The Issue: The homicidal shooting spree last week at a midnight premiere of “The Dark Knight Rises.”
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Why didn’t Colorado police kill the Batman shooter, James Holmes (“More Gun Violence,” Editorial, July 21)?
He doesn’t deserve to live, but he’ll soon be put through all kinds of tests to see if he’s sane, and the state will spend a fortune on his trial.
Even if he’s found guilty, he may spend his life in prison at taxpayer expense, with three meals a day and free medical care.
He’ll live; the victims’ families will suffer for the rest of their lives.
He deserves no trial or prison — he should get the death penalty immediately. Mike Mignone
Dingmans Ferry, Penn.
The level of violence portrayed in film and on TV is protected by the Constitution but promotes destruction.
Now the families who lost their precious loved ones because of the acts of this deranged soul will be handing over their hard-earned money through taxes to feed, clothe and “rehabilitate” him in prison.P. Mikelis
Old Tappan, NJ
There should be swift justice — enough witnesses saw this animal do his dirty deed that there is no reason for decades of appeals.
One trial, one verdict, and then end it. We don’t have to be subjected to seeing his mug on TV for months on end.
Loved ones have suffered enough. Let closure come as quickly as he snuffed out the lives of those innocents.
Chris Michaels
Morganville, NJ
It’s time for introspection in Hollywood, and time to stop making violent movies.
There are a lot of sick people out there who respond accordingly when they see violent junk.
The films of today are so violent that they make old James Cagney and Edward G. Robinson gangster films seem like “Mary Poppins” in comparison.Ed Greenspan
Brooklyn
In a New York minute, people from all parts of the political spectrum started pointing fingers in a foolish attempt at political gain.
But the truth is, none of it makes sense.
Holmes is a soulless man, and one wonders if God was on vacation the day this creature was created.Gary Schwartz
Fort Lee
Why were any children at a violent midnight movie when they should have been at home, sleeping in bed?
If parents can’t afford a babysitter, they should go to a 5 p.m. show.
Very little good happens after midnight.
JR Cummings
Manhattan
After the Aurora massacre, some movie theaters are temporarily beefing up their security.
But that won’t solve the problem. In a few weeks, the added security will be gone, as theaters can’t afford such costs on a long-term basis.
Tragedies like what happened in Aurora have also occurred at college campuses, high schools, malls, fast-food restaurants, on subways, military compounds and at workplaces.
We live in a dangerous world. Though we can make certain places safer, we can’t prevent violence entirely. If a killer has made up his mind and is determined to kill numerous people, there isn’t much we can do to stop him.
Kenneth Zimmerman
Huntington Beach, Calif.
To their great credit, President Obama and Mitt Romney both made heartfelt statements about the Aurora massacre and suspended their mudslinging for a day.
But both referred to the incident as a “tragedy,” which is not the word for this horror.
“Tragedy” has come to mean something more like an act of God.
What befell our fellow Americans in Aurora was an atrocity, carried out by a sub-human who is not part of civilization — someone who lives to inflict horror on innocent people.
Words matter. We should choose them carefully, especially in times of national mourning and national outrage.
Oren M. Spiegler
Upper Saint Clair, Penn.
The media is doing a fine job of planting seeds of evil in the minds of lunatics everywhere by plastering Holmes’ face all over.
This gives him just what he seeks: notoriety.
John Lacey
Southold