The Rude Pundit: Man Who Shot Movie Theater Texter Is Using "Stand Your Ground" Defense ...

[davidthegnome]

109. I see your point, but it is now moot.

It became moot when the man with the gun shot the man with the popcorn. Is the man a cold-blooded monster? I would say no - he is more of a hot-blooded monster, but a monster all the same.

Had they gotten into a fist fight, I doubt most of us would be arguing about it. Had the shooter dumped his soda over the younger man's head instead of killing him, I doubt any of us would be arguing about it today. However... what he did, was pull out a gun and SHOOT HIM DEAD - whether it was for the texting, the popcorn, or the argument... is irrelevant at this point.

As a retired police chief, or police officer of any sort, retired or active... the shooter had an obligation to behave responsibly (to, you know, not shoot someone for throwing popcorn at him), to control himself, to know when to walk away - or even perhaps, when to use words or even his hands as opposed to a fire arm. His actions make me wonder what his actions were like when he was on the force. These are NOT the actions of a rational, or even decent man. These are more the actions of a cowardly man - a rational, or decent man, might have used his fists... sure, but he would not have used a fire arm, not in these circumstances.

This isn't being hyped up, or blown out of proportion... this isn't a beating, a tarring and feathering, a heckling, a hazing or a roasting. A man is dead. Yes, he acted foolishly and without consideration for others, but he did not deserve to die for it. A child just lost it's father. Parents just lost their son. This happened because of an angry - and cowardly - man with a gun.

You asked another poster, "What is okay to throw at an old man?" or something of the sort. I would tell you, that it's not nice to throw things at people, but if you feel you must throw something, popcorn is relatively harmless. The general response of a decent, reasonable person, would not be to pull out a fucking gun and shoot you dead.

Situations, heated arguments... foolish macho bull shit, testosterone and chest thumping... all of this becomes moot. A man is dead - there was no need for it. He was not actively engaged in trying to kill someone, or even to harm someone - unless you consider popcorn some kind of weapon? He is dead because of another man, who thought that using his gun was the best solution to a silly, childish conflict.

There are many different types of incidents that suggest gun control is necessary, and they are all pretty heart-breaking.

This story deserves attention, in fact, needs it. We need to see how crazy shit has become in this Country, when a man gets killed by a - trained officer of the law - just because he acted like a jerk.