The Colorado Shootings
Note: As Waking Ideas is intended to be a catalyst for interesting dinner conversation, we try to focus on the positive, exciting things people create. However with the inevitable conversations happening across the country about the tragic event in Colorado, we will spend a few posts covering both the event and the actions in response to it. The same attention will be given to events that impact the dinner table conversations on a national level in the future.
As always we welcome different points of view and encourage those who wish to submit guest opinion editorials to do so.
Recently in America, the movie The Dark Knight Rises made its premier. During the opening night, particularly a midnight showing of the film 12 people were killed and 59 were injured (most of them critically) when a masked gunman reportedly kicked open an exit door and opened fire during that premier showing of The Dark Knight Rises at a mall in Aurora, Colorado.
Police reports and witness testimonies indicate that a gunman fired into the audience 15 minutes into the midnight showing of the film. Police are now confirming that the shooter, who entered theater number 9 dressed in black semi tactical garb and wearing a gas mask, released a canister filled with gas, then fired a rifle multiple times into the audience.
One witness described the suspect as wearing a SWAT-like outfit. Aurora police chief Dan Oates said that 10 died during the attack, and several more died in area hospitals. According to reports, several children, including a three-month-old and a six-year-old girl, were among those treated at those nearby hospitals.
Warner Brothers issued the following after the attack:
“Warner Bros. is deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident. We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time.”
Christopher Nolan Issued the following:
Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of “The Dark Knight Rises”, I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community. I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families.
Christian Bale issued the following:
“Words cannot express the horror that I feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them.”
Gary Oldman issued the following:
“My prayers and deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families of this horrific act.”
Ann Hathaway issued the following:
“My heart aches and breaks for the lives taken and altered by this unfathomably senseless act. I am at a loss for words how to express my sorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”
Kim Ledger, the father of the late Heath Ledger, issued the following:
“It’s terrible – the whole circumstances. It’s diabolical. I am appalled. The guy’s obviously a nut case. He has obviously lost it.
I think what America should be doing is restricting the availability of ammunition or revisiting their gun laws – that’s what they should be doing.
We can’t blame Heath or the character. It’s fictitious. I don’t know what this does to the character. I think that’s the least of my worries.”
While the situation is appalling, the media and people in general unfortunately seem to try and shift the majority of the blame from the shooter and whatever his reasoning was, to aspects of the Batman character and its mythos, due to the simple fact that the shooter told authorities that he was “the joker” and dyed his hair orange as tribute.
People are now crying out for stricter gun control.
I want to avoid talking about my stance for this. However I may feel for the peoples cry for more control, I can say only this, we cant blame anyone, not the batman comics, the Nolan movies, any of it, aside from the man himself. It is his fault, his alone, and no one else. We cannot try to look for logic, reasoning, or inspiration in a mad man. It cant be done, and it shouldn’t. I feel that the media is trying to do all it can to discredit the Constitution for this mans mistake. Citing maybe if we had better control it wouldn’t have happened. No matter how much we try to control people, bad things still happen. And taking any sort of freedom away to try and ensure that, would make America all the more dangerous.
It was his fault, and his alone.
“Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”
-Benjamin Franklin
