AS A NATION... WE CRIED A COLLECTIVE TEAR. HUGGED ONE ANOTHER A LITTLE CLOSER. ASKED EACH OTHER IN DISBELIEF... WHY???
WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN EXCITING NIGHT OF HIGH DRAMA ONSCREEN TURNED INTO HORROR OFF SCREEN. THE THRILL OF STAYING UP 'TILL MIDNIGHT TO BE THE VERY FIRST TO SEE THE SUMMER'S MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIE WAS SHATTERED BY ONE DISTURBED YOUNG MAN DETERMINED TO MAKE HIS OWN MARK ON THAT NIGHT.
ITS CLEAR, AS FANS OF BATMAN PLANNED FOR THIS BIG FUN NIGHT JAMES HOLMES ALREADY HAD THE TOOLS IN PLACE TO ATTACK. POLICE SAY, OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS HE'D PURCHASED FOUR WEAPONS. HE BOUGHT THEM AT TWO DIFFERENT STORES AND NOT WITHIN THE FIVE DAY PERIOD WHICH WOULD HAVE ALERTED AUTHORITIES. HE BOUGHT THE ROUNDS ON-LINE. 3000 IN ONE PURCHASE. 3000 IN ANOTHER.
BY ALL ACCOUNTS, HOLMES FLEW UNDER THE RADAR. HE'D NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW. HAD GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, BUT WAS LEAVING UC DENVER WHERE HE'D STUDIED NUEROSCIENCE. THAT GETS US BACK TO THE QUESTION... WHY???
AS I LOOKED INTO SOME OF THE DEADLIEST MASS SHOOTINGS AROUND THE WORLD I LOOKED FOR ANSWERS. THE CONFESSED KILLED IN NORWAY WHO MASSACRED 77 KIDS AT A CAMP IN NORWAY WANTED TO SEND AN ANTI-MUSLIM MESSAGE. THE ARMY PSYCHIATRIST WHO KILLED 13 AT FORT HOOD IS SAID TO HAVE BECOME A "VIOLENT ISLAMIST." THE VIRGINIA TECH STUDENT WHO KILLED 32 WAS REPORTEDLY MENTALLY UNSOUND. A MAN WHO SHOT UP A LUBY'S IN TEXAS KILLING 23 WAS DESCRIBED IN WIKIPEDIA AS "ANGRY AND WITHDRAWN." WITH THE TWO COLUMBINE KIDS WE LOOKED AT THE ISSUE OF OUTCASTS, ANTI-DRESSANTS, VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES/MUSIC, AND GUN LAWS.
THESE EXPLAINATIONS MAY ANSWER SOME OF THE WHY'S... AND YET AGAIN THEY DON'T.
