Shooter was playing the role of "The Joker"?

Everything still speculation... sad.

J

They are now reporting that he had a ticket, was in the front row, and took a phone call (whether real or set up when the movie got to the point he wanted). Then he exited through the emergency exit, geared up with groin protection, throat protector, vest, guns and ammo. Colored his goatee and hair red, re-entered the theater from the rear and tossed tear gas grenades, fired into the ceiling, then shot 70+ people. Dressed all in black. Yeah, he was playing a role.
The guns were legally purchased as wel as the ammo, so they were registered.
I think I will re-join the NRA today, they will be needing the money. One evil person who is a murderer and IMO fully responsible for their actions should not be used by anyone to try to curb my (our your) right to keep and bear arms. 100 years ago he would be in a courtroom by now and they would be building gallows for dawn tomorrow. Sometimes I think we have become too civilized, but that could be just me... I reserve the right to be a 19th century man.

J

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9416529/Batman-cinema-shooting-James-Holmes-told-police-he-was-The-Joker.html
 
J

And you know that when the guy ultimately ends up in court, they'll all be arguing whether or not he is crazy. 

I think I can make that diagnosis right now. Exhibit A: he thought he was the smegging Joker. 

This is really sad - my condolences to the victims and their families as well...

This reminds me so much of what happened here last year at Utøya, where all these people were stuck in a closed off area at gunpoint 70 people shot, that's about the same number of people that got killed over here as well. This guy however, I believe is a crazy psychopath unless he says something to remedy that, which it wouldn’t surprise me if he did. What scares me is that it doesn't seem like it was a random act of violence either. he had acquired the gear, got hair dye, set up his home with booby traps. In other words, he didn't come up with this the same afternoon which makes me think; we may not understand what he did, but it doesn't mean he is crazy, although at this point, I’d like to think he is.

The trial against the Utøya killer and Oslo bomber is all about whether he is crazy or not. I really hope you don't have to deal with that over there. I'm surprised he chose to live as it seems most of these massacres ends up with the killer either committing suicide or being shot by the cops, another reason why they probably will be debating his sanity. I really wonder what his motives were. I hope the families of the victims, and the rest of the nation, will get the answers they need as soon as possible and can get on with the grieving.
 
I’m looking forward to see the movie by the way. I always though of Batman as a douchebag in a costume with gadgets, not as a superhero. After Christofer Nolan’s movies I finally saw him as a superhero and I’m a huge fan of these movies – in particular the last one with Heath Ledger as the Joker. That’s a master piece IMO! But I can’t go to the cinema and watch this without thinking of what happened in Denver.
 
What happened there is absolutely horrifying…

Oh, he's definitely not sane, but he's also definitely NOT insane per the criminal defense classification.  He knew exactly what he was doing and there was an extreme amount of premeditation.

As I understand.  Being criminally insane, and pleading insanity are two different things.  This kind of long premeditation, and planning shows sound mind. Insane?  Yeah..  criminally insane.  but can not enter a plea of, "not guilty by reason of insanity."   Although I'm afraid we will have to wait for a Doctor in the house, if we wish to be lectured on how the criminally insane, are sound and determinate thinkers.

Beyond the scope of my understanding..   

Regardless, the situation is incredibly sad, my thoughts are still with the victims, and the man responsible should be prosecuted and sentenced accordingly...

ProjectM

 
I’m looking forward to see the movie by the way. I always though of Batman as a douchebag in a costume with gadgets, not as a superhero. After Christofer Nolan’s movies I finally saw him as a superhero and I’m a huge fan of these movies – in particular the last one with Heath Ledger as the Joker. That’s a master piece IMO! But I can’t go to the cinema and watch this without thinking of what happened in Denver.
 
What happened there is absolutely horrifying…

 I always dug Batman exactly for those reasons - no superpower, just a man w/ his will and his intelligence. And, well, yeah, gimmicks - but I'm a guitar player, and we like gimmicks almost as much as keyboardists. ;)


But it was great to see Nolan put the emphasis on the martial arts training - because that's where the penchant for gimmicks comes from, it puts it into a context.
Overall, Nolan really brought Batman where I'd always wanted to see him.

Similarly, I've just seen that he was producing a reboot of the Superman series. I've always disliked Superman because he is the exact opposite of Batman - so righteous and clean and he has a superpower for every situation. 

I'm hoping that maybe at last I'll be able to enjoy a Superman movie.

Starise


 I see this guy as cold calculating and evil. Evil doesn't necessarily need to look like evil. I'm not exactly sure what the connection is but these guys are usually always younger white males.

I never understood  movies like Hostel where people watch other people suffer and get some kind of enjoyment from it. 

 Could these kinds of so called entertainment be desensitizing people to violence?

 I remember recently watching someone I know playing a video game where you blow someones head off and blood is everywhere,and while playing the game they are giggling with delight. Is this what we have come to?

  I know the argument is that not everyone who plays these games kills people but I think the desensitivity is prevailing or the contribution by this media to the problem. 

 My heart goes out to all of the innocent people who were just out for a fun evening at the movies.

Although a valid point, I'll offer this as a counter to think about.  It's always been part of human history to be fascinated/horrorified by violent death and the usual method before video games was war where FAR more people ended up dead.  While it's a wonderful dream to envision a world without any conflict, it's not only a pipedream but not what life is meant to be.  If everything is rosy and nice, what would you learn?  Can you actually realize "good" without evil to contrast it?  I think it's sadder when people look out a window at nature and don't notice it.
 
My thoughts go out to the survivors but, if these same people had all died in car accidents instead, would we give it the same attention?