Obama pays tribute to massacre victims, survivors in Colorado

Authorities said Holmes bought more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition online, as well as four guns in the two months before the rampage.

And no bells started ringing? pfffff

And the sad thing is, this will be remember as just another shooting. Nothing will change.

They keep calling it the Batman shooting, but it's more like the "Nutman shooting".

Kudos for Michael Bloomberg. Yet another big american lobby that country could live without.

I know this sounds strange, but I would like to know what kind of parents this idiot fool has, who in the world can a young person end up so messed up?? Just a hunch, but my guess his parents, his family, his upbringing really must be horrible, to make somebody so sick and twisted to end up doing such horrible crimes. RIP poor innocent victims of this sick and twisted evil bastard.

I do hope our dear leader, Mr.Obama can help, even if it is just a hug, to start the healing processes and then right after go after the NRA etc..like a rabid dog! Let the law suits $$$$$$ begin!!!$$$$$!!!! The sue the hell out of the gun makers, ammo, the movie theater etc..$$$$$!!!!!!!

I think Obama has done a pretty good job as President in these sorts of situations. He has been mindful about the burden that a presidential visit can impose on a community. There is time for a much longer and involved visit later on. I also like the fact that Obama and Romney have not tried to politicize this event. There will be time for that later.

Authorities said Holmes bought more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition online, as well as four guns in the two months before the rampage.

Guns don't kill people. People who can legally buy 6000 rounds & 100 round assault rifle magazines off the web kill people.

Let us let our own children know that we will stand against the forces of fear. When there is talk of hatred, let us stand up and talk against it. When there is talk of violence, let us stand up and talk against it. In the face of death, let us honor life. As St. Paul admonished us, Let us "not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

The speech above was delivered by former US president; Bill Clinton. The alleged gunman tried to shatter many good innocent citizens in Aurora community, but he could not shatter a spirit of Americans. We will rise to come up with solutions to ban all assault weapons here in this country. We do not need any assault weapons here as Land of America is not a combat zone. We will stand up to stop senseless violence for us and our children. So our children can go out movies like they use to do without fear. Let's begin a talk for change. Time is here, and it is our responsibilities to do so. .

sue the hell out of the gun makers, ammo, the movie theater etc..$$$!!!!!!!

Don't recognise any grounds for suing the theatre. Are you seriously suggesting they should have had armed guards and metal-detectors, like at airports? Strip-searches?

As long as NRA can influence Washington, this type of thing will happen.

"On April 22 of this year a convicted felon, just out of jail, went to an Aurora, Colorado, church and shot and killed a member of the congregation before being killed himself by a congregant carrying a gun."

http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/12175-two-aurora-shootings-one-widely-known-the-other-ignored

Just imagine if that congregant happened to be in the theater during the shooting. Maybe the cinema shooting would be as unknown to the world as the April 22nd church shooting.

Banning guns won't work. Those who want to kill will find a way to get a gun illegally, or find another way to kill. There are many ways to kill people, but I don't want to give a nutcase any ideas...

Just imagine if that congregant happened to be in the theater during the shooting. Maybe the cinema shooting would be as unknown to the world as the April 22nd church shooting.

Nah, the result would have been the same because the cinema doesn't allow patrons to carry guns into the cinema.

Banning guns won't work.

True - there are too many out there in the US. But controlling them will work.

There are many ways to kill people, but I don't want to give a nutcase any ideas...

Yes, but if he had a knife he would have been less effective.

Banning guns won't work. Those who want to kill will find a way to get a gun illegally, or find another way to kill. There are many ways to kill people, but I don't want to give a nutcase any ideas

We have heard this line over and over. Why do we need ASSAULT AUTOMATIC WEAPONS? It is a good start to ban them.. I am here witnessing both Columbine HS shooting, and Batman Shooting within 13 years. They are real, and we can no longer wait and kid ourselves. Each of us need to take ownership of this problem just like we did for MADD movement. Roads are much safer now than what they used to be. It took many years to make them safer. I believe we can do the same. You are my brother and sister. Your kids will be my kids. We all have to work together to make this country as a safe place to live.Together, I believe we can do this.

