Some months back, Mark Wahlberg made headlines when he told Men’s Journal that if he had been on the planes that hit the towers on 9/11, “it wouldn’t have went down the way it did.” IE, Marky Mark would’ve made the terrorists feel his vibrations and taken out the entire funky bunch with a Wahlburgers knuckle sangwich. Now, former Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce, the guy who authored that controversial immigration bill (SB 1070) is in the news for making similar statements about the Aurora theater shootings on his public Facebook page, saying “If someone had been prepared and armed, they could’ve stopped this ‘bad’ man from most of this tragedy.”
Yes, “bad” was in sarcastiquotes. Draw your own conclusions there. Here’s the full text of the now-deleted post, courtesy of the Wonkette screengrab:
This is certainly a time for prayers for the victims and the families of victims in this horrific crime in Colorado. I just had a call from a very good friend of mine in San Diego, California who’s [sic] neice [sic] Kim, Kim’s best friend Mikayla and Kevin were in the Theater [sic] in the front rows. Kim and Kevin got out and as he was trying to get Mikayla out she said she was shot. As the rush of the crowd exiting through the exit door pushed Kevin and Kim out they lost Mikayla. As of my phone conversation they were not aware of her status. What a heart breaking story. Had someone been prepared and armed they could have stopped this “bad” man from most of this tragedy. He was two and three feet away from folks, I understand he had to stop and reload. Where were the men of flight 93???? Someone should have stopped this man. Lives were lost because of a bad man, not because he had a weapon, but because noone [sic] was prepared to stop it. Had they been prepared to save their lives or lives of others, lives would have been saved. All that was needed is one Courages/Brave [sic] man prepared mentally or otherwise to stop this it could have been done. When seconds count, police are ony [sic] minutes away. My prayers are with all of those suffering from this sensless [sic] act, may God be with them in this moment of pain and heartache.
I hate to depress you this badly early in the day, but the post had 3,400 likes before it was deleted. Now, whether you’re Michael Moore releasing a statement the day after the shootings or this barely-literate simpleton scrawling John Wayne fan fiction on your Facebook page, why not wait for the blood to try first, huh? (Also, not to be cruel, but I’m pretty sure the men of Flight 93 are dead). It’s pretty easy to Monday Morning Quarterback this sh*t after the fact. “If this kid hadn’t been able to get a gun this wouldn’t have happened! If other people in the theater had had guns there would be less dead people! If The Dark Knight wasn’t such a popular franchise this wouldn’t have happened in a theater!” Yes, thanks, very helpful. If you ask me, it’s high time that the phrase “Yeah, and if your aunt had balls she’d be your uncle” make a comeback.
Silly Russell Pearce. You’re just leaving yourself open for the argument that it would’ve have happened if they hadn’t deported the illegal Mexican who used to man the emergency exit.
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If not at the TDKR opening then he would have done it at some other “huge event” with large masses that he could have disguised himself in.
This won’t be helpful, but yes, what if there were armed (non professional) citizens in the crowd and bullets began flying from both directions. How would the media/everyone else respond if just one bystander was wounded or even killed by that citizen.
All hell would break loose and we all would have said that it escalated the attack.
Anyway, what do I know? I read a movie blog all day while at work and get so excited by every new post that I tinkle a little.
Phew, thought I was the only one!
That tinkled at work, I mean.
A distressing number of Americans seem to think Die Hard was a documentary.
My world is crashing down around me.
5 minutes of research would show him to be essentially correct. There have been a number of gunmen stopped by responsible citizens with licensed, concealed weapons recently. Hell, in March, in the same town (Aurora), a man opened fire in a church and was subdued by another attendant with a concealed weapon.
“If your aunt had balls she’d be your uncle” is also “correct,” it’s just a stupid, pointless thing to say.
Yeah, people with concealed weapons permits never commit crimes themselves or make things worse at the scene of violence.
Gosh, Vince, 5 minutes of research would’ve taught you that.
I can’t tell if Steve is trolling. So the solution is to ensure that every theater has someone packing? The biggest thing I conceal when entering a theater is my store-bought twizzlers pack. That or my…
just kidding its below average.
Riiiiggghhhttt. Like that one concerned CCW citizen that prevented that youth from walking in his Florida neighborhood with Skittles and ice tea.
He put a stop to what could have been a huge mess. Oh wait.
Well as long as we’re trying to out douche each other, 2 minutes of research can even net you videos of where someone with CCW saves the day: [www.youtube.com]
When the options are let someone with a weapons continue their rampage a la Norway (69 Dead & 110 wounded) or have maybe even one person be able to take him out or at least give him pause, I’d rather be on the island where it’s not just the bad guy who has a gun. Feel free to keep living in the fantasy land where criminals don’t get guns because it’s “against the law” though.
