I think that masks and fake weapons don't pose any threat to anyone, so to restrict such things is not only silly, but also reaffirms the notion that everyone should be paranoid/afraid. Are movie theaters going to start turning into airports? TSA searches next? And to put it out there - if more of the population was armed, incidents like this would never happen. Just look at the 71 year old hero in Florida who saved everyone from the robbers a few days ago.

If guns had been more difficult to obtain, this man might never have had them to begin with. And the latest report I read said that the shooter in Colorado had acquired his guns legally--which deflates the argument I've seen so often recently on The Patch, that the CRIMINALS all obtain their guns illegally. And do we really want a theater full of armed people? Does that really sound like a SAFER environment? The Old West was not a pretty scenario, and I for one do not want to see it brought back.

This just makes more people wanting to go.
The excitement of being there to see if anything happens.
So what will the do next set up body scanners?
Jim@ccfiile.com

I don't want to own a gun. I don't want to HAVE to own a gun. I don't want to shoot a gun. I don't have a problem with other people owning handguns or rifles, but I do draw the line at automatic weapons. Who are you defending, or what are you hunting, with an automatic weapon? I just don't understand it. I get the right to bear arms, but I find it hard to believe this is what our forefathers had in mind.

Nice to see my comment "shot" off the site...
Jim@ccfiile.com

David, you can't blame guns on this as the problem.
It would be like blaming the microwave oven if somebody put cat in it and killed it. If the man went to a legal process to purchase the gun then that is the legal process. I think the big thing that should be asked is what is making people in our society to go over the edge and do things like this.

 If movie theaters are going to go to policies where they they start bringing in more security then its time that the people that go to the movie theaters protest and stop going to the theaters.

Joe Rizoli

I agree with Kim 100% and she states it perfectly. I also have no interest in owning a gun. I have never seen one. In general I think the US's gun laws are too lax, but fine, Constitutional Right to bear arms, I get it. Automatic and semi automatic weapons though? I also don't think that is what was meant.

Forks are a factor in obesity, should we make them harder to obtain? Should we make the "Big mac's" more difficult to purchase, should cars be harder to buy?

Making Automatic Guns illegal would mean only criminals would have them. You don't solve a paper cut by slicing off the finger, because it only makes a bigger wound.

And yes, if more people in that theater had guns the situation would have undoubtedly been much less severe, to argue otherwise is just an exercise in stupidity. Why would you punish everybody for the actions of one?

I saw a car crash the other day, should every driver in the town suffer insurance penalties for the damage?

I'm all for guns but the automatic weapons stuff seems a bit "overkill" pardon the pun.
Jim@ccfiile.com

And also anybody who say's that gun laws are too "lax" are severely uninformed, why don't you go get your license if it's so easy?

Really, educate yourselves before making such foolish statements.

learn the laws, the process for getting a license, and shoot a gun before making stupid comments on thing you clearly don't understand in the least bit.

Unless you have an armed Police officer with you 24/7 that is...

How about we start outlawing certain breeds of dogs in masses once a single animal bites somebody due to the owner? How about we outlaw cars that go above 60? Why would you need one that goes that fast? Let's outlaw alcohol while we're at it, nobody NEEDS it, so lets get rid of it. and nobody NEEDS cigarettes, so let's ban them, hell, those kill more people than gun's ever could. Plus they're bad for the environment.

I mean sure, criminals will still get they're hands on them, but good honest people wont have them at least...

Fully Automatic Guns are one of the most difficult thing to acquire in our society, and for the people who work their A***'s off to be able to buy one to suddenly be told they have to give them up due to the actions of a mentally disturbed individual or a criminal who BROKE THE LAW? That's UN-American. Like I said, we should also ban fast cars, because somebody may go to fast and BREAK THE LAW.

It's makes as much sense as closing all the movie theaters to solve the problem.

And just for the record, the guy didn't have an Automatic Weapon, he had a Pistol, a Shotgun, and a Semi-Auto Rilfe(that means one shot per trigger pull to all the gun illiterate folks)

So you all can stop bashing Full Auto Guns.

@ David Nolta: So following your logic we should dis-arm police and military right?

After all, if one crooked cop shoots a person the rest should suffer, right?

I mean After the Fort Hood tragedy clearly nobody in the military should have guns either right? I mean cuz any one of them could just go crazy any time, right?

Clearly nobody in that theater would have wanted a gun in that moment right? Because the police saved everybody right?
I mean, it's not like a person could have changed the outcome if they're not a cop right?

Also, can you link to an article that states that he was in fact legally licensed to have firearms? I cant seem to find any article that states that myself.

Forks, cars and microwaves were not built to kill. A firearm is meant to kill. That's it's main purpose. (for targets as well but Id argue not the MAIN function.) You can't use an argument like that when a major function of the design is to critically harm or kill. Not apples to apples.

If the crowd had been armed that night, given the tear gas and smoke from the discharged firearm reported that filled the theater, it would have resulted in even more deaths - IMO. No one could see. Imagine multiple shooters in that chaos?

