The NRA gave him the gun and Hollywood gave him the reason: James Holmes and the Aurora Theater Shooting
Gun violence in the United States has made us seem, to the rest of the world, as backwards and primitive. While that may not matter to some Americans, and in fact, some may actually take pride in that point, it should matter. Everyday, 8 children die by gun violence in the United States. Every year, approximately 12,000 Americans are murdered by guns. That means every year, four times the total number of Americans KIA from the entire Iraq war are murdered by guns.
In Japan, a nation of 130 million, in 2008 fewer Japanese (total of 11) were murdered by guns that entire year than the 12 Americans who died in Aurora, Colorado last Friday morning watching the latest Batman movie (see "Aurora Theater Shooting" by Allison Sherry and Sarah Simmons of The Denver Post).
And while some people self-righteously claim this is not the time to "politicize" the Aurora theater shootings, if gun advocates are sincere in their belief that more guns will save lives, then this is exactly the time to make that point. If gun advocates really believe that an armed citizen could have stopped James Holmes, then why wouldn't they make that point right now of all times? My suspicion is the reason they are not, and instead are relying on indignation, is that they don't even believe their own "more guns makes us safer" nonsense. When, in the entire history of the United States, has an armed citizen stopped a gun massacre? As far as I know, the next time it happens it will be the first time.
The reason, I believe, not one gun rampage has ever been stopped by a armed citizen is because even if a member of the public was armed, his natural instinct would be to run away and not confront an aggressive, determined shooter, particularly one like Holmes in protective body armor. Plenty of gun owners think they are Audie Murphy when they are the range shooting at paper targets or in the field shooting at unarmed moose, but in the moment of battle, I doubt very many, if any, would react quite like they think they would. It takes more than a gun to make one a hero. It takes months of training every single day to have the necessary skill, and even more importantly, the discipline to do the job. That is why so much of military training is devoted to esprit de corp, drill, and seemingly unnecessary, but absolutely vital, ceremony and ritual.
One other point I would like to make though is not about guns, but about Hollywood. From the news reports I have seen it seems Holmes was fascinated by Batman, and in particular, the villains. It is time, not only to ban private ownership of guns, just like Japan, but to examine the trash culture Hollywood pushes. It's time we examined Hollywood's money making machine glorification of anti-social, alpha male characters (I call it "alpha male-itis") like the Joker and Tony Montana. The NRA may have provided Holmes the means, but Hollywood provided the motivation.
There is a strong culture of aggression developing in America today which is pretty psychotic. You can see it when you accidentally bump into a stranger on the street, you can see it on the highway when someone explodes in road rage, you can see it in a bar when knife-fights break out over the smallest things, you can see it on the Internet when people start attacking each other in profanity-ridden tirades, you can see it on television shows that glorify mobsters and biker gangs, you can certainly see it in our political landscape, and you can even see it in 8-year-olds who exhibit large amounts of "attitude." Something is very wrong here.
Considering the destructive and dysfunctional message Hollywood pimps for a cheap buck, maybe it's time Congress imposed a sin tax on Hollywood movies to make up for the cost to the rest of society. There is no reason a sin tax should just apply to gambling, alcohol, and tobacco when Hollywood trash is just as dangerous.
Comments (8)
Read through and enter the discussion by using the form at the endBob Law - July 25, 2012 2:35 PM
Just because you say something doesn't make it true... And proving a point by giving an example of something that didn't happen is almost impossible, but in this case I can oblige you. Here is one very relevant example of a "massacre" that was stopped by a concealed carry license holder. It's relevant because it happened this year in Aurora, Colorado. There are literally hundreds more examples on the web and in police records, but you're a smart guy, I bet you already knew that. Facts are so inconvenient for you and your ilk.
http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/12175-two-aurora-shootings-one-widely-known-the-other-ignored
Bob Law - July 25, 2012 2:50 PM
Here's another example... This was a good one, I thought, because the crazy guy had a knife, but had to be stopped by a citizen with a gun. They're easy to find. Apparently the truth doesn't fit your narrative.
I'll stop now. Hopefully I've made my point.
http://www.abc4.com/content/about_4/bios/story/conceal-and-carry-stabbing-salt-lake-city-smiths/NDNrL1gxeE2rsRhrWCM9dQ.cspx
Gala - July 26, 2012 9:34 AM
VERY VERY VERY INTELLIGENT ANALYSIS. I
totally agree with you, both on the gun issue and on Hollywood glorification of violence. I have a 12 year-old boy and the only thing he has been exposed to since birth by the entertainment industry is: monsters, zombies, vampires, and people fighting fighting fighting all the time. No matter how hard I try to make him aware of the violent images and messages kids (and people) are constantly bombarded with in the name of Money, the fascination is there...all he gets to see "outside" the home is "this", all the kids talk about at school is "this".... Sometimes I feel really angry at innocence stolen from children by the mainstream, profit-ridden, LETHAL culture of entertainment. I wish I could stop them to spread gloom and "ugliness" around the world! They should be held responsible for the spreading of violence around the globe.
