At
1:03 am on Thursday, July 19, a mad man (that is the only description he
deserves) opened fire in a sold out showing of The Dark Knight Rises. Twelve
innocent people (as of this typing) lost their lives and countless others were
injured. This truly horrific scene seems like something that almost belongs in
the fictional world of the film that was playing during this tragedy. Sadly it
was all too real.
As
more and more facts are revealed as the investigation continues, I am sure
nothing will be able to make sense of this. It is a senseless event. When
people lose their lives in battle, society somehow justifies it as part of some
noble pursuit. But innocent civilians being shot for nothing other than sitting
to enjoy a highly anticipated film? There is no way to justify that.
The
cruelest of ironies is that these people were shot while watching a film about
a character that disparages the use of firearms. I know much politicizing will
be done on both sides of the aisle of the gun debate, and I will most likely be
sickened by both sides. The twelve who died do not care what side of the debate
you are on. They can’t anymore. That right has been robbed from them.
Instead
of fighting to find someone to blame (beyond the shooter who I was happy to
learn is in custody) I think that this tragedy should make us all reflect on the
world around us. We must not become the thing that destroys us. This tragedy
was the act of a mad man. Let us not become mad men trying to stop another one
from occurring. Hug your loved ones on this day of mourning.
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