Saying no masks and fake weapons is like saying no one could wear trench coats to school after Colombine. Makes no sense all.

Its our constitutional right to have firearms. That's not up for discussion or worth getting upset over since that's not changing. This guy did everything according to the law. Clean record, legally owned. Not sure what could have changed?

I'd like to add that guns purchased legally in a store are subject to the gun laws of the state they are sold in. However what about guns sold through private sellers? Someone who bought a gun legally, and then decided they just didn't want it anymore. There are even websites for people to auction of the guns....a gun ebay if you will. I am coming around to the side of those who claim we need tougher laws against guns. And Ryan...it is VERY easy to turn a semi automatic into fully auto if you have some knowlege of how guns work and are mechanically inclined...

Sorry...last thing from me on this subject for a bit! In the State of Colorado, if you have a clean record, you can walk in to a gun store and walk out with a gun the same day! In order to carry it concealed you would need to apply for a permit, but I mean really?

http://www.wdtv.com/wdtv.cfm?func=view&section=5-News&item=How-Hard-Is-It-To-Purchase-A-Gun-In-Our-State4283

Ok. Let's make guns ALL guns illegal right now!!! Effective immediately!! Just like cocaine....just like heroin....Crack...Meth..all illegal and ALL still a problem in America. Making things hard to get doesn't keep a person who wants it from getting it. My next statement is for those who dont understand semi auto weapons rights. Our founding fathers are quoted in numerous document stating that a WELL ARMED (which meant at the time and now the weapons closest to the military as possible) is vital to the citizens of a free state to protect us from GOVERNMENT! Without a well armed population any government can pass laws or taxes or ANYTHING they want....have you ever heard of the Revolutionary War. If all they had were pistols and not the same weapons as the British army we would be BRITS!

Here is what you need to ask yourself ALL people against guns. If you are in a movie theater and a crazy man walks in and starts shooting as he walks up the rows getting closer to you at that moment if someone handed you a gun and said "here you go...now you have a chance" would you tell him no I don't like guns... the police are on their way...they will get here before he reaches my row.

@BigTex - ah, fear and consumption. Nice.

Dave, good to hear about being a history major. Without knowing our past we can not make way for the future. What made up the Militia back then? Anyone pulled from the population that could shoot a gun! And without a population willing and able to revolt no right is guaranteed! History has proven that. As for body armor...I could care less if we can get that or not. @ Kim your comment has no validity. It's called living in the real world...people do bad things..horrible things...i wish this wasnt true but it is. So that said, I would rather have my pistol under my shirt and have a chance if one of those people cross my path so I at least have a chance to go home to my family. And maybe save your life too if we are in the room together!

@Tex...How are you going to save Kim's life, when you arent even brave enough to use your real name?

There is a time and place to prove ones bravery. Something I have had at times daily in my life and know well that a chat room is not the place to prove anything to any man or woman.

@BigTex - Dave & Kim are asking for you to use your real first and last name as the majority of the posters on the Framingham Patch site do post with their full real names - so we can have civil conversations.

As this article was cross-posted on numerous sites, I have not enforced the first name and last name rule, but it would be nice if you updated your profile to use your first and last name.

Just to let you know what the Govt. is up to.
http://tinyurl.com/7tf6x5s
They love when things like this happen as it adds to their case against YOU owning a gun. So they are making sure you can't get the bullets. Brilliant!
Smart move, too bad most people don't see it.
Jim@ccfiile.com

Tex...Jim....I'm not against people owning guns. But I am all for the Federal Government laying down laws about who can have them. Gun laws, in my opinion, should not differ state to state. Is it ok to walk into a gun store and walk out with a semi automatic rifle the same day? That makes no sense. In Colorado you can buy a gun, but then you have to wait for a license to carry it? I wonder how many are actually doing that? This is an area where the Government should have more authority. How many 6 year olds have to die because of how easy it is to buy a gun in certain states? How about a national waiting period of say 30 days for you to pick up your legally purchased gun, and your background checked license? Is that to much to ask? And how about body armor cannot be sold on the internet? Any problems there? How about no private sales of guns? If you want to sell yours, go to a gun store and get what you can. If you are found to have sold it privately, then you would face a stiff sentence. Are these acceptable ideas? Guns should only be in the hands of people who are trained and know how to use them.

Dave, first let me say I have enjoyed this conversation with you. I understand the point about the background checks.... the extending days to get a gun....all that makes sense. The horrible truth is even if you do all that...even if all guns are illegal tomorrow...or even if you have crazy steps to take to get any type of gun. You can't stop crazy...you can't stop evil. Bad people will still get guns however they have to they will wait however long they have to wait.... and do bad things just like illegal drugs. Again I have enjoyed you cross talk and Susan thank you for letting me post my opinion on your site. Your friend-Big Tex

@ Tex ...I enjoyed it as well. I completely understand what your point. I actually hate the idea of having more government...because you know they would set up like 15 different committees for gun sales! I just feel that we have to do something, instead of shedding tears, shaking our fists and doing nothing!