No, that’s not our fantasy world. That’s your straw man.
Gun control advocates don’t think gun legislation will be a fool-proof measure to keep guns out of the wrong hands. Someone will slip through the cracks, sure. But just because gun control isn’t perfect that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try, that doesn’t mean we should keep the current arrangement where any nut can drive to a gun show and walk away with an AR-15 and armor-piercing bullets without so much as a background check.
You want to see someone living in a fantasy world? Look in the mirror, where you’ll find a guy who thinks that if every frat boy and Jersey Shore wannabe at the theater had been packing heat, then we’d all be safe.
Did he miss the part where people at first thought this was part of the movie? or worse yet, what if it were some kid, playing a dumb prank letting off a smoke bomb, and some cowboy opened fire on him… Dumb politician says dumb things – more news at 11.
ps. Vince, as I pointed out in your initial article on the incident, if Marky Mark had been cast in the dark knight, this never would have happened. it’s all WB fault.
I’ve been seeing this bullshit on facebook all week, and I’ve kept my mouth shut…until now *woman in audience drops hankie, faints*
1- How is everyone so goddamn certain that someone with a concealed weapon would of been able to stop this? Just because you have a permit to carry a weapon, doesn’t mean you turn into a Billy the Kid sharpshooter, it just means you have a gun, congrats. Everyone is using examples of people stopping gas station robberies and other incidents where there was only a few people at the scene, not a dark movie theater, with smoke bombs going off, and people running away, good luck hitting that target.
2- Plus, when did it become our sacred duty to walk around strapped all the time? I feel like gun nuts are taking their history from John Wayne movies, and who the hell would bring a gun to a movie theater? How pleasant would that be? Going on a date with someone who could kill me, your date is probably thinking she better give an extra good handjob just to get out of this situation.
3- Hypothesizing about this is dumb, “how could we have prevented this!” “we need more guns!’ “We need more gun control!”
Shut up, the only thing we can learn from this is that, like Jurassic Park, Assholes will find a way, we’re not any less/ more safe because of this, if someone is REALLY determined to kill someone, they’ll do it, and plus all the laws in the world wouldn’t of stopped him, he didn’t have a record, or history of mental illness, so fuck it.
I’ve turned into my own worst nightmare, the guy who writes long winded comments on websites.
@McNulty
1. The reason why they think if someone had a weapon on them in the theater they could have done something is very simple. It falls on the same thought that it simply would have made things worse. Guessing. You don’t know if it would have made it better or it would have made it worse, but if it were me i would rather have the chance do be able to defend myself than to be at the mercy of a murderer.
2. So basically people shouldn’t be allowed to protect themselves? I understand people walking around with guns on dates should be we weird to us perhaps, but if you are in a place where a lot of people have guns then it probably wouldn’t bother you that much.
3. Your right, speculation won’t do anything. Neither will increasing gun laws, because we have enough of them. They just aren’t being enforced.
A few things here:
1) All of this crying about gun control so that people can’t buy without so much as a background check. Reality check, you DO have to go through background checks. We already have gun control and we’ve had it for a while. We have waiting periods, we have background checks, we have bans on full auto, we have this ban and that ban. We even went so far as to make it illegal to purchase a gun with the intent to kill someone. So we made it illegal to do something illegal. How has that worked out? How many people have gone to the gun store, read the paper stating it is illegal to buy a gun with the intention to kill and say, “Oh. Nevermind.” We had that “assault weapons ban” which banned scary looking rifles with folding stocks. Has it stopped gun violence? Oh I know, let’s just do federal gun ban. You know, because we have a federal meth ban and that’s not still going on is it?
2) I’m not saying that someone having a gun would have stopped it. Could it have? Perhaps. Could it have lessened the damage? Maybe. I don’t know about any of you, but I like my chances better armed with a firearm than a health dose of “please don’t shoot me, please don’t shoot me.”
3) As stated earlier, there are crazy people out there and criminals. And guess what? None of them care about our rules, nor our lives. There were several CCW carriers in that theater. They were unarmed at the time of the attack, because it was “gun free zone” (i.e. the place where no one fires back.) Psychos/criminals don’t care it is illegal to murder, rape or steal. They don’t care about your gun free zones. If a guy goes so far as to decide he’s going to kill a theater full of people, do you think he cares its a gun free zone? Do you think he cares if he is not allowed to have a 100 round drum? Or body armor?
I think the movie theaters should give temporary gun permits and a weapon to everyone…just like 3D glasses.
Assuming the shooter was in the front of the theater, there probably wouldn’t have been crossfire if it had turned into a Wild West shootout. But, unless someone in the crowd happened to be packing an assault rifle with armor piercing bullets, it wouldn’t have done much good. The guy was pretty thoroughly armored from head to toe. Handgun bullets would’ve bounced off of him.