Kind regards from Italy,
Gala.
Vladimir Gagic - July 26, 2012 2:16 PM
thank you for the kind words Gala. I've noticed that Americans who have spent time in Europe and overseas elsewhere have a different viewpoint about guns and TV glorification of violence. I have met many people from Eastern Europe, who live in Arizona now and are survivors of brutal wars, who are terrified by the fact Americans are obsessed with guns. It's sad that this many innocent people die every day yet we as a nation can't get past the cheap macho, testosterone power gun ownership brings.
Ciao!
Vladimir Gagic - July 26, 2012 2:19 PM
another point, Gala, and I'm sure you have noticed this, but Americans have always struck me as extremely practical and no nonsense. That's why it is so astounding to me that they would let the dangerous appeal of guns get in the way of their better judgment.
Gala - July 29, 2012 7:06 AM
Thank you for your response Vladimir! I am actually not American (100% italiana :-) but lived in London for 8 years, hence my fluent English. I have never lived outside Europe and cannot comment on American culture having not had any direct experience myself. What I can say though is that the way we, generally, perceive the US here in Europe is: a country of huge contradictions: amazing opportunities, some brilliant minds, friendly and down-to-earth people, progressive thinking and politically correctness on the one hand, obscene junk food culture resulting in a great number of uber-obese people, glorification of violence, celebrity worshipping, obsession with religion and patriotism, Hollywood superheroes dichotomous brainwashing (good vs evil), GUN CULTURE and incredibly easy access to them, on the other hand. How, do you think, this huge gap between these 2 "sides" of America could be narrowed? Why, do you think, America is more "extreme" than Europe (I do not mean it as a criticism, I truly am interested in constructive discussions+exchange of ideas). I would like to make a point in assuring everyone reading that I am NOT implying Europeans are superior to Americans etc etc. I do not believe (and try to stay away from) in any binary thought of any kind (superior vs inferior, white vs black, man vs woman, straight vs gay, young vs old etc etc etc etc etc)+ it goes without saying we, (Europe), are very FAR from being the "perfect" society! I actually wish Western people JOINED TOGETHER in making things better for (them)our-selves who all have, I am sure, to deal daily with a lot of subtle and not so subtle different forms of cruelty which are, in turn, the main cause for the endemic unhappiness and aggressiveness in our "rich", psychotic, ego-centred societies. Also Valdimir, to be concrete: is there anything which could be done to ask for the BAN of violent videogames and films?? I mean, how is it possible that children and teens can legally buy videos and films which would have any mentally sane adult horrified?? Shouldn't they be made illegal and the people making these games taken to court? Am I being too naive here? I know, it's all about money, STILL, how can our so-called democratic violence condemning societies get away with so much hypocrisy? HOW? Couldn't we form some kind of INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT to make this a top issue? Couldn't we "sue" our governments for not protecting our children in their rights of living in a free-violence world? IS THERE ANYTHING THAN CAN BE DONE TO STOP the spread a "culture" that normalise and glorify violence and murder? I do not want my son to breath gloom and blood at the cost of 50 euros per game (!), just because people are sick and greedy beyond belief. PS: I do not allow my son to buy violent videogames (neither does he wish to), still....we bought James Bond 007 for the Wii thinking there would be a "story" to it and not the usual mindless jumping up and down trying to eliminate obstacles, and...my God, It was really scary! The only thing you can see throughout the whole game is a hand with a gun shooting and the whole screen red in drippling blood!! My son never played that videogame again.
Sorry Vladimir for this long post, hope I have not bored you! Please let me know what you think could be done. It is very important to me.
Have a bright and positive week ahead, ciao :-)
Guns4cillivians - October 21, 2012 12:34 PM
Here it happened and it wasn't the first time. http://deadlinelive.info/2012/08/07/armed-citizen-in-tx-stops-shooting-spree-and-saves-cop-by-making-150-yard-shot-with-a-pistol/
Guns4cillivians - October 21, 2012 12:48 PM
My first comment was just after reading your article. I did a little more homework on you. I really can't believe that some one with your education level similar to my own would want to defile our 2nd amendment right. Over thousands of years of different governments and civilizations have been corrupt by people with power. Our constitution is the only one in the history of the world that gives every American the right to defend itself against its own government if it becomes too corrupt and power hungry. Nameless country's over seas have murdered millions of there own country men who where standing up for there freedoms and oppression. The government had guns yet these men knew what was going on and what was wrong. They fought back with flaming bottles and rocks at some points. As long as people like you never get into politics, our country will never have that fear. You may have your personal beliefs about guns sir, but our founding fathers whom where a group of well educated men came to gather put there differences aside and wrote our bill of rights to protect the liberty's that should be free for every person.