What do powdered sugar, baking soda, transmission fluid, fertilizer, your grandmother’s pin cushion, and a cold bottle of soda have in common? As much as this may sound like the beginning of a joke; it is quite the contrary.
On Friday, July 20, 2012, a well-educated gunman entered a crowded movie theater in Aurora, Colorado during a midnight screening of the Dark Knight Rises and opened fire on an audience who were innocently anticipating a movie, celebrating an anniversary, birthday, or the typical “big screen” experience. Patrons aged 3 months to 51 years of age were victims of a violent act by one person, reportedly acting alone.

Twelve people were killed, 58 injured, two months of planning resulted in what is described as one of the worst massacres in the history of the United States. No one disputes this is indeed a horrific tragedy, all agree it shows examples of the spirit of the American people. One of the 12, Matthew McQuinn, shielded his girlfriend and her older brother from the attack, dubbed an American hero. Alex Sullivan planned to celebrate his 27th birthday and first anniversary, a tragic victim. The names, backgrounds, and stories should make the reader proud of those willing to risk their lives to save the life of another; meanwhile bring the reader to tears for those who lost their life. The backgrounds of all the victims must be remembered and the violent act should not be forgotten.
While one remembers the victims and the past, one important item must not be ignored. A gunman entered an auditorium, killed and injured more than 70 people. With the reports of 58 injuries and 12 fatalities, please consider an injury need not be physical. The legal definition of an injury is “any harm done to a person by the acts or omissions of another” Trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Panic, and Anxiety attacks may be considered as a sustained injury due to the nature of the violence.
Who is responsible? Should the court holding jurisdiction over this act of violence hold the gun stores responsible? Perhaps, if a law was broken during the sale of the fire arms. Should the theater company be liable for the violent act? According to Cinemark Holdings, the parent company of Century 16 Theater, they were “deeply saddened about this tragic incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and loved ones, our employees, and the Aurora community”. I believe it is fair to say that neither the merchant nor the theaters were participants, negligent, or aware such a horrific event would unfold that morning.
Why does the United States (federal/state/municipal levels) not ban fire arms for the public? Would this have prevented the mass killings and injuries? The answer to these two questions is simply complicated. First, the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution grants “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”
According to the National Safety Council, “guns are used 2.5 million times a year in self-defense. Law-abiding citizens use guns to defend themselves against criminals as many as 2.5 million times every year—or about 6,850 times a day. This means that each year, firearms are used more than 80 times more often to protect the lives of honest citizens than to take lives.” A 1982 survey of male felons in 11 state prisons dispersed across the U.S. found: • 34% had been "scared off, shot at, wounded, or captured by an armed victim"
• 40% had decided not to commit a crime because they "knew or believed that the victim was carrying a gun"
• 69% personally knew other criminals who had been "scared off, shot at, wounded, or captured by an armed victim"
While the study may be dated, the deterrent of a potential crime against a responsible gun owner is significant. Should a Constitutional amendment be enacted to make it illegal for personal gun ownership, as proven in Detroit, Chicago, Washington, and D.C., where the crime rate increased exponentially? Unfortunately, the simple fact is that a gun is a device. Much like the remote control to a vehicle, it can collect dust by itself, but a person must control it. Let’s theoretically consider the US Government, including State and local municipalities had, and could, remove all guns, of all types from every private civilian residence in the United States. With that thought, consider rape, murder, and the shooting event in Colorado all felonies. Rhetorically speaking, would a criminal steal a gun from an off duty police officer, National Guard, military service member? If guns are outlawed, as they are devices meant to kill or injure, then so should the following: powdered sugar, baking soda, transmission fluid, fertilizer, your grandmother’s pin cushion, and that cold bottle of soda.
A white powdery substance sent through the mail causes panic, panic leads to fear, fear leads to possible stampedes to evacuate. So, no more sugar or baking soda.
Transmission fluid can kill a person over time when digested, so any car maintenance fluids must be regulated highly.
Gardening? No more beautiful lawns and plants; fertilizer may be used in the making of a bomb.
Need to hem a skirt? Not with a needle. Grandma’s pin cushion is full of potential weapons; they may be contaminated and put in sandwiches or other food items.
Soda and beer bottles must go also; hold the neck and break the bottom and it becomes a circular shard of weapons that cut like knives (which need to be banned also).
The bottom line is that a tragedy occurred in Colorado. Thousands are suffering due to that one act of violence. Human nature wants to justify malicious behavior of a minority by regulating the lives of a majority. Take a look around right now; what IS A WEAPON? That ball point pen, broken light bulb, window pane, or simply cooking oil?