A thought about the guy shot by a cop at a Florida movie theater..

[busterbrown]

Chad Oulson.... I hate the NRA, I hate our loose gun laws, I hate fucking guns. That being said.

This guy had a family with young kids.. Appears to me he was more concerned defending his ground
rather than acting with intelligence.. If thats me and I’m with my loved ones (family) I simply asses quickly that this guy is a freaking nut and I better move.. In other words, protect myself because my family needs me and I am totally responsible for their well being..

I hope the cop spends the rest of his life in jail.

But my point is: Drop your macho ego when you find yourself in these kind of positions.. Walk the fuck away...

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/01/man_killed_texting_movie_theater_retired_cop_shooting_florida.html

[Laurian]

1. That's a little too close to blaming the victim for me.

[busterbrown]

3. Not at all...

Not even close..Just trying to make some sense of it all hoping that what I posted might send a victim with this type of situation in a different direction the next time..

[Laurian]

11. I hate that our gun crazed society makes people feel

they should cower and run away from every situation for fear of being gunned down. Apparently only those with guns are allowed to stand their ground.

[marew]

31. I agree.

But if I was noisy or distracting on the phone to those around me in the theater- even during the previews- I would have taken my phone into the lobby for a minute to do what I had to do. I guess I was taught manners which is really good- especially since there are so many hot-shots with guns around. It just is not worth it!
No one can deny this was a disaster waiting to happen at some point. It is simply not a good choice to antagonize people. You never know if the dude close to you is either high or nuts or both.

[Hoyt]

2. I agree. But, the guy with the gun is the one in the best position to end things.

The Zimmermans, Dunns, etc., have total control over the situation, and should walk away even if slapped in the face.

Agree that Oulson could have just laughed in his face and left. But he didn't and the old guy -- who left his house armed and, therefore, ready to take things to the extreme -- had the last chance to end things without a bullet.

I understand your point, but in no way do I find Oulson even minutely responsible for his own death.

[busterbrown]

4. Completely agree!! n/t

[JI7]

7. the old fuck would have shot him for laughing at him , he was looking for any chance to shoot someon

that's hwy he started it in the first place.

if he was seriously annoyed he would have gotten someone who worked there to do something.

[Hoyt]

10. I believe there comes a time when old folks should be relieved of their gunz, just like their keys.

I also think younger folks on certain meds should have to turn in their gunz, at least for time being.

But, oh no, the gun lobby has been quite effective in thwarting that.

[ladjf]

28. You are blaming this incident on the fact that the shooter was an old person.

Do you have any data that corroborates your theory that "old folks should be relieved of the gunz" because of their age.

This killing had nothing to do with age, in my opinion.

[Hoyt]

34. As a cantankerous old guy, it would not be safe for society for me to tote.

The NRA has been quite successful in stopping funding from such studies, and that's a fact. Check it out.

[ladjf]

38. Here is the murder data for the U.S. in 2010 compiled by the FBI

There were 121 murders by people 70 yrs old or older. There were 15,094 in all.

That shows that people 70 or older caused about .008% of the murders.

By contrast people under 70 killed 14,973 during the same time period. That was 0.99198357% of all murders that year.

Older people have their problems but killing people doesn't appear to be one them.



http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10shrtbl03.xls

[Hoyt]

39. Fine, go to a nursing home where the guy in the bed next to you is well armed.

[proudretiredvet]

20. None of this should have happened.

This guy should not have been shot and I do not believe that SYG is going to keep the shooter out of prison. He should never have pulled that trigger.

But this statement is simply not supported.

"but in no way do I find Oulson even minutely responsible for his own death."

This incident was just a verbal exchange until the guy who was shot tossed a container of popcorn in the old guys face. Up to that point in time no laws had been broken, there had been no physical exchange. I do not in any way suggest that this action justifies the taking of a life, but he did in fact ignite a fuse by assaulting another person.

Hindsight and reality tell us that both played some part in this but breaking the rules by texting in a theater should never have become a capital offense.

To correct another assertion. The shooter did in fact leave the theater and seek assistance from theater management. That manager told him that he was dealing with another situation and would respond and deal with this situation directly.

That leads us to the final question. Why did he shoot someone when he knew he had won the argument? Oulson had clearly broken the rules in front of many witnesses. The old guy would have prevailed without firing a shot. He did not need to shoot this guy to win anything. He already had.

[Hoyt]

35. As poster above said, getting close to blaming the victim.

[JI7]

5. why do assume he was trying to be tough ? seemed more like he got annoyed at the gun nut

and just responded as such.

the old fuck was hoping for a chance to shoot someone.

most normal people might have asked someone who worked there to do something or even at worst some "f offs" to each other and it would have stayed at that.

but we are dealing with gun nuts here.

[busterbrown]

14. Because I could see myself doing the same thing...

Standing your ground today, is not the same as it was when I was a kid.. Too many fucking nuts walking around looking to get off!! I’m saying just be aware and act smart..

[steve2470]

6. I think Mr. Oulson probably reacted...

My guess as to the scenario:

Shooter: Hey you asshole, turn off your texting !

Oulson: WTF you calling me asshole for, YOU ASSHOLE ?? *Throws popcorn at shooter guy*

*Bam*

Maybe Oulson could have walked away easily, but someone calling me an asshole in a movie theater *might* get it back from me.

[busterbrown]

16. Yea and with the accessibility of guns and their presence on the streets..

your tactical move might end up leading to a tragedy for you and your loved ones..

[steve2470]

18. Oh trust me, if at all possible, I'm walking away

The only point I was making is, sometimes raw emotion at the moment trumps logic. Hopefully I will never be in that situation.

