Guman Kills 12, Wounds 58 in Colorado



Denver Post



A shooter dressed in riot gear replete with a bullet-proof vest broke into Century 16 Movie Theaters in Aurora, Colorado near Denver during the midnight launch of The Dark Knight Rises where he killed 12 people and wounded 58.

Police arrested the suspect, 24-year-old James Holmes, in the parking lot outside the theater, after he made no attempt to flee  He later told police that he was "The Joker", referring to a character in an earlier Batman movie.


His apartment, located in a building approximately four miles from the crime scene, had been trip-wired with sophisticated explosives or flammable material, according to police. The evacuated everyone from the building and have not yet determined a course of action to handle the explosives.

Holmes’ victims included a six-year old and a four-month-old baby, both of whom were treated at a nearby hospital, but the six-year-old girl later died of her wounds.  At least six area hospitals are handling the wounded victims of this horrific crime, man of whom are in critical condition.

Witnesses said Holmes entered the theater through an emergency exit after the film had begun and tossed a smoke bomb into the audience. He focused on moviegoers seated near the aisles, shooting people at random.  Some viewers thought that Holmes was pulling a prank at first and using fireworks that made the popping sound.

The Dark Knight Rises, the final film of the Batman trilogy, features a villain named Bane who wears a bulletproof vest and gas mask. Trailers for the movie show explosions at public events including a football game. Many moviegoers dressed in costume to attend the opening night screening, so Holmes blended in with the crowd.

NBC News.com

Ham on Wry believes that this tragedy should start a national dialogue on gun use in this country.  Many citizens cite the right to own guns as a reason to buy one, but statistics reveal that guns are used much more frequently in killing innocent people than in defensive situations. The United States operates as though it is still an undeveloped, primitive society with few law officers to protect us. We no longer live in the Wild West. No one needs a bulletproof vest for legitimate purposes, nor does anyone require assault rifles for legal reasons.

The NRA should take a hard look at its policies in light of reality. It has morphed from an organization comprising hunters and sportspersons to one that promotes gun ownership without the necessary checks and balances to ensure the safety of innocent people.  Let us remember the attack on President Reagan and his Press Secretary James Brady.  Chacha.com states that 30,000 people in the United States die each year  from gunshot wounds. We have a huge problem in this society that needs to be addressed at the Federal level. It’s far past time for a change to the manner in which gun ownership is handled in this country!