Man shot over texting in movie theater

[Reverend Conehead]

A while back I posted a thread over how annoyed I was by goobers texting in movie theaters. It turned into a heated thread with most people agreeing with me. Now I hear about someone getting shot over texting in the theater. I very much understand his frustration, but sheeeeeshh!! It's not worth committing murder over. I would very much hope we're all in agreement about that. Here's the story:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/texting-triggers-fatal-movie-theater-shooting/story?id=21517988

A followup to the prior thread:
I got sick and tired of going to the dollar theater and having to complain to the security guard every single time about people texting, so I just quit going. Instead, I drive 20 miles to go to a better theater that shows only independent and foreign films. A higher class of people go there and it doesn't have the problem of people being rude with their cells. It's more expensive and farther away, but I make it affordable by not going as often. Quality over quantity.

But to actually shoot someone over this ... sheesh!!! That's nuts.

 

[FloridaRob]

I have been to that theatre before. I have also gotten into it with people talking loudly or on the phone during a movie (not at this theatre) but either went and got management or moved to another part of the theatre. still in this case, the movie had not started yet and there were only 25 people in the theatre. I would never say anything until the movie started anyway but this guy apparently could not wait. The loony gunmen had several options available to him rather than shoot someone. Hope he spends the rest of his sorry life in jail. Apparently he was a former police officer so he probably already had the tough guy complex before this happened. Now a 3 year old has no dad and a wife is now a widow. Over texting. Jeesh!!!! The guy will probably get off because apparently the victim threw popcorn on the shooter. The guy will claim stand your ground because the younger guy threatened him with the popcorn. This is sad.

On a different angle, I spoke to a friend of mine who says he rarely carries his gun on him but one place he makes sure to bring it is in the movies. Because of all the recent craziness in movie theatres. Can't blame him I guess.

 

[CashMan]

I do not condone the shooting of someone, for something like this.

I think with text messaging, people do not understand how rude, and annoying it is. People who text in areas like this, have no manners, and do not consider other people around them. In Illinois, on Jan 1, they banned talking on the phone while driving. I can not tell you how many times I have seen people chatting on the phone, while driving. People just do not care about other people any more. Technology is not always a good thing, I do wish sometimes, we could go back to the 1940's or 50's when it comes to technology.

 

[FloridaRob]

just read on a local news site that the shooter felt threatened for his life by the popcorn thrown at him. So he took out his gun and shot him. What a world we live in now. No bond now but would be surprised if he sees prison that he deserves.

 

[HeavyBarrel]

Based on what I've seen, he better go to jail.....

 

[joseephuss]

So the shooter was an ex-cop.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

His life was threatened by popcorn? Okay, he's obviously got a screw loose and should not carry a gun. Even if the person were drunk and shouting stuff during the movie, you don't go and shoot him. Complain to security or management.

Sometimes in theaters I've been upset enough to feel like grabbing the person's phone and smashing it. But I didn't. You've got to have self control.

 

[vlad]

I do not condone the shooting of someone, for something like this.

I think with text messaging, people do not understand how rude, and annoying it is. People who text in areas like this, have no manners, and do not consider other people around them. In Illinois, on Jan 1, they banned talking on the phone while driving. I can not tell you how many times I have seen people chatting on the phone, while driving. People just do not care about other people any more. Technology is not always a good thing, I do wish sometimes, we could go back to the 1940's or 50's when it comes to technology.

Come on, technology or anything outside doesn't turn people into jerks - that's just how those people are. I'm sure someone in the 40s was getting pissed off about cars and wishing we could just go back to buggies because of the noise and crazy kids driving nuts. I wish we could live somewhere where people didn't think it necessary to carry a gun into a freaking movie theater.

Unreal as I'm reading this I see there was another school shooting in NM. Most telling about the state of things is it was like the 3rd sub bullet on CNN...the headline was Christie and his traffic nonsense.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

So the shooter was an ex-cop.

I believe he was the former Police Chief.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Come on, technology or anything outside doesn't turn people into jerks - that's just how those people are. I'm sure someone in the 40s was getting pissed off about cars and wishing we could just go back to buggies because of the noise and crazy kids driving nuts. I wish we could live somewhere where people didn't think it necessary to carry a gun into a freaking movie theater.

Unreal as I'm reading this I see there was another school shooting in NM. Most telling about the state of things is it was like the 3rd sub bullet on CNN...the headline was Christie and his traffic nonsense.

On the other hand, all of those old people probably wish that they didn't have to feel as if they needed to carry guns. Doors have a funny way of swinging both ways on things like this.

