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
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261 comments Add your comment
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:12 am
“From Bill Moyers”
And I stopped reading.
td
July 24th, 2012
9:13 am
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”
That would be about 50 years of bad liberal interpretation of 2nd Amendment has been put back to the original intent.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 24th, 2012
9:13 am
Project yourself on others all you want, Lord Help Us, but I don’t know very many former front line infantrymen that would pee their pants and empty their clip into the ceiling if confronted with such a situation.
Maybe in your world….
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:14 am
Mary Elizabeth
More people die from cancer, cars and heart attacks. Should we ban those?
““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”
So the NRA is to blame for Holmes?
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:15 am
“There are people that would soil themselves and shoot someone by accident if then ever faced a situation like this…”
Then again, you have nothing to back that up with.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:16 am
Mary Elizabeth
I know that most of the time you mean well when you post and opinion but you are flat out wrong if you think banning guns is the answer. Like I posted several times, the cities with the strictest gun laws have the highest gun crime. Not one single lib can answer my question about why that is.
Can you?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 24th, 2012
9:17 am
The proof is always against the liberals-
Two teens were shot and injured by a 71-year-old central Florida man who refused to stand by while the young men allegedly tried to rob an Internet café.
Williams is apparently seen firing two shots at Henderson, who quickly heads for the front door. The 71-year-old then begins to fire at both of the young men, who appear to panic and hurriedly fall over as they flee the scene.
Who crapped their pants in this situation? Yep, the liberals did.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:18 am
“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?”
I’ve been to many gun shows and I’ve never seen anyone buy lots of assault rifles. Ever. You’re either lying or you’re just ignorant.
td
July 24th, 2012
9:23 am
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:18 am
“You’re either lying or you’re just ignorant”
If this was not Kyle’s blog and his trying to keep it civil then I would answer this question.
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:24 am
‘but I don’t know very many former front line infantrymen that would pee their pants and empty their clip into the ceiling if confronted with such a situation.’
Oh yes, the 101st Chairborne.
My point was about the number of people that, if carrying concealed in that theater (dark, crowded, panic, confusion), would either inaccurately assess the situation or panic themselves.
JDW
July 24th, 2012
9:30 am
@Logic…”Yeah, JDW, that’s exactly what I meant”
So where do you draw the line….assault weapons are ok…how about machine guns or rocket launchers. Problem with your “logic” is that it has no end. If individuals have the unfettered right to weapons then they are entitled to anything.
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:31 am
‘I’ve been to many gun shows and I’ve never seen anyone buy lots of assault rifles. Ever. You’re either lying or you’re just ignorant.’
So have I…but you didn’t answer the question.
Here’s one more question for you to deflect: can a person that is unstable, mentally deficient, uneducated, insane, illegal, etc. go to a gun show and buy an assault weapon?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 24th, 2012
9:33 am
There are two types of people that shoot wildly. muslims and liberals. That’s why they usually die at a ratio of 20 to 1 when confronted by trained riflemen or why some three year old kid sitting on their porch gets killed by stray bullets.
JDW
July 24th, 2012
9:34 am
@logic…”More people die from cancer, cars and heart attacks. Should we ban those”
What a great idea…o wait we spend Billions each year trying to do exactly that.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:35 am
“can a person that is unstable, mentally deficient, uneducated, insane, illegal, etc. go to a gun show and buy an assault weapon?”
Not sure about illegals since gun shows do background checks. If a person is a law abiding citizen, then yes.
No deflections there, sport.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:36 am
“What a great idea…o wait we spend Billions each year trying to do exactly that.”
We spend billions trying to ban cars, cancer and heart attacks? Huh, who knew.
td
July 24th, 2012
9:37 am
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:24 am
And if there would have been someone shooting back at this fool then how much attention would he had to pay vs picking out people to randomly mow down?
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:37 am
“So where do you draw the line….assault weapons are ok…how about machine guns or rocket launchers.”
Um, sport, rocket launchers aren’t allowed to be sold to people. You can go over the top all you want, but you know full-well that rocket launchers, missiles etc are not sold to the public.
Assault weapons are fine in my book since it’s rare that they’re ever used to gun down people in America.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:38 am
“If this was not Kyle’s blog and his trying to keep it civil then I would answer this question.”
It wasnt’ a question.
