The work of a madman
The accused Colorado gunman appears in court Monday. AP Photo
The suspect in Friday’s horrific shooting at a Colorado movie theater appeared in court today and didn’t speak a word. Police have said he isn’t speaking while in their custody, either, so it could be some time before we learn whether there was any kind of motivation for the man charged with murdering (as of now) 12 people and wounding dozens more.
My rule of thumb in these cases, absent any evidence, is to begin by assuming they are the work of madmen with thoughts and beliefs unthinkable to the vast, vast majority of us. Until investigators and reporters closer to the situation uncover more about the accused, I would argue that’s a good working basis for all of us.
At Hot Air, Mary Katharine Ham has compiled an excellent series of brief sketches from various news outlets about the 12 who have died so far (there are others with life-threatening wounds), complete with photos. I’m struck that survivors said five of the 12 died protecting others, including two soldiers and a Navy veteran who gave their lives.
***
This post is rather late in the day and pretty brief, and there are reasons for that. Among other things, I have a family funeral to attend tomorrow and two speaking engagements soon afterward for which I need to prepare today. I plan to post something tomorrow morning, but it may be a couple of days before I’m blogging on a regular schedule again. Thanks in advance for your patience, and please try to keep it clean on the comment threads in the meantime.
– By Kyle Wingfield
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
261 comments Add your comment
jconservative
July 23rd, 2012
7:00 pm
“… what our founding fathers thought when writing the Constitution…they approved the ownership of single shot muskets. Now why do the citizenry need assault weapons? Is Bambi armed to the teeth?”
The Supreme Court has said for over 200 years that the Constitution is a “living” instrument and changes with the times. So AR-15’s are legal under the 2nd Amendment as well as the “single shot muskets”.
md
July 23rd, 2012
7:02 pm
” As evidenced by the shooter in this case, not all gun owners are sane.”
And as evidenced by the drug cartels, not all gun owners are law abiding either……..Mexico has an assault rifle ban…..the only ones that have them now are the criminals……..
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
July 23rd, 2012
7:06 pm
“And in keeping with all the talk in the recent past about what our founding fathers thought when writing the Constitution…they approved the ownership of single shot muskets.”
Nominated for the dumbest post in the history of Kyle’s blog.
As the words ” single shot muskets” doesn’t appear in the U.S. Constitution, Road Scholar, “keep and bear arms” becomes the open-ended wording that we not only live by, but what the Founding Fathers approved.
Congratulations. You had to go really far down in the intelligence quotient to get nominated in this category.
md
July 23rd, 2012
7:14 pm
“keep and bear arms”
I think one must also remember that they too had a “history” of arms…..they were quite familiar with the concept of evolving weaponry.
What a shame
July 23rd, 2012
7:33 pm
“And yes, freedom comes with a price, a price I’m willing to pay.”
Outside of your taxes, please tell us the price you have paid or willing to pay.
Did you serve in the military, some form of police force or employment along those lines or waiting to start that type of employment?
If not, sounds a little more talk than walk
Hillbilly D
July 23rd, 2012
7:34 pm
Braves picked up Ryan Dempster. A MUCH improved pitcher from our current crop of crap.
Some reporter evidently jumped the gun on that because Dempster is wearing a Cub uniform, tonight. The trade still may happen but it hasn’t happened yet.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
July 23rd, 2012
7:43 pm
Posters keep asking why we need assault rifles and 100 round clips. They are hard to justify, until you think of the defenseless people in Syria. I am sure that at one time, they thought they would never need them either. Better to have and not need, than need and not have.
The way this country is going, Bashar Assad’s third cousin or someone like him may someday offer free stuff to everyone, and get himself elected President of the US.
@@
July 23rd, 2012
7:56 pm
He certainly looks like a madman.
It’s kinda eerie when one reads this article from 2008.
Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger on ‘Joker’ role
It’s that ol’ life imitating art thing.
