FL Retired cop, shoots texting wanker

[EMJ]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

....snip....I bet the cop was on the verge of popping a vessel after getting no love from the lobby.

Yup. Was probably muttering under is breath as he hurried back to the texter that he'd "Take care of this my damned self..." The guy was a police captain and probably wasn't used to not getting his way.

[AFC-911]

^ Now, who's making assumptions?

All reports say that upon returning, it was the text guy that confronted the old man.

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by fintstone

If a larger man attacks me in a dark theater...I likely would not wait to see if he is hitting me with a bag of popcorn or a set of brass knuckles. I would act to defend myself and my wife as best I could. Waiting for a second blow could be too late.

It doesn't have to be an "even fight"...that is the whole idea about carrying a defensive weapon.

So you feel that the cop was within his rights to confront a man with heated words and not expect a reaction?

You would honestly consider yourself under attack for popcorn being thrown at you?

I once killed a girl in a bar for having a drink thrown in my face. She could have had a pair of tweezers.

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by AFC-911

^ Now, who's making assumptions?

No more than those that assume the cop was level headed right up until he pulled the trigger.

"Why I just don't understand why that bigger, badder, younger , evil guy got all up in my 70 year old face."

[AFC-911]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

So you feel that the cop was within his rights to confront a man with heated words and not expect a reaction?

You would honestly consider yourself under attack for popcorn being thrown at you?

Would you honestly think that throwing things at others won't get a reaction?

[19-911-65]

Originally Posted by fintstone

If a larger man attacks me in a dark theater...

I agree with you 100%!! Again "If"... No one was attached, no one poked the other guy in the eye...it was nothing but words other then the torrents of flying buttered popcorn!

The shooter pulled out a concealed 38 and blew the guy away...there is no "if" in what happened!

[foxpaws]

Originally Posted by AFC-911

If he was considerate, the old guy wouldn't have to ask him multiple times.

How many texts does it take to check in with your babysitter?

How many texts do you think the father made? It could take 3 or 4 or more, depending on what they were texting about - nap, how long, she is being fussy, where is her favorite blanket so she will sleep. Again, this was happening before the film started.

Considerate is in the eye of the beholder. Considerate could be, 'I'll just ignore this stupid old man, finish my text, and we can all enjoy the movie when it starts.'

Again, any of this behavior, including throwing popcorn and screaming, in no case should end up with someone dying.

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by AFC-911

Would you honestly think that throwing things at others won't get a reaction?

You just made my point...

I bet that popcorn hurt.

[EMJ]

Originally Posted by AFC-911

^ Now, who's making assumptions?

All reports say that upon returning, it was the text guy that confronted the old man.

I am. It fits his profile and I never said he did in fact say those things. I said he "probably" did. You can continue to argue that if the texter only did this or that, or shown some consideration, etc., it would've never happened. True, and I agree. But he didn't. We can't control what free people can do. The victim was a jerk and it was clear to everyone. What the shooter could control was being in that situation. He knew he was angry, he knew he had a gun, he knew the texter was belligerent. Two choices: stand there and make him do what you say and escalate, or find another seat and walk away. He chose the former.

[Jim Richards]

Upon further reflection, I think I'm coming around to fint's ol' west shoot em if they look at you cross-eyed mindset. After all, everyone knows that movie theater popcorn has a lot of salt (sodium). Well that's a killer for people with high blood pressure, like old guys. The shooter was really a victim after all.

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by foxpaws

How many texts do you think the father made? It could take 3 or 4 or more, depending on what they were texting about - nap, how long, she is being fussy, where is her favorite blanket so she will sleep. Again, this was happening before the film started.

Considerate is in the eye of the beholder. Considerate could be, 'I'll just ignore this stupid old man, finish my text, and we can all enjoy the movie when it starts.'

Again, any of this behavior, including throwing popcorn and screaming, in no case should end up with someone dying.

It'll be interesting when we are given the timeline of the texts which I assume will come out at trial.

My guess is that he had already stopped before old guy came back in the theater to make sure his will would be obeyed. If that turns out to be the case will it have any effect on those that think old guy's actions were justified??

[AFC-911]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

You just made my point...

I bet that popcorn hurt.

But it will piss off 100% of the people you throw it to. Ergo, don't be surprised if you got your **** knocked out or get blown away.

You reap what you sow. Behave like an asshat, you'll get treated like an asshat.

[EMJ]

Originally Posted by foxpaws

... It could take 3 or 4 or more, depending on what they were texting about - nap, how long, she is being fussy, where is her favorite blanket so she will sleep. Again, this was happening before the film started.

To babysitter: "Just tell her daddy can't talk now, yes, yes, I love her too - trailers are on and some old guy behind me is pissed about my texting. If I don't stop he'll probably shoot me...."

Not beyond the imagination...

[foxpaws]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

It'll be interesting when we are given the timeline of the texts which I assume will come out at trial.

My guess is that he had already stopped before old guy came back in the theater to make sure his will would be obeyed. If that turns out to be the case will it have any effect on those that think old guy's actions were justified??

Nope - they will find another reason to justify the old man's actions - because to those who believe that the old man was justified, this is certainly about a lot more then just texting in a theater.

I.E.

Originally Posted by AFC-911

But it will piss off 100% of the people you throw it to. Ergo, don't be surprised if you got your **** knocked out or get blown away. You reap what you sow. Behave like an asshat, you'll get treated like an asshat.

I would think it won't go to trial - I imagine there will be a deal here somewhere, considering the age of the murderer and the amount of witnesses, which at this point seem to be supporting murder two.

[andrew15]

The dude shot a veteran in a theatre with a bunch of witnesses... sounds like jail

On the bright side, he won't be bothered by people texting at the jail movie night.

[AFC-911]

You're taking my quote out context.

We're talking about actions and consequences.

I'm not saying it won't end up being guilty for Murder 2. I'm just saying don't be surprised you get your s-t handed to you if you behave like a douche.

[Rick Lee]

I'm not saying it won't end up being guilty for Murder 2. I'm just saying don't be surprised you get your s-t handed to you if you behave like a douche.

Some people are only alive because it's illegal to kill them. But then plenty get killed despite the law banning that.

[AFC-911]

Foxpaws,

As a side note, I will re-iterate that both men were responsible for this.

There is no "us" vs "them." This is NOT one of your political arguments in PARF. We can all agree that it was senseless and that the cop IS rightly arrested for his crime.

Where the disagreements begin is in the shades of gray and who is thought to be the aggressor.

And if you even think this "US vs THEM" issue is related to carrying guns, I am NOT a gun owner nor will I be for the foreseeable future.

[EMJ]

Originally Posted by AFC-911

You're taking my quote out context.

We're talking about actions and consequences.

I'm not saying it won't end up being guilty for Murder 2. I'm just saying don't be surprised you get your s-t handed to you if you behave like a douche.

Okay, why is it that it was the old guy's responsibility to insist the guy stop texting? Who was the real douche? Would you like it if someone demanded you stop doing something, even if you knew you weren't necessarily following the rules? If the old man was a jerk about it, I think he wouldn't be responded to with courtesy by most people. You're making too many assumptions.

[19-911-65]

Originally Posted by andrew15

On the bright side, he won't be bothered by people texting at the jail movie night.

And hes going to be in a heap of trouble when he finds out he is the only one with the bag of popcorn...