Mass shooting at Century 16 in Aurora

[hollohas]

Are we even certian it was tear gasor smoke canisters? Has there been a statement made by officials? because I have seen references to both.

Maybe I missed something but I haven't heard a single eyewitness say anything about "burning eyes", "hard to breath" or "tears" ...makes me think it was smoke. In fact, many of the witnesses have said "smoke". I suppose both can compromise your ability to fight back.

However, in this situation (or theoretical situations like this one) I would think that at some point during the madness and in the large crowds, the bad guy must have had his back to a good guy within arms reach. Even without a CCW, a person within arms reach at the bad guy's back could be very effective at fighting a shooter...especially one with a long gun.

In this real situation I wasn't there and can't ever say what I would do. There have been many stories of people helping other people and I applaud those that did help.

I am very impressed with the police and first responders. Their amazing quick response and the professional, effective communication I have heard from the radio transmissions was truly top notch.

[10mm-man]

Maybe I missed something but I haven't heard a single eyewitness say anything about "burning eyes", "hard to breath" or "tears" ...makes me think it was smoke. In fact, many of the witnesses have said "smoke". I suppose both can compromise your ability to fight back.

However, in this situation (or theoretical situations like this one) I would think that at some point during the madness and in the large crowds, the bad guy must have had his back to a good guy within arms reach. Even without a CCW, a person within arms reach at the bad guy's back could be very effective at fighting a shooter...especially one with a long gun.

In this real situation I wasn't there and can't ever say what I would do. There have been many stories of people helping other people and I applaud those that did help.

I am very impressed with the police and first responders. Their amazing quick response and the professional, effective communication I have heard from the radio transmissions was truly top notch.

If you ever tried to shoot out of a gas mask then you know that your peripheral vision and most of you vision period is gone. Easy to ambush from other than a frontal attack...

I thought I read that someone or many were at this guys feet?

[Ridge]

I thought I read that someone or many were at this guys feet?

I know of 12 that were...

[Fmedges]

If you ever tried to shoot out of a gas mask then you know that your peripheral vision and most of you vision period is gone. Easy to ambush from other than a frontal attack...

I thought I read that someone or many were at this guys feet?

Exactly, especially if you are firing off rounds. That guy had no clue what was going on around him.

[sneakerd]

Here's my view. It may not be very popular. I'm nobody's hero, except to me and mine. If I'm there with my wife, girlfriend, kids, whatever- my loved ones-
then I -ONLY- care about them. That is my circle, and that is what I will defend and/or protect. Everybody else is a victim. I'm getting me and mine the hell onto the ground and/or out of there. If I can get my hand on a pistol, and the attacker enters my field of vision, then he's going to get the whole mag. Otherwise....... we'll be gone before you know it- or moving in the opposite direction of the crowd.

[Fentonite]

Here's my view. It may not be very popular. I'm nobody's hero, except to me and mine. If I'm there with my wife, girlfriend, kids, whatever- my loved ones-
then I -ONLY- care about them. That is my circle, and that is what I will defend and/or protect. Everybody else is a victim. I'm getting me and mine the hell onto the ground and/or out of there. If I can get my hand on a pistol, and the attacker enters my field of vision, then he's going to get the whole mag. Otherwise....... we'll be gone before you know it- or moving in the opposite direction of the crowd.

I think I agree. If I'm there with family, they are my only priority. If I'm there alone, I'd like to think I'd step up to help others, if I could.

[sneakerd]

I'm just not real high on all the would-be heros all around. I don't think it's that simple.

[whitbaby]

I think I agree. If I'm there with family, they are my only priority. If I'm there alone, I'd like to think I'd step up to help others, if I could.

My biggest concerns would be innocents behind him and any unknown accomplices lurking about.

[T-Giv]

I was speaking with a SWAT member who told me that in the theater there were tons of nearly full magazines. Fortunately the piece of shit didn't know how to recover from a malfunction so when he would jam he just dropped the magazine and put in another one. He was planning to do a lot more shooting than he did. Possibly that's why he gave up so easily?

[TFOGGER]

My biggest concerns would be innocents behind him and any unknown accomplices lurking about.

From an email I received from Graham Dunne, firearms instructor and Aurora PD officer:

We truely appreciate all the e-mails of support. We are under a court order not to discuss our actions at the cinema and at his apartment. I have answered alot of "what if" questions, I can give you some food for thought:

-If the only target you have is muzzle flash, that's a great target indicator. Behind muzzle flash is the chest, face, hands, and the firearm.

-Ballistic vests are only rated for two impacts per area. With good hollow points the 3rd, 4th, 5th etc.. rounds are going through. I would rather hammer the upper chest than try to adjust for the head, a smaller target. Every officer I have talked to who has ever been shot wearing a vest said the same thing, "it's like getting hit with a baseball bat."

-If you study mass violence scenarios, 99% of these cowards committing these atrocities will run when they encounter any resistance. In other words if rounds are coming their way, even if they're not hit, they usually run, often times commiting suicide.

-By the nature of cinema seating, (on a grade), you have a much better chance of not hitting innocents when engaging bad guys.

-It is true concealed weapons were not permitted at the cinema. So it is possible you could be charged with misdemeanors, such as carrying concealed and lose your permit. I believe this is a worthy trade to save lives. In other words you can pay your fine then go accept your award from the President at the White House.

-Training is very important.

“We don't rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training”

Archilochus, Greek Soldier 650 BC

-The alternative not to engage is to die.