Guns don't kill people. People who can legally buy 6000 rounds & 100 round assault rifle magazines off the web kill people

Oh pleeze. How long have you been away from US? You are a minority today. A majority of Americans now do not buy this line anymore. You are behind what the society is demanding and moving forward for change. .

globalwatcher globalwatcher

Oh pleeze. How long have you been away from US? You are a minority today. A majority of Americans now do not buy this line anymore. You are behind what the society is demanding and moving forward for change. .

I was being sarcastic. My point is how can somebody buy 6000 rounds of ammo without alarms going off? Why was he allowed to buy that much firepower?

We have heard this line over and over. Why do we need ASSAULT AUTOMATIC WEAPONS? It is a good start to ban them...

Totally agree.

I was being sarcastic. My point is how can somebody buy 6000 rounds of ammo without alarms going off? Why was he allowed to buy that much firepower?

It can be done. You wait for a couple weeks you will unerstand what we will do.

"“I confessed to them that words are always inadequate in these types of situations,” he [Obama] said as thousands gathered for a vigil outside the municipal center in Aurora, just outside Denver."

Some words might help, like, "We'll do our best to ban all assault weapons and automatic guns from this country. And will not export any." We'll take those words for a start.

Some words might help, like, "We'll do our best to ban all assault weapons and automatic guns from this country. And will not export any." We'll take those words for a start.

It's a good sentiment and I would say a wise course of action, but let us also not forget that this, and I cannot use any real civil terms for this individual, that this fool had also booby trapped his apartment with:

"His nearby apartment was found to be booby-trapped with a sophisticated arsenal of incendiary and chemical devices."

That had absolutely nothing to do with guns and if it would have went off the way he had planned it the carnage would have been just as horrific as the theatre shooting in the nearby apartment blocks. Everyone is focused on guns, as they should be but let us also not forget that alarm bells also did not go off to anyone when he was on his home made chemical explosive buying spree either and if someone would have raised a flag there about him this might also would of had a chance of being prevented in the first place.

"That had absolutely nothing to do with guns and if it would have went off the way he had planned it the carnage would have been just as horrific as the theatre shooting in the nearby apartment blocks. "

Agreed. It all points to some twisted Joker-esque plan, where the cops storm his apartment and get blown to pieces. I presume his intentions were to flee, but for some reason when apprehended he warned the police about the booby-trapped apartment, presumably after a good whack around the head.

"Banning guns won't work. Those who want to kill will find a way to get a gun illegally, or find another way to kill."

Making people go underground to find guns makes them susceptible to be found by the police or be turned in by honest citizens.

Restricting access to firearms makes it harder for these nuts and is therefore common sense. As is removing the rights of the average citizen to have serious arsenals they do not need and should not be allowed to accumulate.

If someone decides to go underground that already is a crime and could also be construed as criminal intent.

I still say a better database of gun-owners is needed, plus better control where and how ammunition they can buy. Let them have their guns, but have a database of test-fired bullets, etc.

But also agree nothing more than a handgun hunting rifle is really needed to be legal.

Guns are still attack and NOT defensive weapons. Defensive weapons immobilise and attacker and allow you to get away, unless you are trained crack shot that can shot to take down but not kill.

Let the people that pass all the checks have their guns but they also need to be trained in theirusage and the legal implications of such.

Selling and buy weapons, ammo etc..over the INTERNET should be completely illegal! If any cotton picken fool, like this bastard from San Diego with mental problems that went and killed so many innocent people can do such a horrible crime, now just imagine somebody who really hates Americans, America etc..say ALQAEDA, and how long do you think it will be before we have real terrorists who are trained and ready to die and become martyrs for their faith?? All while we gobble popcorn and drink diet coca cola watching the latest crap movies to be rehashed from Hollywood. IMHO

Actually:

Authorities said Holmes bought more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition online, as well as four guns in the two months before the rampage.

It might not have rung any bells after all an may not really be that unusual, that is if he was presenting himself as just a typical target shooting enthusiast.

Bullseye, also known as conventional pistol, is a shooting sport in which participants shoot handguns at paper targets at fixed distances and time limits.

