July 31, 2012

James Holmes is a Terrorist ... And We Need to Stand Up Against Gun Violence

It pisses me off that James Holmes is a 2010 graduate of the University of California, Riverside with a degree in neuroscience. I'm also a UCR graduate. UCR has a low profile nationwide ... and it stinks that UCR's most famous graduate is now a mass murderer.

The early reports are calling this 24-year old guy 'insane'. I think that we are better served if we refer to him as a 'terrorist'. Frankly, if his name had been Jamaal instead of James ... that is what he would be called. America's racial challenges are evident even in something as vile as this late-night massacre at a Batman movie in Colorado.

Reports indicate that the terrorist who committed this horrifying act had a bulletproof vest, used some kind of gas canister, and had multiple guns when he opened fire in the crowded theater. A three-month-old is among the injured. Our entire village is sad for those who lost their lives, those wounded, and their families.

I suspect that it won't be long before we see airport-style metal detectors at the entrance of all movie theaters. I suspect that stock in Netflix will spike as more folks decide to watch movies at home instead of going to a theater.

You would think that Americans would use this moment to think about the fact that this kid was able purchase enough guns to shoot 71 people. How many bullets? How many guns?

When are we going to reflect on the fact that random gun violence needs to be dealt with in a comprehensive manner? How many more children must be killed in school shootings? How many more Trayvon Martins? How many more Gabby Giffords attacks? How many more innocents slaughtered at public venues like the local movie theater?

In addition to keeping the Colorado families in your prayers ... perhaps you can support Mayors Against Illegal Guns it its campaign to put a stop to senseless gun violence like this with commonsense measures, like fixing gun checks to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. They've started an online petition to demand action on ending gun violence.


We need to stand up against these terrorist thugs like James Holmes. That's my thought ... what say u?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why don't you focus on the problems of mental issues that aren't addressed properly in our society? Clearly, Holmes was distressed, and even more so, was BEING "TREATED" by Dr. Lynne Fenton, a psychiatrist who specializes in schizophrenia at the University where he was studying. What kind of meds did she have him on? Was he being properly monitored? Sure doesn't seem like it. If someone is a danger to themselves or society, a shrink has a right to have them committed (I believe). He cried out for help when he sent a notebook detailing his plans to this clueless shrink, of which the package sat for a week without even being opened. This has nothing to do with "terrorism" or even gun violence, but with MENTAL HEALTH which is the root of all crime in society and we keep it in the dark ages. Look at the "new mass murderers" of today -- young guys - Columbine, etc. with ONE COMMON THREAD - antidepressants. But the pharm co's don't want to be blamed for their drugs causing people to go postal.

skrillman said...

@Barb "mental health is the root of all crime in society" are you fucking mental?!

Unknown said...

Mental health issues should be dealt with by all of us ... politicians, health care industry and such. However, we can do two things at the same time.

1. deal with mental illness.
2. deal with gun violence

Just my thoughts...