Eighty-five years ago, on January 9, 1927, 78 children were killed in a movie theater in Montreal's east end, at a Sunday matinee double feature of a western called The Devil's Gulch and a comedy called Bring 'Em Young. A fire, started by faulty wiring, started a stampede. The people of Quebec, and the Catholic Church, didn't blame the faulty wiring. They blamed the movies. And no one under sixteen was allowed in a movie theater in the province for 40 years.
Early this morning, 71 people were shot -- 12 died, one of them six-years-old -- in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, at a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. They were killed, apparently, by a rifle and a handgun and the faulty wiring inside the head of an alleged gunman named James Holmes. And our response -- America's response -- is going to be nothing.
Quebecers needed to do something. There had to be some reason their children were gone. Luckily they had the Church, and the Church told them the problem was motion pictures.
Americans might want to do something now, but their president, Barack Obama, and their only other choice for president, Mitt Romney, have both issued statements -- after a gun massacre -- that the answer is prayer.
All of us must have the people of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers...
Obama
Our prayers and condolences go first to the families of those killed...
Romney
And what about guns, and keeping them out of lunatics' hands? Obama and Romney are silent as ashes.
No American politician will even say the words "gun control." Because getting shot isn't a law enforcement issue, or even a public safety issue. It's up to God, and the heavily armed mad men he sends, and whether you just happen to be in the wrong theater seat at the wrong time.
At least the Catholic Church in Quebec in the 20s did something. They didn't leave it all in God's hands. They weren't ridiculous.
In a movie theater in America, in 2012, a gunman isn't a problem for the state. It's between you and God. The law is only there to keep you safe from Fred Willard.
Susan Kemp: Does Social Media Make Dealing With a Tragedy Worse?
Someone close to me has been a victim of a loose schizophrenic. Improve the mental health system and GET THEM OFF THE STREETS !!! It's for not just OUR protection, their's too.
To politically come out in favor of ANY kind of gun control is tantamount to Su@cide.
As far as the Catholic Church goes...... they are too busy covering up pedoph@les.
Are their no moral men or women with courage AND power? (she asks in a font of sarcasm.)
The Democrats should be close on their heels.
When y ou have an outrageous lobby like the NRA - we the People are pretty much screwed. !
The sanity required to resolve the gun problem is presently beyond the willingness of the electorate, the guts of Congress and the inability of the NRA to participate in problem solving.
Wonder how many bad laws have been enacted by rash and emotional expediency after a tragic event? Chris Kelly seems to think Obama and Romney should have immediate answers. A plan of attack while the evidence is still being sifted through. Kelly thinks offering condolences and prayers at this point in time is not good enough. He cites a situation in Montreal where actions were taken in the heat of the moment and wrong decisions were made. Why would he want our leaders to do the same thing. This may not be a federal issue but a state issue so why all the hurry, mr. Kelly?
No one needs an assault weapon as a civilian. PERIOD. The fact this guy was allowed to buy 6000 rounds of ammunition, no questions asked, says that there is something seriously wrong here.
the boston massacre ? that was british troops firing on protesters.. like kent state, that is not a preplanned massacre of innocents..
makes it even more perplexing.......
Why does ANYONE need a 10,000 round rapid fire gun? Only to hunt PEOPLE.
have mercy on us
everyone!
-concrete blonde