Ammunition

For the rimfire pistol, shooters use high quality target grade ammunition, ideally purchased in bulk so all ammunition comes from the same manufacturing lot, since even minor changes can result in changing point of impact.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullseye_%28shooting_competition%29#Ammunition

"For the rimfire pistol, shooters use high quality target grade ammunition, ideally purchased in bulk so all ammunition comes from the same manufacturing lot, since even minor changes can result in changing point of impact."

And obviously bulk-buying has cost advantages. I don't see this as a law enforcement failure whatsoever.

Colorado Gov John Hickenlooper drew applause when he refused to mention Holmes by name, referring to him only as “suspect A” and insisting that the priority should be to remember the 12 victims.

This man "gets it". I normally vote Democratic, but this man would get my vote (if I lived in his state) no matter WHAT party he represents. You've all heard the phrase "Don't feed the trolls"? I'd modify it a bit to "Don't feed the murderer's egos". Mass murderers should ALWAYS be "Suspect A" and not be glorified in the press by full bios plastered with yearbook pictures.

To quote from a newspaper article I read today:

'''In our country, the mass shootings come so frequently that most of them go by virtually unnoticed,'' Gail Collins wrote in The New York Times. ''Did you catch the one last week in Tuscaloosa? Seventeen people at a bar, hit by a gunman with an assault weapon.'' The answer, of course, for almost everyone, is no. A recent school shooting with multiple deaths rated third-story status in the national TV news and disappeared without trace in a single news cycle. It takes a spectacular outrage or a novel one to get top-line national attention, and the James Holmes massacre was both.

In reaction to the premeditated murder of 12 people and malicious wounding of 59 by one citizen in a Denver cinema, we hear the country's President call it ''terrible'' and the opposition candidate for the presidency call it ''hateful.'' What we hear neither man call it is ''preventable''.'

So true.

I confessed to them that words are always inadequate in these types of situations,he [Obama] said as thousands gathered for a vigil outside the municipal center in Aurora, just outside Denver."

"His nearby apartment was found to be booby-trapped with a sophisticated arsenal of incendiary and chemical devices."

That had absolutely nothing to do with guns and if it would have went off the way he had planned it the carnage would have been just as horrific as the theatre shooting in the nearby apartment blocks. Everyone is focused on guns, as they should be but let us also not forget that alarm bells also did not go off to anyone when he was on his home made chemical explosive buying spree either and if someone would have raised a flag there about him this might also would of had a chance of being prevented in the first place

The reason behind it is that the Washington is already preparing a policy right now, and Obama did not want to be too short.

The policy would include mechanism to prevent a possible suicide bomber attack. We need to be ahead of game to preserve safety and security for all Americans including you, your mom and dad, your brother and sister, your kids and your friends.

If we yield to NRA's political campaign insisting "Gun does not kill, but people kill" , they will take joy and safety out of our life. We need to start working what is "Good" Our problem may be a false picture of what NRA is good for us. Or we may picture NRA as a permissive Jolly Santa Clause protecting our rights- the Amendment 2. If we continue yielding to NRA, we are not doing what is 'GOOD" in humanity. We can do better than that. The NRA will continue wispering "Gun does not kill, but people does" to our ears. Please guard your hearts against it. One individual has a limited power, but together we can change to do better what is "Good and Right" for all of us. . .

"Mass murderers should ALWAYS be "Suspect A" and not be glorified in the press by full bios plastered with yearbook pictures."

Well said. I felt Norway gave their chief murdering nut far too much attention he didn't deserve.

FadamorJul. 23, 2012 - 11:34PM JST

Colorado Gov John Hickenlooper drew applause when he refused to mention Holmes by name, referring to him only as “suspect A” and insisting that the priority should be to remember the 12 victims.

This man "gets it". I normally vote Democratic, but this man would get my vote (if I lived in his state) no matter WHAT party he represents

Gov. John Hikenlooper is a Democrat. FYI The state of Colorado is filled with forward thinkers including two senators who are democrats. Aspen is a world center of World New Ideas.

Making people go underground to find guns makes them susceptible to be found by the police or be turned in by honest citizens.