No the bullets would have him him like hammer. A .45 ACP would have dropped him. This is not the movies even if it occurred in the theater.
An armed theater is a polite theater. People who refuse to turn off their cellphones take note.
Say that to Dale Fout’s face if you want to be sipping food through a straw, bro.
/Throwwwwwbackkk
I’m not saying that he doesnt feel sympathy for the victims, but he seems way more interested in making a political point. Therefor, he is an asshole.
If he had the “courages” [sic] of his convictions, he wouldn’t have taken the post down as soon as people called him on it.
Or maybe he just wanted to correct the spelling and grammar, so it wouldn’t make him look dumb. (been there)
Why does everyone assume that legal CCW carriers are irresponsible with their firearms? The vast majority of us have had fairly extensive training. I would trust ANY of my personal, licensed ccw compatriots to be 100% certain of shot placement before actually pulling the trigger. The fact is, unless you are personally familiar with what is required to get your license and with the level of training we undertake, then you really have no idea what you are talking about.
There are still unpredictable occurances with a deadly weapon, especially when tear gas and running, screaming, panicing people in a confined space.
Trust is not the issue – It just doesn’t automatically mean this or any other tragedy doesn’t occur or get made worse.
I’m pretty sure the shooter was a legal gun owner, and maybe he wasn’t totally a responsible gun owner? Was he not part of the vast majority of gun owners who had extensive training? I guess i just don’t know what is required to get a gun license?
Steve, would you trust the CCW carriers who killed 14 cops and 448 private citizens in the link I provided above? I don’t.
One of your licensed compatriots should have told Shooty McGee that the 100-round magazine is too large and impractical for reliable use. As they taught me in the military, be-zerk but be prepared.
/I am a legal CCR carrier, making me a fortunate son.
Also–weird that dozens (hundreds?) of police departments support some form of firearms control. Maybe they haven’t done their 5 minutes of research.
You know who opposed Colorado’s current conceal and carry law? The Colorado Association of Police Chiefs.
But Steve’s right. What do those fucking hippies know about this issue?
So you and you’re buddies are all stone cold killers who wouldn’t flinch while you were getting shot at by a psychopath who drastically outgunned you? It’s either that or you would have done nothing, just like everyone else in the theater.
“Steve, would you trust the CCW carriers who killed 14 cops and 448 private citizens in the link I provided above? I don’t.”
So you’re stereotyping all CCW on the actions of one? Do you do the same thing with race or religion? Oh but that’s different, you say. It’s totally cool here because you’re right, right? That’s what racists tell themselves too.
Steve said “I would trust ANY of my personal, licensed ccw compatriots to be 100% certain of shot placement before actually pulling the trigger” so I merely pointed out that, given the fact that his “licensed ccw compatriots” had actually killed nearly 500 people since these laws started proliferating, well, no, I would not trust them 100%.
But thanks for comparing me to a racist. That really proved your point, champ.
You completely ignored Steve’s use of the word “personal” and then set up a straw man accordingly, so…if the shoe fits.
I took “personal” to mean “personally licensed.” If he’d meant people he personally knew, he should’ve been clearer.
Either way, what the fuck does it matter? You’re never going to personally know all the people who are carrying concealed weapons in a public place, or even who they are.
I love that conservatives, who insist that the government can’t do a single thing right, can be trusted to designate any random fucknuts as a virtual deputy.
That’s weird. Random Fucknuts is the name of my punk rock band and Virtual Deputy is the name of my Dub Step group.
The CCW carriers I know I’d put at probably 80% trust. Good on the range, proper respect for safety and all that, but there’s a big gulf between range accurate and shit hitting the fan accurate. I know I would likely shit my pants.
People I don’t know, which is all CCW carriers save for about 15, I don’t trust more than anyone other random person. In fact it’s probably less since so many are so overconfident in their abilities.
This is the response to every single incident of gun violence ever. If ________ had been allowed to carry a gun ________ wouldn’t have happened. They act as if people want to shoot other people in self defense. I don’t want to shoot anyone, I would prefer it if I didn’t have to defend myself against a gunman.
Agreed. I never understood the “no, no, the problem is that there weren’t enough bullets flying around” argument.
Why you little maggots, you make me want to vomit!
You Goddamn communist heathens, you had best sound off that you love guns and bullets, or I’m gonna stomp your guts out! #freedom
You’re all just re-politicizing the argument. The point is, your “ifs” are stupid and trying to make a political point right after a bunch of people got killed is icky.
complete quote from the superficial’s review of ‘dark knight rises’ :
Nobody’s supposed to “politicize” this tragedy right now even though right now is the exact fucking time to politicize it. God forbid we have a serious debate in this country about making it harder for people to buy insanely and unnecessarily powerful firearms, particularly the mentally ill, because while you’re waiting a few extra days for your tenth assault rifle, that “nigger socialist president” might show up at your doorstep and force you to not go bankrupt from the outrageous cost of health care and then you can’t refresh the tree of liberty with the blood of secret Muslims or however the saying goes. DON’T TREAD ON ME.
