14 Dead, 50 Hurt In Mass Shooting Inside Aurora Movie Theater

[abc_123]

He needs to STFU and get back into his box. If we need an opinion out of Mexico we will give them one.

[R3V3LATIONS]

there is a cartel war all over northern mexico spilling into texas/ NM/ and American sovereign land, countless examples of corruption (police backed cartel killings?) in what is supposed to resemble a government, all his citizens try to hop the fence to live in the US and that idiot has the audacity to think he has advice for us? Maybe he should worry about his own country first....

[Richard]

MoveOn.Org's latest.

Richard

Tragedy in Colorado

We all woke up to the tragic news of the killing of at least 12 people and the wounding of many more at a late-night screening of the new Batman movie in Colorado.

Reports indicate that the disturbed individual who committed this horrifying act had a bulletproof vest, used some kind of gas canister, and had multiple guns when he opened fire in the crowded theater.1 A three-month-old is among the injured.2

We are immeasurably sad for those who lost their lives, those wounded, and their families—and for all those who experienced the horror of those terrible moments. Let our thoughts and prayers go out to them today.

We're also so angry. From children's lives lost in school shootings, to Trayvon Martin, the Representative Gabrielle Giffords attack, and this latest slaughter of innocents, we are not safe from gun violence.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns has been campaigning to put a stop to senseless gun violence like this with commonsense measures, like fixing gun checks to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. They've started a petition in SignOn.org to demand action on ending gun violence.

Sadly, it often takes moments like these to bring politicians to their senses about guns. And while signing a petition seems so inadequate in the face of what happened last night, it's important to do what we can. Today that means taking a small step toward preventing this kind of tragedy from happening again.

Sign the Mayors Against Illegal Guns petition to our leaders: "Join me in standing with the victims and families of the Aurora, Colorado shooting and pledge to end gun violence."

The people who died at the Colorado theater last night are only 12 of the 34 people statistics tell us will die from gun violence today—and among 19,000 murdered with guns since the attack on Representative Giffords in Tuscon.3

And yet today isn't about statistics. It's about the pain of human loss—the loss suffered by the community of Aurora, Colorado. And the losses to gun violence suffered today and every day by other communities, whose tragic stories won't be covered on the news.

It's in the power of Congress to greatly reduce these senseless shootings and make tragedies like today's far less possible. They can start by enacting commonsense measures, like fixing giant loopholes in gun checks, that are supported by the vast majority of Americans—including gun owners.4

Let our anger today help give them the courage to act tomorrow.

Sign the Mayors Against Illegal Guns petition to our leaders: "Join me in standing with the victims and families of the Aurora, Colorado shooting and pledge to end gun violence."

The strength and support we draw from our friends, families, and communities are never more important than on days like today.

What a crock. More people die on the US roads and highways than are murdered by guns. And we still have drivers licenses being issued. Where is the petition to remove cars from the country?

As for the gun deaths. The numbers are broken down, with the majority being sucicides, another large number being crime/drug related deaths (criminals shot by police, criminals shooting criminals, etc. ), and even less fall into homicides.

How about a petition to educate the public on the actual numbers, and how those are broken down?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...n_U.S._by_year

32,885 auto deaths in 2010

ETA: Note the yearly downward trend from 2007, to 2009, to 2010 in firearm homicides.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datab...crime-us-state

However, the figures themselves are astounding for Brits used to around 600 murders per year. In 2010 - the latest year for which detailed statistics are available - there were 12,996 murders in the US. Of those, 8,775 were caused by firearms.

The FBI crime statistics are based on reports to FBI bureau and local law enforcement. The figures are not complete - there are no stats for Florida on firearm murders and the data for Illinois is "incomplete". But even so it provides a detailed picture of attacks by state.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/homicide.htm

Firearm homicides 2009
•Number of deaths: 11,493
•Deaths per 100,000 population: 3.7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_vio..._United_States

There were 52,447 deliberate and 23,237 accidental non-fatal gunshot injuries in the United States during 2000.[4] The majority of gun-related deaths in the United States are suicides,[5] with 17,352 (55.6%) of the total 31,224 firearm-related deaths in 2007 due to suicide, while 12,632 (40.5%) were homicide deaths.[6]

ETA:http://www.tincher.to/deaths.htm (Note: Go to link if interested in the "Click Here.")

