Unless you're living in a tent in the woods with no access to television or radio, you've no doubt heard about the tragic events that took place recently in Aurora, Colorado. Essentially, a lone gunman, dressed and with hair dyed to appear as the Joker, opened fire in a crowded movie theater during the premiere of the newest Batman film, killing 12 people and wounding dozens more. He had purchased four weapons and more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition in recent months, and had further booby-trapped his apartment with makeshift gasoline-based explosives (including more than 30 grenades) to injure police and officials if and when a search was conducted.
As disturbing as this incident is in its own right, what's more disturbing is the ripple effect this event is having in other parts of the country. Consider the following headlines since the tragic events in Aurora:
- In Maine, police stop 49 year-old Timothy Courtois for speeding. Upon searching his vehicle, officials find an AK-47 assault weapon, four handguns, and several boxes of ammunition and news clippings of the Colorado shooting. The man tells authorities he attended the Batman film in Saco, Maine on Saturday with a loaded gun in his backpack and told authorities he was traveling to Derry, New Hampshire to shoot a former employer.
- In Arizona, a man is arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and threatening and intimidating after creating a commotion. Michael William Borboa, 26, entered a movie theater intoxicated and carrying a large backpack. He began acting strangely and startling patrons during the film. When an individual confronted Borboa, mass hysteria occurred and more than 50 plus individuals ran from the theater.
- In LA County, authorities arrested a man at a theater in Norwalk on Sunday. The man, Clark Tabor, uttered threats and made references to the Colorado shooting. He is arrested for making terrorist threats. There is a backpack in his possession (no weapon is found) and a search of his home also turns up nothing suspicious.
It seems that these horrible tragedies are becoming more and more common in our society and culture. Some will point to the ease of access to weapons and will call for increased gun control legislation and enforcement. Others will blame mental illness and argue in defense of the accused that they'll need close monitoring, drug treatment, and treatment - that the actions of these individuals were not their fault, but the result of a defect in their mental acuity. Still others will find a way to lay the culpability at the feet of Obama and the Democrats or Romney and the conservatives and will argue for their respective political platform.
I'm no expert, and don't feel adequately informed or educated to offer some brilliant opinion on the causality of this increasing string of violence taking place in our country. I'll simply state the obvious - as an American, as a parent, as a member of society - I'm saddened and worried about the current state of affairs and what lies ahead in terms of future headlines. The combination of violence in film, music, video games, and media; the accessibility of guns, ammunition, weapons, explosives combined with the internet's 24/7 access to information on building bombs, articles on anarchy and creating chaos; the increase in recognizing mental illness in the general population; the thirst and hunger from so many in our society to grab media attention through radical and sensational behavior - all ingredients that when combined have the potential to lead to further turmoil and senseless violence, much like what we've seen and read about lately.
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| The next generation... |
Can I end this on a positive note? I'd like to compliment several of the media outlets who have tried nobly to keep the focus of their reporting, not on the accused, but instead on the victims, survivors, and heroes of last week's tragedy. Members of the military, some recently returned from overseas assignments in Afghanistan/Iraq who happened to be in the theater; the police and rescue responders who shepherded civilians to safety; youth and parents who shielded family members, friends, even total strangers inside the theater to protect them from being injured - amazing stories of courage, compassion, and character. You'll find mention of Matt McQuinn who pulled his girlfriend, Samantha Yowler to the ground and shielded her with his body. He was hit by three bullets and died protecting her. Or Stephanie Davies, 21 who pulled Allie Young, 19 out of the aisle in the theater, placed her fingers in the bullet wound of young Allie's neck to stave off the bleeding and used her other hand to dial 911. Or the moviegoers that removed belts to use as makeshift tourniquets to save other victims once outside the theater. Stories that illustrate all that is good and noble in an increasingly dangerous and violent world.
I don't know what we'll ultimately learn from the tragedy in Colorado or the changes that might occur in response to this horrible event. And Columbine. And the Virginia Tech shootings. And the shootings at Fort Hood. Perhaps it's an inevitable trend of behavior where we'll simply have to be better prepared and more vigilant in all our daily activities. Perhaps we'll begin seeing armed guards and X-ray machines at our banks, bowling alleys, grocery stores, and theaters in the months and years to come. But a change has taken place in our society where the fact that senseless violence can and will occur has become accepted. And villains will continue to find ever increasing ways to hurt and injure and kill those around us. And heroes will continue to rise to the occasion and do what they can to help and rescue the victims.
What else can we really do?