The magnitude of lives lost overwhelms the senses.
Sorry to hear about your loss too, Kyle.
Mr_B
July 23rd, 2012
8:22 pm
Bruno: Earlier in the evening you opined that person like the Aurora shooter should become “unpersons.”
Allow me to second (or third) the motion.
As regards the lethal injection angle, allow me to point out that life w/o parole is much cheaper, and can be much more punishing. My guess is that this scumbag never planned to live until morning anyway.
Mr_B
July 23rd, 2012
8:23 pm
Kyle: our thoughts are with you and yours.
Mr_B
July 23rd, 2012
8:28 pm
“The way this country is going, Bashar Assad’s third cousin or someone like him may someday offer free stuff to everyone, and get himself elected President of the US.”
Sorry, Rafe, but the Assad family doesn’t have a lot a patience with ballot boxes. The US is not Syria, and never will be.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970_Syrian_Corrective_Revolution
fair and balanced
July 23rd, 2012
8:36 pm
Am I the only one offended by this paper and the TV and internet showing multiple pictures of the latest wack job/publicity seeker ? Who cares what he looked like in court or how he and his attorney acted? When he is given that fatal needle in his arm (probably never when the psychiatrists defend him as a nut job in exchange for their fame) I will want the picture on the front page along with pictures of the victims.
dabir dalton
July 23rd, 2012
8:38 pm
If he is a “Mad Man” then he is not responsible for his actions. However his actions in collecting weapons – ammo and body armor as well as the bombs set to explode in his apartment when the police entered. All clearly show that he knew what he was doing and intended to create havoc and kill as many people as possible. No Kyle he is not a mad man but someone who made the choice to give in to his predatory instincts by imitating his hero the Joker.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 23rd, 2012
8:39 pm
Assad’s third cousin would be an upgrade from what we have now.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
July 23rd, 2012
8:53 pm
Mr B
When in Rome as they say. Americans would not tolerate someone forcing himself into power, but we might make a mistake and elect the wrong kinda guy, that we later would have to forcibly send packing. Hopefully our military would do it for us, but if not, the second amendment allows us to deal with tyranny, if need be.
md
July 23rd, 2012
9:09 pm
Venezuela has what I’d call an elected dictator…….getting into power and then changing the term limits for a President should be a big warning sign. Seems the masses down there aren’t too bright.
md
July 23rd, 2012
9:19 pm
“If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.”
The problem with that statement has nothing to do with race…..it has to do with jumping the gun. Just like he did in the Cambridge fiasco.
Here’s the clue…..if a jury finds Zimmerman acted in self defense, how does it look then?
A smart man would have not said much of anything other than “let’s wait for ALL the facts”.
Mary Elizabeth
July 23rd, 2012
9:25 pm
My condolences to you and your family, Kyle.
Old Timer
July 23rd, 2012
11:36 pm
Kyle family first–God Bless.
marko
July 24th, 2012
5:51 am
Adam Yahiye Gadahn, an American-born spokesman for the terror network Al Qaeda, cited America as an example where Muslims in the West have tools at their disposal for a holy war against “the enemies of Islam.”
“America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms,” said Gadahn, who is known as Azzam al-Amriki. “You can go down to a gun show at the local convention center and come away with a fully automatic assault rifle without a background check and most likely without having to show an identification card.
“So what are you waiting for?” he asked in a matter-of-fact tone.
It’s a strange world we live in. Voters are required to show multiple documents before they’re allowed to exercise their most fundalmental right, but terrorist can buy assault weapons with no questions asked.
Mr_B
July 24th, 2012
6:49 am
md: So expressing sympathy with the boy’s family, the people who have to live with the loss of their son, is premature? If Zimmerman is telling the truth, does that make the death of a teen-age son any less disturbing to his parents?