Right? It’s an important debate, and needs to happen eventually. But we should take some time to feel sad for the victims before we start yelling at each other. Otherwise, you just sort of look insensitive, even if you don’t mean it.
when we wait, we forget. we’re stupid, remember? also, following the shooting, one of the victims went on a news program and asked why someone could so easily buy an assault rifle. I think it’s more disrespectful to tacitly tell that dude and other victims with the same questions that now is not the time to talk about these issues. i should say, however, i am merely advocating discussion. i dont know what to do about guns. personally, i think it has more to do with the lack proper mental health care
It’s just an unwinnable debate, it’s like abortion. You’re either for or against it, there is no “right.” Should we do whatever we can to keep guns away from people who are mentally ill? Yes. Would it be safer if we banned all guns? Probably, but I like shooting guns, and I don’t like the idea of having to tailor the laws to the worst citizens. I’d like to be able to walk down the street with an open beer too, but idiots are always fucking up my fun.
The problem is that if you wait too long after a massacre (say, a week) there’s another massacre.
I dont know about other states in the country, but it’s pretty difficult to get a weapon legally in Massachusetts. I have been ‘in trouble’ with the law in the past and because of my indiscretions it’s virtually impossible to get a gun without a Congressman’s help.
Arizona; Florida’s farm team.
Show some respect–South Carolina is making a run at the title.
My deep-estah, aplogieees good sir-ahhh.
hey, hey, hey, don’t you guys go forgetting about Ohio.
Aplogee *not* accepted, suh. Ah duhmand satisfaction. Nigrah–fetch mah musket!
That mad me sad because now I’m picturing Foghorn Leghorn as slave owner.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, wouldn’t my balls having Aunt be my Pre-Op Tranny Aunt, never mind my pissed off Uncle?!
I believe the correct expression is “If my bubbe had balls, she’d be my zayde.” Oy vey izmir!
Did you see the body armor this guy was wearing? You’d have to get pretty close to have a chance with a pistol.
The NRA teaches you all that stuff. The first five minutes of From Russia With Love is actually an NRA class.
What I’m inferring from Pearce is that he wishes more people would strap up with armor piercing bullets (to get thru body armor) and infrared goggles (to see thru the smoke) when they decide to catch a movie.
On Flight 93, those guys A) already knew they were dead if they did nothing and B) had time to plan their attack. Lame example.
And c) were facing guys armed only with box-cutters.
d) were obviously not carrying concealed weapons.
Has the Govenor ever been into a crowded movie theater on opening night? It takes 15 minutes to get out once the movie is over without anyone shooting. So climbing over seats to get to a guy in full body armor with 4 guns in the DARK with bombs, bullets, and people everywhere doesnt really seem feasible to me. Not to mention it trivializes what true hero’s did to save their loved ones, guys like this. [www.opposingviews.com]
Ugh, he’s the state senator, not governor, or govenor, or guv’ner. My bad.
It may be an “unwinnable” debate but that doesn’t mean people should stop debating it. Some people’s beliefs are deeply rooted and unwavering, but every now and then a young impressionable mind can be changed. Whether it’s changed in the direction YOU deem appropriate is up to you – but you have to speak up first.
You can’t post this kind of story, knowing full well that it’s completely political, and not expect this kind of response.
So hoping people try for a compromise instead of bickering like children is too much to ask? Ah, right, politics. I forgot.
Bickering aside, compromise can only be found if all sides air their views.
I agree that either way, not one person is bound to learn anything from what has happened, and it will just happen again.
“You can’t post this kind of story, knowing full well that it’s completely political, and not expect this kind of response.”
Sure he can. knowing the internet, he shouldn’t, but he certainly can. Also, fuck that guy – his point was so dumb, he took it back.
So can you understand Bane or not?
Police had high praise for gun carrying man who ended the hysteria. Lt. Brian Purvis said, “This was a volatile situation that could have gotten worse. We can only assume from what we saw it could have gotten worse. He was definitely in the right place at the right time.”
[www.abc4.com]
Holy shit, I don’t see Filmdrunk for two days and it turns into THIS? Shit, the guy was just looking for answers, doing the whole “oh it could have been different” just like everyone else is. Whether you think the answer is more gun control or less gun control, everybody’s saying the same thing, which is this: “I really wish this didn’t happen”.
Wait, I’m confused, is it the year 2012 or 1889? Am I supposed to believe that I need to carry a gun with me everytime I go to the bathroom five feet down from my office for protection? Why are people just like this man given power in our society and allowed to have a say in things?