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:39 am
‘Not sure about illegals since gun shows do background checks.’
For someone that a few posts ago touted their ‘experience,’ you just failed…
Dealers at gun shows check id’s and do background checks. Right next door to the dealers at the gun shows are ‘private citizens’ that can sell you an assault weapon with no id check at all.
Apparently, you have never been to one…
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:39 am
JDW
Since I answered your question, answer mine.
Why do the cities with the strictest gun laws have the highest gun crime rates?
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:41 am
“For someone that a few posts ago touted their ‘experience,’ you just failed…”
Then
“Dealers at gun shows check id’s and do background checks.”
You answered your own question, sport.
“Right next door to the dealers at the gun shows are ‘private citizens’ that can sell you an assault weapon with no id check at all.”
I’ve never seen anyone right next to a door selling assault weapons, sport. Did you go to a gun show in Mexico?
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:41 am
“Apparently, you have never been to one…”
Yep, you got me, sport. I’ve never been to a gun show before. Nope, never.
JDW
July 24th, 2012
9:42 am
@logic…”Huh, who knew.”
Why anyone that can use “logic”. Every hear of cancer research? How about all the cash auto companies spend on research into safety. Why do you supposethat is.. Why to eradicate or ban each cause of death.
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:42 am
‘And if there would have been someone shooting back at this fool then how much attention would he had to pay vs picking out people to randomly mow down?’
Don’t know and neither do you. What I can imagine is a dark, crowded theater. Shots are fired, panic and confusion escalate.
My take on this scene is that more people with weapons (some that would wet their pants) that inaccurately assess the situation or panic might make the situation far worse.
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:43 am
‘Yep, you got me, sport. I’ve never been to a gun show before. Nope, never.’
Well, then you should know that private sellers at gun shows do not check id’s or do background checks. Pay attention next time you go, sport…
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:48 am
“Why anyone that can use “logic”. Every hear of cancer research? How about all the cash auto companies spend on research into safety. Why do you supposethat is.. Why to eradicate or ban each cause of death.”
There is nothing in your rant about banning cancer, sport. Try again.
td
July 24th, 2012
9:49 am
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:42 am
I will quote you: “Don’t know and neither do you.”. I know I carry and would not be wetting my pants.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:49 am
“Well, then you should know that private sellers at gun shows do not check id’s or do background checks. Pay attention next time you go, sport…
I don’t go to gun shows to check out “illegal” gun sales, sport. I’m not a paranoid individual like you.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:49 am
JDW continues to deflect and not answer my question. Typical lib.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 24th, 2012
9:50 am
Check it out, 12 people died and 71 were wounded and some suggest it would have been worse if there’d been another gun there.
And then they go on to illicit that there is some nefarious private transfer of “assault” weapons to the mentally deranged, an underground arming of the insane industry, if you will.
Who’s wet their pants?
JDW
July 24th, 2012
9:50 am
@logic…”Why do the cities with the strictest gun laws have the highest gun crime rates?”
Because they waited until the problem was out of control to act. The area was already flooded with weapons. Additionally there is the problem of import, cities that have a problem can’t control import.
A better example is London. Weapons were strictly controlled in the 70’s and guy violence is almost non-existent. You can dig into American history for tangible examples…what was the first thing the new sheriff in town did to clean up…why ban guns in town.
td
July 24th, 2012
9:53 am
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:43 am
“Well, then you should know that private sellers at gun shows do not check id’s or do background checks.”
You obviously have never been to a gun show or you would know that any “private” seller with a table at a gun show is required to do a background check. It is usually done by the gun show. After the check comes back then the private seller will ship the gun to the buyer. Only Federally certified dealers are allowed to go to a gun show, purchase a weapon and walk out with one. Private citizens are not allowed.
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:54 am
‘I don’t go to gun shows to check out “illegal” gun sales, sport. I’m not a paranoid individual like you.’
Neither do I, but that fact that you are unaware of this fact does not reflect well on your awareness…
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:54 am
“Because they waited until the problem was out of control to act. ”
That makes ZERO sense. Chicago etc have all had strict gun laws for decades.
Try again.
“Additionally there is the problem of import, cities that have a problem can’t control import.”
Again, that makes no sense. In states where guns are legal, the gun crime rate is lower.
“A better example is London.”
