A Colorado movie theater shooting has killed at least a dozen people and wounded dozens of others at a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. A man kicked in the door at a theater in an Aurora mall, threw a canister of tear gas in, and opened fire.
According to reports, movie goers first believed it was all part of the film, which deals with dark themes. Certainly when it comes to Batman villains, an attack like this wouldn't be outside the realm. Was the gunman inspired by the film or was he merely choosing at random where he knew many people would be seated and easy to kill? Does it matter?
It's hard to wrap our heads around the notion of so much death. Fourteen people. It's just beyond comprehension.
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Why do these mass killings keep happening in the US? Do we just have an abnormal amount of psycho gun-crazed lunatics or is something else happening?
More from The Stir: Parents of Baby at 'Dark Knight' Massacre Need Compassion Not Judgment
There are so many tragic elements to this story, it's hard to know where to even begin. But, perhaps what is most disturbing to me is the idea that these people had been excited for months about this movie. They had taken the time to get their tickets for the first possible showing, stayed up way past bedtime, and expected to be the first people to see it.
The mood in the theater was probably one of jubilation and excitement. I bet people dressed up in costumes and applauded when the previews ended and the real film started. I bet they were bonding over their love of the previous two films and the smell of popcorn filled the air. And then this. An amateur video captures some of the chaos. See below:
Nothing about this will make any sense. The latest reports are that the suspect is in custody and he is 24. But why someone would do this is a complete mystery. The loss of life is just staggering.
It's the kind of thing that makes us all wish there was a real Batman who could come to our rescue and make things like this end. But there isn't. There is no superhero to save us from the bad guys.
Why do you think someone would do something like this?
**This story was reported with the latest news at the time. Current reports are saying the number of dead is actually 12.
Image via MSNBC
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Comments 50
@Rhondaveggie: It's easy to get weapons and ammo in any country. That's why they are legal everywhere. It's not the gun causing the crime, it takes someone to pull the trigger. If a gun is laying on a table it can't just shoot someone by itself, someone has to make that concious decision to pick it up and pull the trigger. It's people, not guns. Am I a gun toting right wing conservative? No. I don't even own a gun. But there is a reason why we have the right to bear arms. It goes deeper than people killing people. It's about protection and the right to say no to someone that poses a threat to you, your property, your country, your family, your land.
My heart goes out to all of the people who were injured and died as a result of a persons hate and stupidity. There is no reason for it. No matter why the person did this, they are disguisting.
@ Liz dont compare to her Westboro Baptist Church any service member can tell you that wesboro is worst and btw what she said is sorta of right. I was in service at norfolk and was protested by them as one of the service member their they said I qoute with my baby in the car that I was no christian and going to hell because I fought for freedom. So SUSD you have no idea what it's like. Now tothe actual article heart goes out to these families. I hope they make that man rot under the jail for that. Thos people just wanted to see a good movies.
@Christine Robinson Lynn; Our country was founded on freedom. We have not pulled God out of our country. God is still very much a large part of our country but not our government. How dumb is your comment going to look when everything comes back and he did 'for religion'? Come on now.
Perhaps if the labyrinth of 22,000 gun laws in this country did not make it difficult for people to exercise their human right to defend themselves, the magnitude of this tragedy could have been greatly reduced.
I'm still trying to get tabs on all my friends. This stuff is terrible. The dude booby-trapped his whole apartment with explosives too. Very premeditated.
Rhonda, just stfu. So tired of seeing you around pretending like you are hot shit and you know it all.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families. :(