Here I collect the links to my notes pertaining to the Aurora theater murders, drawn both from this web site and from The Objective Standard.
Yesterday I visited the site of the memorial. See my Creative Commons photos hosted by Picasa. Needless to say, it is a solemn and sad place.
I also uploaded a short video of the memorial to YouTube under Creative Commons.
Incidentally, I was not able to capture clear images of possible signage at the theater, because the police have the area taped off far from the entrance. (Also, there was significant window glare, and my 10x zoom was not nearly adequate.) So I cannot offer definitive answers about that matter.
First, let us not lose sight of who’s at fault or what the perpetrator is: Evil.
In “Keeping Crime Risks in Perspective,” I argue that “it is counterproductive to obsess about crime or to make decisions based on irrational fears about crime.” I point out, “Of the 2.5 million deaths in 2010, around 118,000 were from unintentional injuries, 38,000 were by suicides, and 16,000 were by homicide.” Although we should recognize violent crime as horrific and try to stop it, we should also keep our risks in perspective.
In “Condemn Scapegoating in Aftermath of Atrocities,” I point out the foolishness and injustice of blaming legal abortion, the Batman movies, or the National Rifle Association for the murders.
A couple of my articles pertain to general matters of public safety:
* A Modest Proposal for Theater Security (That Would Actually Work)
I propose that theaters place the following sign prominently near the entrance: “Armed, off-duty police officers who carry their guns into this theater get unlimited complimentary movie entry and concessions. Please see management for details.”
* Civilian Responses to Active Attackers
I interview my father Linn about what regular citizens can do to effectively respond to active attackers.
Several of my posts focus on firearms:
* Thoughts on the Aurora Murders and Armed Citizens
I argue that gun restrictions generally have little impact on criminals, yet they make it harder for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves from criminals. I specifically address proposals regarding so-called “assault weapons” and the capacity of magazines.
* Guns, the Media, and Contributing Factors to the Aurora Murders
I discuss what it means for something to be a “contributing factor” to a crime, and what, if anything, the government should do about it.
* Notes About the Aurora Murders, Guns, and the Political Aftermath
I discuss gun magazines at greater length, and I address a few other details pertaining to firearms.
* Correcting the Denver Post’s Errors About Guns
I respond to a Denver Post editorial regarding so-called “high capacity magazines.” I also respond to a few other matters concerning the Post‘s coverage of the murders.
Finally, while it is a mistake to strongly tie the murders to the latest Batman film, obviously the two are historically linked. See my initial thoughts about the movie and my longer review of it, “The Dark Knight Rises—And Asks Us to Rise As Well.”