 

[FloridaRob]

local reports say the shooter stalked a young girl who was texting during a movie following her to the bathroom waiting outside for her and tried to intimidate her. Police are looking for the surveillance tape. Also, the police say this old fool has had absolutely no remorse about what happened. Judge already says that Stand your ground does not apply here because Popcorn is not considered to be a threat

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I do not condone the shooting of someone, for something like this.

I think with text messaging, people do not understand how rude, and annoying it is. People who text in areas like this, have no manners, and do not consider other people around them. In Illinois, on Jan 1, they banned talking on the phone while driving. I can not tell you how many times I have seen people chatting on the phone, while driving. People just do not care about other people any more. Technology is not always a good thing, I do wish sometimes, we could go back to the 1940's or 50's when it comes to technology.

and birth control, cars, TV, air travel etc?

nah you don't

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

just read on a local news site that the shooter felt threatened for his life by the popcorn thrown at him. So he took out his gun and shot him. What a world we live in now. No bond now but would be surprised if he sees prison that he deserves.

well you know movie popcorn has the weird butter flavouring on it, maybe he felt threatened that the butter would get into his arteries and kill him in 20 years

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I personally don't text during a movie, but really don't see what the problem is. Talking during a movie is annoying because it is a distraction. Texting is so easily ignored, that I really believe that the people who are bothered by it, just don't like texting.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I do not condone the shooting of someone, for something like this.

I think with text messaging, people do not understand how rude, and annoying it is. People who text in areas like this, have no manners, and do not consider other people around them. In Illinois, on Jan 1, they banned talking on the phone while driving. I can not tell you how many times I have seen people chatting on the phone, while driving. People just do not care about other people any more. Technology is not always a good thing, I do wish sometimes, we could go back to the 1940's or 50's when it comes to technology.

texting/operating a cell phone while driving is dangerous to everyone on the road with you. how is texting in a movie theatre comparable? how does it really effect you? if the sound is off, you really shouldn't notice.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

I personally don't text during a movie, but really don't see what the problem is. Talking during a movie is annoying because it is a distraction. Texting is so easily ignored, that I really believe that the people who are bothered by it, just don't like texting.

There's a time and place for everything. Texting in the lobby, in the park, at home, whatever, no problem. Texting in a movie theater = big problem. Texting while driving = bigger problem. Movie theaters are dark and those phones glow. They're very distracting. Anyone who texts in a theater should be kicked out. There's no reason whatsoever to text during a movie. If something truly can't wait, then the person should take his phone to the lobby and make the text or call there. But to bother people trying to watch a movie is totally unacceptable.

They shouldn't be shot for it, though, just kicked out.

 

[Rockport]

I have been to that theatre before. I have also gotten into it with people talking loudly or on the phone during a movie (not at this theatre) but either went and got management or moved to another part of the theatre. still in this case, the movie had not started yet and there were only 25 people in the theatre. I would never say anything until the movie started anyway but this guy apparently could not wait. The loony gunmen had several options available to him rather than shoot someone. Hope he spends the rest of his sorry life in jail. Apparently he was a former police officer so he probably already had the tough guy complex before this happened. Now a 3 year old has no dad and a wife is now a widow. Over texting. Jeesh!!!! The guy will probably get off because apparently the victim threw popcorn on the shooter. The guy will claim stand your ground because the younger guy threatened him with the popcorn. This is sad.

On a different angle, I spoke to a friend of mine who says he rarely carries his gun on him but one place he makes sure to bring it is in the movies. Because of all the recent craziness in movie theatres. Can't blame him I guess.

I think this guy will spend some time behind bars. And rightfully so. Stand your ground doesn't apply in this case.

 

[Rockport]

texting/operating a cell phone while driving is dangerous to everyone on the road with you. how is texting in a movie theatre comparable? how does it really effect you? if the sound is off, you really shouldn't notice.

I guess you haven't been to a movie theater lately. Because it's so dark in the theater, the light from the phone during the movie can be seen everywhere. Everywhere.

 

[Aggie87]

There's a time and place for everything. Texting in the lobby, in the park, at home, whatever, no problem. Texting in a movie theater = big problem. Texting while driving = bigger problem. Movie theaters are dark and those phones glow. They're very distracting. Anyone who texts in a theater should be kicked out. There's no reason whatsoever to text during a movie. If something truly can't wait, then the person should take his phone to the lobby and make the text or call there. But to bother people trying to watch a movie is totally unacceptable.

They shouldn't be shot for it, though, just kicked out.

Generally agree when the movie is showing, but when it's 20 minutes before the movie starts, who really cares?

 

[MapleLeaf]

Its a sad day when a gun is a required item to go the movie theatre. Why would you go to a show when you need a gun to feel safe? Isn't it cheaper to get Netflix of download from a torrent site?

For the potential years of jail he could be facing I would spend the money on a home theatre system and stay home if you can't go out without your gun.

Sheesh!