“Another Moviegoer With A Gun” could NOT have stopped the shooter.

paradiscacorbasi:

The thought that “another person in the theater with a gun could have stopped the Colorado gunman” is, in a word, ludicrous.

Why?

Let’s break down what we know about the shooting.

1. The shooter was wearing kevlar body armor.  Another person in the theater with a gun would not have been able to pull off a disabling shot because a center mass hit would’ve been stopped by the armor, and his legs were obscured by either the chairs or the crowd. 

2.  The shooter gassed the theater with either smoke bomb or tear gas, which reduced visibility.  Another person in the theater would not have been able to see well enough to pull off a shot they’d be sure got the gunman himself.

3. Because the gas caused mass panic, there were people running around. Unless one is as compassionless as the gunman to consider other American citizens, other human beings, as “collateral damage” or “acceptable losses”, there was no way for another person with a gun to have taken a shot at the gunman without risking hitting innocent movie viewers just trying to get to safety.

4.  Holmes, again, had on body armor and a mask. He had gassed the theater and set the crowd to panic stampeding.  He was himself a moving target in a theater full of moving targets.  The only way to stop him for sure would’ve been a head shot, which is — contrary to what one sees in the movies — difficult at best if you’re not a sniper, but the next best thing to impossible in a dark, crowded, gas-filled theater full of moving targets.

5. The only way another person in the theater with a gun could’ve stopped him was if they had been next to him — right next to him, at point blank range — before he threw the gas canisters.

So PLEASE STOP SAYING that another moviegoer with a gun could’ve stopped him.

All logic dictates otherwise.

And really, arguing about what could’ve stopped him is nothing more than a mental exercise at this point.  “What if” will not undo what has done. It will neither un-injure the living victims, nor will it bring back the dead.

 The shooter is in custody, will go to trial, and given the body of evidence that seems to be piling up rapidly, will go to jail for multiple life sentences.

The only thing that matters now is helping the victims of Aurora cope with the tragedy.  Healing the wounded.  Easing their suffering.  And support for those grieving their dead.

Top 10 myths about Native Americans

waitful:

ᏗᎦᏘᏍᏗ: Top 10 myths about Native Americans

adailyriot:

camourl:

  • Native Americans get special privileges, including a monthly check, from the U.S. government. False: According to the U.S. Department of Interior, there has long been a myth that Indians receive a monthly check from the U.S. Government because of their status as Indians. There is no basis for this belief other than misinformation and misconception of the status of American Indians. Some tribes, tribal members and lineal descendants received payments from the Federal Government resulting from claims settlements. But there are very few judgment funds per capita payments that remain today. Some tribes distribute payments to enrolled members upon the sale of tribal assets such as timber, hydroelectric power or oil and gas. Many tribes do not have natural resources or other revenue sources.
  • Native Americans do not pay U.S. taxes. False: American Indians, even those who receive a per capita payment from proceeds of tribally owned casinos, pay U.S. income tax to the IRS.
  • Native Americans are rich from gambling revenues. False: Nearly 25 percent of Native Americans live below the U.S. poverty level. Tribes that owned casinos use proceeds to fund tribal schools, medical clinics, roads, elder care, child care, college scholarships, etc. and/or distribute proceeds among tribe members through per capita payments.
  • Native American tribes are not subject to U.S. law. False: Federally recognized Native American tribes are “domestic dependent nations” with certain inherent powers of self-government and entitlement to certain federal benefits, services and protections because of the special trust relationship.
  • Sporting teams honor Native Americans by using cultural symbols for names and mascots. False: The United Methodist Church joined numerous Native American organizations in protesting this practice when the 2000 General Conference adopted resolution No. 141 stating such “caricature…does demean and diminish Native Americans by denying them recognition as human beings in the [teams’]… use and abuse for economic profits.”
  • All Native Americans live on reservations. False: Only 34 percent of Native Americans lived on reservations or designated statistical areas in 2000.
  • American Indians are a dying race. False: The Native American population is increasing and the many tribal cultures and languages are alive.
  • Native Americans all have the same culture. False: There are 561 federally recognized Native American tribes and nations, each with its own culture, language and stories.
  • Native Americans are not full citizens of the United States because they belong to their own sovereign nations. False: On June 2, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill granting Native Americans full citizenship.
  • The Native American population is decreasing. False: Native Americans are growing in number and their many cultures, languages and stories are alive

(via twerkjabi)

Source: gbgm-umc.org

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