The best way to prevent gun deaths is to treat depression and other mental illness, teach children not to sell or use illegal drugs, treat drug addiction, and have police concentrate on enforcing drug laws. However, the gun control lobby says that we should spend billions of dollars on gun registration and gun licensing instead of using the money to treat depression and combat drugs. Click here for some sensible ways to prevent gun violence.

The accidental gun death rate has been falling since 1930 and US accidental gun deaths per year were down to 613 by 2007, out of the 301,579,895 people in the USA, according to the CDC. For comparison, there were 29,846 accidental deaths by poisoning in 2007, again according to the CDC. Note that it is extremely easy to prevent accidental gun deaths by following Jeff Cooper's Four Rules Of Gun Safety. Click here for a free downloadable brochure that illustrates the four rules.

[Sdiver]

(Reuters) - Mexican President Felipe Calderon condemned U.S. gun laws as "mistaken" and urged Washington to review them after a shooter killed 12 people and injured more than 50 others at a U.S. movie theater on Friday.

Of course he's going to say something like this ..... he's just looking out for his people/countrymen, a majority of which are here in Colorado.

Maybe they should look at these numbers as well:

http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp

Since the outset of the Texas right-to-carry law, the Texas murder rate has averaged 30% lower than it was before the law took effect, while the U.S. murder rate has averaged 28% lower.[115]

Colorado has a sq mileage of 104,093, and had 94 firearm homicides in 2009.

http://stephenewright.com/fromtheblu...guns-by-state/

While Colorado (pop. ~5,100,000), population wise was at about .00002%. in 2009. Looking for data on 2010 for Colorado, and will update if I find any, but basically I don't expect the numbers to change all that much.

Edited to remove mistaken data.

[Paragrouper]

Since the outset of the Texas right-to-carry law, the Texas murder rate has averaged 30% lower than it was before the law took effect, while the U.S. murder rate has averaged 28% lower.[115]

I read an article recently from the Houston Chronicle (before you say anything, I know) expressiing a concern that Texas justifiable homicides rise with 'Castle Doctrine.' I find it disappointing they did not feel it necessary to mention the cooresponding drop in homicides.

Link

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by Sarski

Maybe they should look at these numbers as well:

http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp



The 2010 report issued by The Guardian in the UK reveals 600 firearm deaths in the UK, which has a square mileage of 94,525. (Reference post #80) And they are astounded at our numbers.

Colorado has a sq mileage of 104,093, and had 94 firearm homicides in 2009.

http://stephenewright.com/fromtheblu...guns-by-state/

Population wise, the UK (pop. ~64,600,000) in 2010 was at about .0001% murder by fireams (based on the 600 statistic given by The Guardian) in 2010.

While Colorado (pop. ~5,100,000), population wise was at about .00002%. in 2009. Looking for data on 2010 for Colorado, and will update if I find any, but basically I don't expect the numbers to change all that much.

Edited for clarity.

Since firearms are not nearly as readily available as knives, the UK numbers that I browsed involved fatal stabbing or knife murder. Those appeared to largely emphasize London and not the entire UK (Ireland, Scotland, Wales). I also found many of the UK numbers to be outdated and difficult to nail down a solid number. The road blocks were how they segregate the stats for example 'capital in the 2010-2011 financial year' and 'Teen Stabbings'.

On one report the Guardian even notes:

Unlike gunshot victims, hospitals don't have to report knife related crime. So, the figures below may not paint the complete picture of knife crime across London as they don't account for unreported incidents.

Another dated 2008 report stated:

Almost 130,000 attacks involved knives last year - equivalent to one every four minutes - according to the annual British Crime Survey.

While I didn't feel I could nail down murder by knife, overall violence with knives in the UK appears to be substantial and it exceed gun violence.

