? Surely. They could hire some off duty policemen to hang around. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/164 "2012-07-20T21:17:09Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Except for that mass shooting in Toronto last week. I missed that. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/165 "2012-07-20T21:38:56Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > When you go back, say hi to your Freeper pals for us, OK? I think I got banned there a long while ago because I supported Romney or something. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/166 "2012-07-20T21:39:13Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Without getting into a debate over cyclic history, note that all “cyclic history” theories are affected by the fact that unlike in the West, none of them experienced mass literacy or industrialization. Most of these theories are just the historical and philosophical equivalent of emo or goth or punk. Your version of reality and your comprehension of the written word are stunningly. . .goofy. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/167 "2012-07-20T21:49:52Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Canada seems to get along ok. 🙂 On one hand, they do only have [half the firearms deaths of the US](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_firearm-related_death_rate). On the other hand, that’s still 4.7 deaths per 100.000 people each year. Compare that to the Netherlands, 0.7 deaths. Most of Europe barely makes it past 1.5 deaths. You didn’t adress my point that pretty much any random jackass in the US can get guns. (Our pal here did, no problem.) Or the significant relationship between _having_ a gun and shooting someone with it, and _not having a gun_ and _not_ shooting someone with it. ---
**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, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/168 "2012-07-20T21:51:47Z")
From [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/20/us/colorado-theater-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1): “The man suspected in the mass shooting at an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater screening of the new Batman film early Friday had colored his hair red and told police he was ‘the Joker,’ according to a federal law enforcement source with detailed knowledge of the investigation.” OWS? Tea Party? Solid member of the Loony Party, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/169 "2012-07-20T21:53:57Z")
Two research buildings where the shooter went to school have been evacuated until tomorrow morning. I’m guessing the authorities want to make sure he didn’t leave any booby traps around there. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/170 "2012-07-20T22:16:08Z")
[Wiki already:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Aurora_shooting) “With a total of 71 gunshot victims, it is the largest mass shooting in United States history.[7][8][9]” Somebody, somewhere, right now, is reading that and thinking, “HA! I can top it!” ---
**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 20, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/171 "2012-07-20T22:17:19Z")
> [@D-bear](#): > > Just wondering what everyone thought might happen to this facility after all is said and done. They didn’t raze Columbine High after the shooting there, but I can kind of understand that one. I actually have tickets to see the 25th anniversary Star Trek:TNG event there on Monday, but there’s a snowball’s chance of that happening at this point. > > The building is fairly new, all stadium seating digital sound and picture, so it’s not exactly a given that it’ll be closed and torn down. What do the teeming millions say? Would you go there to catch a flick? The Safeway where Gabby Giffords and the others were shot reopened a couple of weeks later. In fact, I’m leaving in a couple of minutes to do some shopping there. I think as soon as the police and the other agencies are finished investigating the scene, they’ll probably start preparing the theater to open for business again after a few weeks. ---
**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, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/172 "2012-07-20T22:18:25Z")
The company that owns the movie theater chain says it won’t allow people to come to movies in costume anymore. What a stupid asshole response. They’re a distant second to the shooter, but it’s a really stupid policy. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/173 "2012-07-20T22:20:01Z")
> [@MostlyClueless](#): > > You didn’t adress my point that pretty much any random jackass in the US can get guns. (Our pal here did, no problem.) Or the significant relationship between _having_ a gun and shooting someone with it, and _not having a gun_ and _not_ shooting someone with it. I didn’t realize that was required. 🙂 It was tragic, but I’d rather some other folks get shot than I not be able to shoot the fellow that mugged Mrs. Plant v.3.0 should the opportunity arise. There should be some way to keep folks like that from getting guns. Took me about fifteen minutes while some authorities were called when I bought a target pistol. I wouldn’t mind a waiting period while they checked out things at more length. ---
**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 20, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/174 "2012-07-20T22:20:41Z")
i’m a bit surprized that the exit doors were not alarmed. perhaps it is just theatres in the big city, however, a good portion of the ones i’ve been to, have alarms that go off when someone uses them. granted i believe they are alarmed to alert the powers that be, that there may be an emergency and/or to stop someone from entering without buying a ticket. having person “a” buy a ticket and then open the door to allow others to come on in. i guess this isn’t everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/175 "2012-07-20T22:21:09Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > He’s a white guy, right? Please tell me he’s a white guy. The shooter, I mean. Of course he’s a White guy. Blacks kill a lot of each other, but in like 1s & 2s, and usually in private. Something this horrible takes a White guy. Is that a racist statement? Well, yeah, but when’s the last time a Black guy (in the USA) racked up any sort of body count in a single session? Mass murder is just not their game. ---
**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, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/176 "2012-07-20T22:31:50Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > 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? [Roger Ebert has started the ball rolling,](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/21/opinion/weve-seen-this-movie-before.html?_r=2&hp) but it was inevitable. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/177 "2012-07-20T22:41:24Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > i’m a bit surprized that the exit doors were not alarmed. Folks (including me) have gone out the back door at multi screen theaters rather than pushing and shoving to the front door. ---
**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, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/178 "2012-07-20T22:48:18Z")
> [@D-bear](#): > > [Roger Ebert has started the ball rolling,](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/21/opinion/weve-seen-this-movie-before.html?_r=2&hp) but it was inevitable. Get back to me when someone other than a film critic gets involved. Someone who might propose a bill or something, I mean, rather than express an opinion. ---
**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 20, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/179 "2012-07-20T22:51:48Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Folks (including me) have gone out the back door at multi screen theaters rather than pushing and shoving to the front door. i guess that means y’all do not have workers who come in a bit before the movie ends and stand by the doors. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835/180 "2012-07-20T22:53:57Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > It was tragic, but I’d rather some other folks get shot I rest my case. We’ve both run this argument a billion times. Let me get your arguments for you: _-But if civilians can’t buy weapons, then only criminals will have guns!_ The same criminals who now buy their weapons at the local 7-11? Not every down on his luck would-be burglar has those connections. And you said it yourself- people who can’t be trusted with guns shouldn’t have them. Exactomundo! If you don’t have a badge or wear olive green as a job requirement- no guns for you. This guy’s record was basically clean. One traffic violation. Unless you want to hire a private detective for every gun sale, this guy wouldn’t have pinged the radar. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-people-shot-dead-at-batman-movie-screening-in-denver/628835.md?page=10)