Mr_B
July 24th, 2012
6:58 am
Rafe: For all of human history, the military has a much better record of installing tyranny than overthrowing it, although “removing the wrong man from power” is often a convenient excuse to grab it. Statements like “we might make a mistake and elect the wrong kinda guy” don’t reflect a lot of faith in democracy.
Actually, we have done that exact thing several times in the past. The last time was in 2004.
fair and balanced
July 24th, 2012
7:11 am
two hundred years of judicial interpretations of the second amendment went out the window with the Heller decision. It is called judicial activism and is the same as Chavez changing the term limits after getting supposedly elected Another sign d NRA control over the entire federal government. Neither Heller or Chavez actions are good signs in a democracy.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 24th, 2012
7:56 am
“America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms,” said Gadahn, who is known as Azzam al-Amriki. “You can go down to a gun show at the local convention center and come away with a fully automatic assault rifle without a background check and most likely without having to show an identification card.
Never mind the utter absolute BS of this statement, without an FFL you can forget all about getting anything fully auto, but who in the hell would quote al Qaeda as some sort of informational source?
We get sicker everyday, don’t we?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 24th, 2012
7:58 am
Speaking of sick, how about Hillary having a staff full of muslim brotherhooders?
Do the words “useful idiot” ring a bell?
Mr_B
July 24th, 2012
8:07 am
Do the words “useful idiot” ring a bell?
Yeah, now that you mention it, it does bring someone to mind.
Mr_B
July 24th, 2012
8:08 am
although I’m not too sure about the “useful” part.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
8:14 am
If strict gun laws are needed then why do cities with the highest gun crimes have the strictest gun laws in the land?
Come on libs, answer that question.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
8:15 am
“Another sign d NRA control over the entire federal government.”
Wow, I had no idea the NRA was that powerful.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
8:16 am
“The problem with that statement has nothing to do with race…..it has to do with jumping the gun. Just like he did in the Cambridge fiasco.”
Anything is a racist to left wingers because they can’t argue facts. Anytime anyone speaks out against Obama, the left cries racism.
gadem
July 24th, 2012
8:22 am
I believe in the 2nd amendment with the exception of assault weapons…I see not civilian purpose for those. They are not hunting weapons. Those are truly weapons of mass destruction. I am in favor of a ban of ALL assault rifles and related equipment.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/arrested-separate-dark-knight-incidents-16842256#.UA6S5_Un_lg
JDW
July 24th, 2012
8:24 am
Yes Kyle he is a madman. What does it say about a society that allows madmen to legally purchase the arms required to execute the plot? “a well regulated militia” has no connection whatsoever to an individual right to bear arms. Any reasonable person should be able to see that phrase refers to the right of a state to have such an organization…the National Guard is an example.
So long as we allow the NRA et al to drive policy we will be forced to endure the episodes on a regular basis.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
8:24 am
“Those are truly weapons of mass destruction. I am in favor of a ban of ALL assault rifles and related equipment.”
And that makes you a liar when it comes to believing in the 2nd amendment.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
8:25 am
“So long as we allow the NRA et al to drive policy we will be forced to endure the episodes on a regular basis.”
Americans overwhelmingly support the 2nd amendment. If you don’t like that then move.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 24th, 2012
8:31 am
The “assault” rifle jammed almost immediately. He switched up to the shotgun and the Glocks.
Notice how facts never seem to enter the minds of a liberal? They just babble what CNN tells them?
gadem
July 24th, 2012
8:32 am
Logic, there are ALWAYS exceptions. Any reasonable person can see that assault weapons are not needed for the general population. If that is the case, make explosives and explosive devices legal too.
gadem
July 24th, 2012
8:33 am
I “report” those were the words of the investigators, not CNN. Are you defending the madman? Will you become his pen pal?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 24th, 2012
8:34 am
And how about having al Qaeda and liberals both on record against “assault” rifles, birds of a feather….
JDW
July 24th, 2012
8:45 am
@Logic
I suppose using your “logic” everyone is entitled to their very own nuclear arsenal.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
8:48 am
gadem
We’ll just have to agree to disagree. Just because a weapon is banned doesn’t mean it’ll stop people from buying them.