In reality, no. A criminal that is selling a gun illegally will not turn in someone that is buying the gun from him illegally. That's a good way for the criminal to be arrested. President Obama may not now how to run a good business but even idiots selling guns on the black market do.

And yes, people kill other people. Guns are just the tools they use. The guy was intelligent enough to build bombs he could have just as easily have blown the theater up and killed just as many or more.

Cars kill a lot more people than guns do. Do we outlaw cars? Besides, the right to bear arms is in the Constitution. Where I part with the NRA folks is in the notion that you can't regulate guns more than they are now. You cannot deny a law abiding citizen the right to own a gun, but you can ban them for owning a 5" cannon - which is nothing more than a very big gun.

Banning guns is a non-starter in the US. Anyone advocating that should move on - it just isn't going to happen. It would take a Constitutional amendment and then a police action to seize millions of guns from a lot of very angry people. Reasonable regulations are perfectly fine as-long-as they don't put in place undue burdens upon a law abiding citizen - such as unreasonably high licensing fees and qualification standards, long waiting periods, and then ongoing harassment from authorities once a gun has been properly obtained.

I think the gun rights folks are similar to the pro-abortion crowd (not trying to change the subject but just giving an example of the political dynamic of gun control). Both sides see any sort of compromise as a slippery slope that will lead to their "rights" being taken away from them. Therefore, you have abortions of children with brain activity and a beating heart on the one hand and gun accessories such with 100 round drum magazines.

Wolfpack

That cars example is so sad it isn't funny. This Constitution issue is a problem. It was an amendment, wasn't it? Hence it was amended and could be again. You just need enough people to realize that this mental shift is needed and the U.S. isn't the Wild West it once was (or still is because of guns?). I agree that if guns were banned outright there would be numerous mini-wars all over the country but, if that's what it takes to get rid of them, so be it. The "law-abiding citizen" line is ridiculous too. Those who think they are "responsible gun owners" are irresponsible humans (both criminal and non-criminal). Time to evolve people! Guns are not the answer. Guns are not the answer. Guns are not the answer! But I know it isn't going to happen because, once again, it is big business and big revenue too.

serendipitous

This Constitution issue is a problem. It was an amendment, wasn't it? Hence it was amended and could be again.

True, it is technically an amendment. However, the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution are called 'The Bill of Rights". These were adopted very shortly after the Constitutions ratification and are considered nearly sacrosanct. In my opinion, there is no way that any of the these could be changed for a very, very long time. They are just too important and are considered integral to the Constitution itself.

However, it isn't necessary to change the Constitution. I think that a President that is a strong supporter of the second amendment could push through some common sense changes - like banning 100 round clips. A guy like President Obama wouldn't be trusted.

You just need enough people to realize that this mental shift is needed and the U.S. isn't the Wild West it once was (or still is because of guns?).

I don't believe the Wild West analogy is really an angle that will get very far. America is a large country and gun ownership, hunting, etc. is part of America's culture - particularly in rural areas in the South and West. People will buy guns for self protection, but these guns are not used often by sportsmen or target shooters (although some do use them). The sportsman who hunts and shoots as a hobby usually has a rifle or shotgun.

Those who think they are "responsible gun owners" are irresponsible humans (both criminal and non-criminal).

I don't agree with this point. I don't own a gun myself but if I felt like I was being threatened by someone that the police could not protect me from, then I would buy one. The police don't guard my house 24 hours a day. In the end, you must rely on your own ability to defend yourself.

Time to evolve people! Guns are not the answer. Guns are not the answer. Guns are not the answer! But I know it isn't going to happen because, once again, it is big business and big revenue too.

Again, I disagree with you here. Human nature does not change and will not change. It doesn't matter how modern our society becomes, human beings are susceptible to all of the failings that we have always been - greed, envy, pride, lust, etc.

Gun control laws in Norway did nothing to stop the massacre of 77 people last year. They exist in every country in the world whether or not there are gun laws prohibiting them or not. Sadly, it one of those things that cannot be "fixed". We must deal with them in a rational manner without making ourselves into a police state.