That’s the part that’s plausible. The chaos that actually, you know, happened. Your scenario seems to replace all the chaos with a cool head shot from the fifth row and, I’m guessing, a snappy one-liner.
Their fantasy keeps the chaos, and maybe adds a bit more because there are more people shooting at things. That seems about right, even if I don’t think it would turn into an epic bloodbath with cats marrying dogs and stuff.
Then there’s Bob’s world where he is presumptuous enough to believe he knows what is right and what is wrong to do in a crisis situation he can only imagine.
Some people recognize the options. Others live in their own little world with their minds already made up.
At least you have plenty of company!
I suppose that’s where we differ, then. I’m always for less chaos, wherever possible.
I remain unconvinced my scenario results in more chaos. It does in fact have a much, much lower chaos and death factor.
This of course assumes belief in the plausibility factors of the given scenarios.
What are the odds? One guy with a gun taking a shot or two?
Six guys blazing away randomly from every direction?
How many were there actually again? Please tell me, if you can.
<NM>
I don’t mean to nitpick…but that’s kinda what you are doing too.
Absolutely true. But only because I am taking a contrary position. I am examining options. I am saying one possible option is better in my judgement, under the given circumstances. I have not ruled anything out.
They have.
+1
Regards, I shit you not,
Reality
Yup, no doubt our friend kwimby is a Master of Unagi.
Meanwhile, I’m sticking to sushi. You can’t imagine the kind of damage I can do with them sticks…mostly to myself.
The waistline is particularly susceptible to the unagi attack, especially when paired with the sake variant.
You’re far more likely to be murdered in the US than in any other country with a GDP higher than $31k. How does that make you feel?
How do you murder someone with a GDP?
Maybe the whole problem will go away if the seats right next to ingress points are redesignated as Dirty Harry seats? No problem with panicking hordes, clear line of fire.
Yeah, but then the theatres will ban people from bringing in their own ammo and make them buy it from the snack bar at $10 per bullet.
In 100 Round Super-Sized variants I hope.
I guess there will be the odd, regrettable ‘incident’ involving kids sneaking in through the Emergency Exit but I’m sure that’s a small price, well worth to paying to keep the rest of us safe from trigger-happy yahoos.
Since I am not a gang member and don’t buy or sell drugs, I’d say my odds are pretty good.
To reinforce Lumpy’s comment:
When you look at the demographics, you are incorrect. If a person is involved at all in a shooting, it’s much more likekly to be a suicide, and to be white males and white females in their late teens and early 20’s, with another spike in white males in their late 60’s/eary 70’s
If you take those out (suicide is not murder), then the overwhelmingly predominant murder demographic is black males in their late teens and early 20’s (it’s been a while since I looked at the CDC stats, so I’m paraphrasing by memory).
The last time I looked these stats up, the murder rate among black males living in inner-city zones was around 33/100,000.
The murder rate amongst white males in the same demo was comparable to England, Germany, France, etc; all those Euro countries gun control advocates wished we resembled more.
IIRC, the safest demographic was black females. They’re not killing hardly anyone, much less themselves. Their stats make those European countries look like a war zone.
So as a white male in my 40s, I feel fairly safe.
Thank you for that fascinating and informative post. It shows how “averages” (overall rates of something for a country, etc.) can often be so misleading.
There are too many people like Tagos who expect somebody else - the gubmit, the cops, the “authorities” (who or whatever they are) to keep them safe. The stark reality is nobody buy you can keep you safe. If you believe otherwise you are living under a dangerous illusion.
That’s why I prompted czarcasm the “security biz” expert to elaborate. Basically what he briefly glossed over is that no other security measures presently available, feasible, affordable or practical can prevent or even mitigate an attack like this. Never have never will.
Good luck.
What are the stats for getting shot in a movie theatre by a complete stranger?
edited to add: What are the stats for falling in a bathtub and hitting your head?