Again, if strict gun laws are needed then why do the cities with the strictest gun laws have the highest gun crime rates?
FYI, gun laws don’t deter people from purchasing them.
Rightwing Troll
July 24th, 2012
8:49 am
This Joker guy needs to go into the general population of the prison were they’re holding him, that would save the taxpayers money and give those folks in Aurora a small measure of justice…
Large capacity magazines should at the very least require a screening or background check beyond the cursory glance that is required for a gun purchase. Guns don’t need to be outlawed but weapons of mass destruction serve no purpose in a civilized, lawful society. The NRA is a political group as evil to the core as any other, they lie cheat and steal just like the rest of them. For them and their ilk to assert this could’ve been prevented if someone in the theatre was armed is laughable at best.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
8:50 am
“I suppose using your “logic” everyone is entitled to their very own nuclear arsenal.”
Yeah, JDW, that’s exactly what I meant. My gosh you are too smart. You really got me there.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
8:51 am
“al Qaeda and liberals”
They have a lot in common. Both hate Christians and Jews. Both want to curb free speech.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
8:52 am
“They just babble what CNN tells them?”
Too bad no one watches CNN.
Mary Elizabeth
July 24th, 2012
8:59 am
From Bill Moyers:
“Every year there are 30,000 gun deaths and 300,000 gun-related assaults in the U.S. Firearm violence may cost our country as much as $100 billion a year. Toys are regulated with greater care and safety concerns. . . .
“We are fooling ourselves. That the law could allow even an inflamed lunatic to easily acquire murderous weapons and not expect murderous consequences. Fooling ourselves that the Second Amendment’s guarantee of a ‘well-regulated militia’ be construed as a God-given right to purchase and own just about any weapon of destruction you like. That’s a license for murder and mayhem and it’s a great fraud that has entered our history. . .
“The killer in Colorado waited only for an opportunity, and there you have it — the arsenal of democracy transformed into the arsenal of death and the NRA, the NRA is the enabler of death — paranoid, delusional, and as venomous as a scorpion. With the weak-kneed acquiescence of our politicians, the National Rifle Association has turned the Second Amendment of the Constitution into a cruel hoax, a cruel and deadly hoax. I’m Bill Moyers.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-moyers/watch-living-under-the-gu_b_1691100.html
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 24th, 2012
9:02 am
If everyone in that theater had been cradling an assault rifle while they watched the movie, how many of you think that El Freako would still have burst through the exit door?
Yep, there is a reason why both al Qaeda and the dummycrats would love to disarm us.
It’s sick, I know, but how much more obvious can it be that they side up with the murderers?
@@
July 24th, 2012
9:05 am
Why do gun advocates resist? It’s simple.
Most of us would have preferred that the weekend be a time to mourn and pray for the families of the 12 people killed and 58 wounded by this madman. Unfortunately, while families of the victims were grieving, policitians and advocacy groups were already railing against guns and calling for more gun control laws.
Leftist creep has become all too obvious.
Rahm Emmanuel let the cat out of the bag when he said…”Never let a serious crisis go to waste.”
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 24th, 2012
9:06 am
And for the silly canard that an armed moviegoer would have started shooting wildly, accidentally killing a bunch of fellow innocents and then crapped his pants, we will never know. Because guns were BANNED in the theater.
Moron liberals, unreal.
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:07 am
In this country, there are people that are evil, crazy, insane…
There are also people that are unstable, alcoholics, drug addicts…
There are also people that are insecure, uneducated…
There are millions here illegally…
There are also people that are responsible, secure and educated…
Guess which ones CAN’T go to a gun show, buy lots of assault weapons and ammunition and then walk into the nearest mall and open fire?
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:10 am
Forgot one…
There are people that would soil themselves and shoot someone by accident if then ever faced a situation like this…