Did ‘Gun-Free Zone’ Sign at Theater Contribute to Shootings?
The lawyers are now involved in the so-called Batman shootings that took place in Aurora, Colorado. They plan to argue that the theater was negligent when the shooter entered the theater unobstructed and killed 12 and wounded 58 in the July 20th shooting at the Cinemark Century 16 Theater. One of the lawyers investigating a possible suit
“says right now they’re investigating to see if there were any past incidents at the theater and if there should have been more security there. Also in their crosshairs, the mental health professionals suspect James Holmes saw in the past.
“‘Either they did warn, and if they did, who did they warn. And if they failed to warn, should they have warned?’”
Checking bags wouldn’t have caught the shooter since he entered through an emergency door. In most theaters there are no security guards unless the theater gets wind of trouble. The area where the shooting took place is in a low crime neighborhood.
The theater certainly isn’t responsible for knowing about the mental health of everybody that buys a ticket to see a movie.
But there’s another factor that may have contributed to the evil act. While James Holmes is the one ultimately responsible for the shootings, there’s a factor that might explain why James Holmes picked the Aurora movie theater. John R. Lott, Jr. a FOXNews.com contributor, has an interesting take on the shooting:
So why did the killer pick the Cinemark theater? You might think that it was the one closest to the killer’s apartment. Or, that it was the one with the largest audience.
Yet, neither explanation is right. Instead, out of all the movie theaters within 20 minutes of his apartment showing the new Batman movie that night, it was the only one where guns were banned. In Colorado, individuals with permits can carry [a] concealed handgun in most malls, stores, movie theaters, and restaurants. But private businesses can determine whether permit holders can carry guns on their private property.
In fact, the Cinemark movie theater where Holmes went on his rampage “was the only one with a sign posted at the theater’s entrance” restricting guns.
Someone who has in his heart and mind the desire to shoot and kill people is not going to be deterred by a sign. In reality, the sign is an offer of encouragement to him because he knows there won’t be any competition.
Sure enough, after the Aurora shootings, other theaters in the area put up signs banning firearms.
Gun-free zones are a magnet for those who want to kill many people quickly. Even the most ardent gun control advocate would never put “Gun-Free Zone” signs on their home. Let’s stop finally putting them elsewhere.
Defenseless people in movie theaters, churches, and malls are sitting ducks for any hell-bent terrorist or run-of-the-mill nut job.