No not really. I’m talking US cities and you’re deflecting to a city from another country entirely.
JDW
July 24th, 2012
9:54 am
@logic…”There is nothing in your rant about banning cancer, sport. Try again.”
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:55 am
“Neither do I, but that fact that you are unaware of this fact does not reflect well on your awareness…’
I’m not as paranoid as you, I guess. If you can back up your claim with facts, I’ll be more than happy to read it.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:55 am
” might I suggest your local reading comprehension program”
Deflections get you nowhere, sport.
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:55 am
‘You obviously have never been to a gun show or you would know that any “private” seller with a table at a gun show is required to do a background check. It is usually done by the gun show. After the check comes back then the private seller will ship the gun to the buyer. Only Federally certified dealers are allowed to go to a gun show, purchase a weapon and walk out with one. Private citizens are not allowed.’
Complete BS…
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:56 am
“A better example is London.
London doesn’t have gang problems or black on black violence like the USA does. Try again.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
9:57 am
“Complete BS…”
Then prove the statement wrong.
JDW
July 24th, 2012
9:59 am
@”logic”…so I guess other countries are other worlds in your experience. I am done with you…I can lead a horse to water but can’t make hom drink. So long as misguided souls such as yourself are successful in protecting the gun industry we will continue to suffer both regular massacres and the highest incident of gun deathi the industrialized world.
td
July 24th, 2012
10:00 am
Lord Help Us
July 24th, 2012
9:55 am
“Complete BS…”
No it is your asinine silly bed wetting statements that are complete “BS” my friend. I am telling you what the rules at gun shows are and it does not fit your preconceived, brainwashed mind of a gun show. Like I said you have never been to a gun show and are just making it up as you go to fit your agenda.
JDW
July 24th, 2012
10:00 am
@logic..”London doesn’t have gang problems or black on black violence like the USA does. Try again.”
Too good to pass up…guess you slept through the gang riots last year…
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
10:01 am
“so I guess other countries are other worlds in your experience.”
Nope, I just asked a question about US cities and you go and throw London into the mix. You deflect because you can’t answer the question.
“So long as misguided souls such as yourself are successful in protecting the gun industry we will continue to suffer both regular massacres and the highest incident of gun deathi the industrialized world.”
What’s so stupid about that comment is the fact that no matter how many bans you put on guns, people will always find a way to get their hands on them.
FACT: Weed, meth etc are all illegal but people still get them.
Try again, sport.
@@
July 24th, 2012
10:01 am
Off-topic!
Eurozone crisis live: Germany’s credit rating outlook lowered to negative–Rating agency cuts outlook on three Eurozone countries.
Europe editor Ian Traynor reports that “a consensus” is building among the German political class that the time may be nearing to cut Greece adrift, and force it out of the euro.
The EU was doomed from its inception.
As the financial authorities prepare for disaster, the Foreign Office should be preparing for a massive political opportunity – to reshape Europe.
Our aim, inside or outside the EU, should be to end the ruinous restriction and over-regulation of our economic life, ranging from agriculture, fishing and the financial markets through to employment laws.
An ER (European Republic)?
schnirt
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
10:02 am
“Too good to pass up…guess you slept through the gang riots last year”
Those “gangs” were Muslim, sport. If you want to talk about that issue, have at it. Besides, those gangs burned up cars and stabbed people.
Should we ban knives and fire, sport?
@@
July 24th, 2012
10:11 am
As I recall, the UK rioters were blacks, whites and Asians raging against the establishment, kinda like our useless OWS crowd.
Mary Elizabeth
July 24th, 2012
10:30 am
Logic, 9:16 am
“. . .you are flat out wrong if you think banning guns is the answer.”
————————————————————————
Logic,
Neither I, nor Bill Moyers, suggested that guns should be “banned.” He and I do suggest, however, that guns need greater regulation in our nation. When toys have greater regulation in the U. S. – for the purpose of public safety – than guns do, then I believe that we need to rethink how we regulate gun control in America.
Logic was never intended for libs
July 24th, 2012
10:56 am
“He and I do suggest, however, that guns need greater regulation in our nation. ”
Then tell me how the cities with the highest gun crime rate all have strict gun laws.
“I believe that we need to rethink how we regulate gun control in America.”
Same here. Ban criminals and gangs.