The Parable Of The Sheep

[Haris122]

If the lights had been turned off already, it might not have mattered. Hard to aim for a gas mask when you can't see it, not to mention who you might shoot on accident if people started running and squirming around, and getting in the field of fire in the process. The way that guy was prepared, and the type of environment he struck in was probably one of the toughest situations for someone with concealed carry to really do much good in. One of the few times that excessive penetration in a CC firearm/caliber would actually be desired in. Could a 7.62x25 in something like a CZ-52 make it through the body armor he had on? Anyone know what it was rated at (the Body Armor)?

It seems this guy took the concealed carry unforeseen hero-contingency in mind, and prepared to overcome it, and many others in order to do what he wanted to, sadly.

[Jerry Rapp]

I bet if just one person fired back it would have taken the idiot at least a few seconds to think about it and probably saved several lives. If two or three would have fired back......then he would have probably exited as quick as he could. Even if the shots didn't penetrate the kevlar, he would have been spun for a loop or two. In the end the ambulance chasing lawyers will blame the movie theater for not providing more security and they will pay out the @ss in lawsuits and probably go bankrupt. Sad state of affairs all around.

[Haris122]

Judging by wikipedia, the problem was that he started the shooting during the movie, while most of the theater was dark and not to mention, after throwing a smoke bomb or something masking his sihlouette (sp?) too. Not exactly favorable conditions for accurate return fire, especially around all those people particularly if a bunch of them start bailing out for the door and get caught in the middle. That's the problem. It really seems to be one of those cases where return fire could've either wound up wounding and killing a few more people, or saved the day. The guy really did his homework in that regard (making it hard for people to reply).

[Jerry Rapp]

yep, that Wiki thing knows everything.

[Haris122]

yep, that Wiki thing knows everything.

Come on Jerry, give it some credit that it can accurately compile information from an assortment of news sources and witness/police statements. Certainly it's not infallible, but if these varied sources it cites, say so, then either all of them are fucking their reporting and statements up big time, or that's what happened. What's so hard to believe about it? There were 2 options, he shot them as everyone was still getting seated and the lights were still on, or he propped that exit door open after he entered the theater, went to his car, got his stuff, and came back about half an hour into the movie while all the lights were off so as to not detract from the movie. As simple as that. You have to admit, there's nothing truly far-fetched about option 2 either.

And in this case, it appears option 2 is what's being said to have happened.

[Tim Smith]

Details about the shooter: he had an NIH grant (highly competitive...he would have had to be very bright to pull that off). He had just taken his qualifying exams for his Ph.D. and may or may not have passed (suspecting he didn't pass...unless this guy spoke to absolutely NO ONE, this will eventually be known). He was advertising himself as aspiring scientist and looking for a job as a "lab technician"??? If you're a Ph.D. with NIH funding and the kind of resume this guy had, you don't work as a lab technician. You run the lab. He was also studying mental illnesses...a recent trend.

Failing your qualifying exams is a very big deal....big enough to push a person with marginal mental health over the edge.

Add that to schizophrenia or some other deeper issue and pull the switch and off he goes.

[Mitch f]

Details about the shooter: he had an NIH grant (highly competitive...he would have had to be very bright to pull that off). He had just taken his qualifying exams for his Ph.D. and may or may not have passed (suspecting he didn't pass...unless this guy spoke to absolutely NO ONE, this will eventually be known). He was advertising himself as aspiring scientist and looking for a job as a "lab technician"??? If you're a Ph.D. with NIH funding and the kind of resume this guy had, you don't work as a lab technician. You run the lab. He was also studying mental illnesses...a recent trend.

Failing your qualifying exams is a very big deal....big enough to push a person with marginal mental health over the edge.

Add that to schizophrenia or some other deeper issue and pull the switch and off he goes.

Seems like a guy who didn't pass his entrance exams would be distraught for a few days then learn how to deal with it. Tim, you're right he's got deep issues. We hear from his mother...wheres the father?

[Feathers and Fins]

I have been around guns all my life, I have never seen a gun get out of its holster or case then pry opens its safe unlock the house doors after stealing the car keys drive someplace and shoot anything.

I never will understand people that think guns are the probelm, lets face facts you will never weed out all the nutcases or criminals ever. IF they did not have guns they would make a home made bomb. It only takes a little time on the net to learn how with simple store bought items. I actually am suprised these people have not made a schrapnel grenade yet and done it or a sucide pack. We cannot stop those who want to do us harm if they really want to and keep it under the radar.

Could a CCW stopped it? I doubt it I have been flashbanged and doubt i could have got a shot off at least for a few seconds, Even after i got my head back on Im not sure I could have without possibly hitting others in a dark area. There may have been a chance but i doubt it. We cant screen everyplace we go or be checked everyplace and these nutjobs are out there and will continue to be. It is the world we live in.

[Haris122]

We cant screen everyplace we go or be checked everyplace and these nutjobs are out there and will continue to be. It is the world we live in.

Truth. Additionally, in this case, one gun he had may have prevented it from a worse outcome. I remember reading his AR-15 style rifle jammed. He was using a 100 rd or other high cap drum for it I think it said, and it jammed. I'm guessing dude didn't know not to put much faith in aftermarket high cap magazines, and that contributed to putting one gun out of commission. One thing about guns right there, it takes more effort to learn all the minor ins and outs, before you can properly respond to the assortment of unforseen situations, whereas a home-made bomb, it either goes off or not. There's more possibilities of overlooking something like using a shitty magazine, and dealing with a subsequent jam due to it, if you're too lazy of a wannabe mass murderer, and get the thing barely prior to the act. Unfortunately this guy put a touch more thought into his planning and had backups, even if he didn't know quite how to put the rifle back into the fray.

[Haris122]

Looks like the bit about the body-armor may or may not be true. They list one of his purchases being a tactical vest of sorts. I guess he could've bought body armor in a separate purchase though. Oddly enough the bit about the ballistic helmet was not edited in the wiki page to reflect it as something else, so who knows.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31290458/detail.html

Either way, still a mess of a situation even for a concealed carry related alternate reality.