[tom kelly]

First: Sorry for the Victims & their familie's and friends. However the use of a firearm to kill inocent people is a crime, and when a firearm is is used it ignites the anti-gun ultra left liberals to call for more restrivtive gun laws. They know that more restrictive laws will not stop the "gun violence" The way of life in The USA today is react to the problem and not the underlstanding of the basic causes that result in this type of behavior. FAMILY & SOCIETY'S VALUES or the lack of them are at the root causes of criminal behavior. Whatever James Holmes was thinking of during the planning of this crime we may never know. May-be we should be thankful he was studying Neuroscience and not NUCLEAR science...TK

[HQ6]

How unfortunate that some want to use this tragedy to further a political platform. The guns didn't kill people... the crazy gun dressed up like the Joker in riot gear killed people. He was perfectly capable of taking out more (without guns) with the rig he had set up in his apartment.

My prayers are with those involved.

Originally Posted by Paslode

Since firearms are not nearly as readily available as knives, the UK numbers that I browsed involved fatal stabbing or knife murder. Those appeared to largely emphasize London and not the entire UK (Ireland, Scotland, Wales). I also found many of the UK numbers to be outdated and difficult to nail down a solid number. The road blocks were how they segregate the stats for example 'capital in the 2010-2011 financial year' and 'Teen Stabbings'...

...
While I didn't feel I could nail down murder by knife, overall violence with knives in the UK appears to be substantial and it exceed gun violence.

Thanks for pointing that out, Paslode. I edited my post above to remove that data, which I misinterpreted.

[G]

Firstly, my thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and all of you who're hurting from this. I've read a lot of these posts, and I think it's sad for the US that the debate always goes to the extremes immediately.

I'll just say this (and yup, I know exactly what's coming my way - see above re: the extremes): societies that cannot handle the responsibility of firearms shouldn't have them freely available. Think about it. YOU can handle it, THEY can't - what are you prepared to live with so that YOU can have any gun you want any way you want? That goes for the place I live too - too many mass shootings before strict gun-laws were brought in. Today in Aus, you CAN own a gun, you just can't carry it around with you in the street. You CAN shoot at the range, you CAN hunt, that's it.

Nothing wrong with licensing and b/round checks and not being able to purchase f/arms and ammunition over the web IMO. You guys will all survive, trust me. At least give a gun-store worker the opportunity to see a face, hear a voice and make a call about whether to report someone to the authorities because he comes across as a whack-job.

Finally, to all of those "wish there were armed people at xx mass shooting" people: three separate shootings in Melbourne over the years where unarmed people stopped a shooter who intended mass murder:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monash_University_shooting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Trob...rsity_shooting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_James_Knight

[Unapologetic Soldier]

The suspect, James Holmes needs to be made an example of. A clear message needs to be sent to any would be shooters of unarmed civilians in our Country. James Holmes should be put on a stage inside a world arena (such as a NFL stadium) viewed by his fellow countrymen and women. The event would be covered by television, radio and internet broadcasting. With every family and friend of the deceased or injured standing in line to get their 30 seconds with him.

I have a feeling if we stopped being so politically correct and started treating the pigs who comment these vile crimes with the same respect and dignity that they treated their victims; we would have a lot less of them so eager to cause undue harm to others.

[GratefulCitizen]

I will not speak nor write the name of the shooter.
In time, he can be referred to simply as "murderer" and by a DOC number.

Let him be tried, punished, and forgotten.

Rather than focus on the shooter let us shine a light on a few heroes.
I'll raise a glass tonight to 3 of them: Jon Blunk, Matt McQuinn and Alex Teves.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...icle-1.1119395

Rest in peace, heroes.

[DIYPatriot]

Originally Posted by GratefulCitizen

I will not speak nor write the name of the shooter.
In time, he can be referred to simply as "murderer" and by a DOC number.

Let him be tried, punished, and forgotten.

Rather than focus on the shooter let us shine a light on a few heroes.
I'll raise a glass tonight to 3 of them: Jon Blunk, Matt McQuinn and Alex Teves.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...icle-1.1119395

Rest in peace, heroes.

Thank you for posting this. As I read that article my blood boiled and not just because I'm enraged by the murderer, but because America lost good people - people that are not afraid to face the wolf in order to protect the flock even when the outcome means they must sacrifice their own life. Tonight, I'll raise a glass with you - to the heroes! Jon Blunk, Matt McQuinn and Alex Teves! Greater love hath no man...