So there has been some terrible news. After a man texted at the movies, disturbing other guests, an argument erupted before the man who texted was shot to death.

Here is the story: http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/justice/florida-movie-theater-shooting/

Often those opposed to Gun Control will use the line a reasoning "why would murders follow gun laws?", but is this an example of how that's not always true? This is a terrible thing, but does it raise any questions on Gun Control? Or is this such a rare case that it has no bearing on the issue?

I think this was just a one off. I am not a regular police man would commit a pointless murder. This guy just looks as though he was not right for the job if he had some sort of anger issue.
I think the most the police man should of done was restrain the texter if the argument was escalating.

MechaMento : He wasn't a policeman anymore, he was retired, just watching a movie like everyone else.

Light Knight : When it comes to someone's life, why does rarity matter? Numerically speaking, one life isn't worth as much as a dozen lives. But when you talk to individuals, the life of one person they care for is worth more than a 1,000 people they have never even met. Just because the majority of the country wasn't personally harmed by knowing the person killed, that means the issue is too rare to be worth anything? 

In my opinion, this has absolutely no bearing on the gun control debate. Whether gun control laws were in place or not, this guy obviously had no intention of following the rules. Why would he follow gun control laws, when he's already breaking the rule of a gun free zone? Gun control laws will not stop criminals from obtaining and using guns, it'll just make it a bit harder for them. In addition, the victims will not be able to protect themselves as in this situation.

This retired police officer needs to rot in a cell for a long long time. There's no reason why he should have drawn a gun, it's texting! Yeesh.

rcarter2 : This posts confuses me because you replied to me directly. My post simply asked the question 'do you believe that its rarity matters', and not that I think it does.

Light Knight : Yeah, I thought about that after I posted it. I did not get the impression you were saying it is. I was more just answering a specific part of the question with another question. Sorry I did that in a confusing way

As a retired cop, the guy would have cleared all gun control legislation anyway so that point is moot. Those with concealed carry permits (like retired cops) can take a gun to a theater.

Now, shooting a guy for texting, that is a bit extreme. The movie hadn't even started yet, and there are WAY better methods of handling such a situation. Now a man is dead, his wife is injured from trying to shield him with her hand, and their three year old daughter no longer has a father.

Seriously... what is wrong with people in Florida?

I am a firm believer in the right to bear arms for self protection. I think this was a rare case and not an upward trend. My question is was their something wrong with the shooter and what caused him to go off over a guy texting. I do not feel like gun control is the answer. For example, Chicago has tight gun control and over 600 people got shot last year. Washington DC has some of the toughest gun laws and yet they are still in the top 10 along with Chicago as America's most dangerous city. What I would like to know is if the shooter was mentally disturbed that someone texting sent him off or what? 

I am not trolling by no means just giving my opinion

I wouldn't be surprised if the ex-cop had some sort of trauma from his years on the force, causing his horrible lapse in judgement. I don't think it's a matter of tightening gun control here, this was just an individual who had some sort of instability.

Don't know how retired or ex-cops are handled in the force, but I'd recommend a psyche evaluation when they are done with their service since it can be a mentally draining/wrecking job. Maybe also when entering a facility, a gun owner should have to let the staff know they are entering with a gun and show their permit/license.

In any case, this was a horrible incident, and I wish the family the best in trying to recover.

I am for gun control but when it comes to those people who cant turn of their phones in a movie theatre, I feel a lot less dogmatic about it.

The man who was killed was armed with a box of popcorn which he threw at the 71 year old, the most logical response the 71 year old retired cop could think of was to shoot to kill this man instead of handling the conflict a different way.

I think people should be allowed to conceal carry a weapon for protection, but I also think people need to be psychologically evaluated to be able to carry a permit. Which would obviously be easier to enforce than to try to ban guns altogether. If someone's crazy, or delusional and senile, we should try to keep guns away from them, like we would with children. It's a rare case yes, it doesn't mean it was impossible to prevent.

Brigand : The movie hadn't started yet and the guy was talking to his three-year old. I hate people that text in the movies but not that much... and not during the pre-movie part.

Elara :

Even during previews it annoying.

Ofcource I could have asked where did the shooter get the gun. Did he have a permit. Well Sloanstar says he was a retired cop. Well that explains all pretty much I guess. You don't take some good old boys Bang Bang away just like that now do we.

Yeah... I really am wondering just what was going though his mind that made him think this was acceptable behavior.

who behaves like that he should die in a cell for doing that

This is terrible. I honestly don't think it has anything to do with gun law control though. Yes these laws would make it harder for the criminals but if they are wanting to do something they will do it and no law will prevent them from stopping. It's amazing what this world keeps turning into by the day.

All gun control really means is eliminating ways bad people can get guns legally. Unfortunately, this wouldn't really matter in this case. He's a former police officer, and passes background checks fairly easily.

I think the bigger issue is people are so willing to turn to weapons/violence in situations. A guy sending a text at a movie theatre could easily be solved through talking,and instead weapons become involved. The weird part, to me, is that a retired cop couldn't think of another way to handle this situation other than shoot. Just weird to me. 

Coming back to this thread after miss reading the article (I must admit I did only skim the first 2 paragraphs before posting) I now have something useful to say. 
Personally I think this does change the laws of weapons in America. There should be less privileges with a gun licence and there should be some restricted areas unless you are a police man or part of the armed forces. Places like a cinema should be restricted for weaponry, there is a very low chance of someone going to attack you in a place like that. How ever places like a shopping mall or just the urban street then you could be in slightly more danger but even then it is low. 
I wouldn't give gun licences to members of the public, this murderer is just a citizen since he is retired. This is why I wouldn't but since people think it is important and that it is a form of self defence then their should be some restrictions at least.
I wont be surprised if more situations and crimes like this occur in the near future if the laws are not changed.

   I thought a boy killing a cousin over for a game was stupid! A person texting at the movies may be annoying, but it doesn't mean that people automatically have the right to shoot somebody! There's a word for it, DEAL WITH IT!! Sorry for the yelling. Something like that happening at the movies terrible. People should have lower privileges with guns.