[busterbrown]

19. Me the fuck too!! But I can be an a hole sometimes, to myself!!n/t

[seabeyond]

22. i think that is the point and what i tell my teenage boys. one cannot even necessarily stand up for

themselves today, nonthreatening. cause all anyone has to do is pull out a gun.

what a world

and i know that includes me, a woman.

[bullwinkle428]

8. Sorry - Reeves (shooter) was the guy trying to stand his ground. I don't

see any reason why Oulson should have felt compelled to walk out of the theater. If Reeves was so fricking bothered by the texting, he could have summoned theater personnel, but NO - he had to be Captain Macho, and settle it on his own terms.

[etherealtruth]

9. That advice is better suited for the nut with the gun

If someone annoys you ... WALK AWAY

[Hoyt]

12. Gun fanciers claim they are better behaved when toting. I don't believe em.

[busterbrown]

15. They can’t get off doing that!!!

You can’t believe that a gun nutter will ever walk away from a situation.. They are looking for situations..

[etherealtruth]

17. Oh I don't believe the rabid "gun enthusiasts" will ever walk away (just that they should)

... and agree they are on alert for situations in which they feel justified to shoot ... Florida appears to promote this nuttery with their laws. If they actually convict folk for murdering people in these situations ... perhaps they can begin to decrease the frequency of nuts gone wild

[busterbrown]

21. This guy will do some major time...But probably will be out by the time he’s 82..

That sucks!!!

[etherealtruth]

23. I would hope Florida would start addressing these murders

... committed in the "spirit" of standing one's ground (ie killing folk that scare and or annoy you)

[polichick]

13. Yes, in this locked-and-loaded country, walking away is a survival strategy.

[Gothmog]

24. I disagree with the premise of the OP

The concept that you have to live in fear of what a person may do is simply wrong. This shooter should be put away for live and should not be granted bail. He is a danger to society. The correct response is to throw the book at idiots like the shooter and make examples of these idiots. If enough of these gun nuts are put away, then maybe we can bring back some sanity.

[busterbrown]

25. That ain’t gonna happen for awhile!

The book probably will be thrown at this guy..He’ll probably die in jail...But if you think locking these guys (nuts) up for life is gonna scare them..Well....Its just not gonna happen.. Especially with the Stand Your Ground Laws.. This creep, you know, will probably invoke this fucked up defense...

[Skittles]

26. there's not much doubt Mr. Oulson was an asshole

but your assessment is very much correct

I think I helped to diffuse a situation in a parking lot - a guy in a car was screaming at a young woman with a child - I told him, sir, whatever you are angry about it is not worth scaring that little girl.....he glared at me but then drove off

[busterbrown]

27. It amazes me sometimes how I can react with such anger when being cut off when driving..

Just one example.. I violently restrain myself (slap my head) ha.. But seriously when looking back am always glad that I rode away..

[SomethingFishy]

29. "Walk the fuck away" Agreed.

I have been doing that my whole life. I have no need to prove how "right" I am, and I certainly am not going to get into it with some neanderthal over texting in a movie theater. And while I am a big fan of turn off your goddamn phone at the movies, a quick trip to find an usher is a more human response...

[spin]

30. Your excellent advise to just walk away also applies to any civilian who has a carry permit. ...

Any good class on carrying a concealed weapon will emphasize this fact.

The last thing any rational citizen who was legally carrying a firearm would do is to get into an argument that could escalate into a fight. Once I started to carry a handgun, I became a much more polite individual. If I get into a discussion with someone and he appears to be becoming angry, I will simply apologize and walk away. It really doesn't matter to me if it makes me look like a coward to others.

Actually I learned this lesson first when I took an excellent martial arts class many years ago. My instructor often informed the class that we should only use the skills he would teach us when absolutely necessary to prevent serious injury or death.

It simply amazes me that an ex-cop with a background as a retired police captain would mistake a thrown bag of popcorn as a lethal attack. Still not all cops are nice guys and some have a strong authoritarian complex.

Closer look at Curtis Reeves shows theater shooter's two sides
Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer
Friday, January 17, 2014 5:27pm

***snip***

Those who remember the 71-year-old when he was a Tampa police officer decades ago say he was loud and always sure of himself, qualities that caused some co-workers to dislike or fear him. Old police evaluations mention a hot temper, forceful personality and inflexibility.

Later, as security director at Busch Gardens, Reeves instituted sweeping changes. They impressed higher-ups but irked longtime employees.

"It was like, 'There's a new sheriff in town,' " former employee Dave Cock recalled. "He was used to telling people what to do, and they would do it."
http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/closer-look-at-curtis-reeves-shows-theater-shooters-two-sides/2161618

[FSogol]

32. Translation: We wouldn't have a gun problem if it wasn't for all these damn victims.

[busterbrown]

33. Victims????

Try prey.....A bit clearer..

[ecstatic]

36. Sometimes your brain won't let you walk away...

Even when scared shitless. A lot of this stuff is predestined, IMO.

[3catwoman3]

37. One would hope that a retired...

...cop would be better at defusing just such situations. A very poor representative of his profession.

[HappyMe]

40. I can see what you're saying here.

The whole thing could have been avoided had Oulson stepped into the corridor or lobby to do the texting. Flinging popcorn at an already way too angry man wasn't a wise plan either.

Sometimes just walking away is the best thing to do.

[busterbrown]

41. many felt I was blaming the victim...

Hardly!!! Too many guns around to take chances..Also the horrible state of our economy plays into this as well.. Many many, freaking people going insane trying to stay afloat..Drink and then go to the gun closet..