<p>“As for peoples characters, of COURSE people present differently in public than behind closed doors. This should be a surprise to no one.”</p>
<p>I’m not talking about the normal “more laidback, more outspoken” at home that goes on in many people’s lives. I’m talking about the types who can be CHARMERS and appear to be the “nicest guy in the world” to the public at large…until you “get in their way” somehow and then all bets are off. </p>
<p>That’s why when neighbors or even rather close friends will sometimes be shocked when they find out that someone they thought they knew quite well does something outrageous and later learn that the person had “another side” to them that wasn’t often seen to the general public. </p>
<p>About fifteen years ago, I was shocked (flabbergasted) to learn that the father of a friend used to beat up his wife. You would never have guessed that. Outside of the home, he (and his wife) appeared to be a normal family. </p>
<p>JYM
I’m looking at 13:26:30, jumping instantly to 13:26:35, which is two or three seconds prior to the shot. At about 13:26:18 or so there is something that intrudes into the shooters area from in front, it appears, but I can’t tell if its someone’s arm reaching back to turn around to speak, or what. </p>
<p>It is remarkable that the other off duty policeman gets up and walks over within 10 seconds or so and takes the guy’s gun from him. It looks as though that person has his own gun in his hand, but I can’t tell for sure.</p>
<p>In any case, its that jump in the seconds on the recorder that makes me wonder what happened during that time. I doubt its going to have much impact on the case though. What is clear is that Reeves shot very quickly after being hit with bag of popcorn—less than a second to raise his gun hand and shoot. He had the gun at the ready. The prosecution could probably make a case that he was baiting the guy into provoking a shot. Just before the frames jump ahead, Reeves leans forward sharply, possibly speaking to the victim.</p>
<p>I have a temper about things sometimes. I certainly don’t want some stupid geezer to shoot me. </p>
<p>I see where you mean, dadx, but it doesnt look to my untrained eye like anything is missing. Is it possible there was no movement for those 5 seconds?</p>
<p>I’m surprised no one has commented on how fast “Quick Draw” Reeves was able to reach into his pants, find his piece, pull it out, switch the safety off, aim for deadly effect, and shoot. Also it’s clear that Reeves had a round in the chamber when he re-entered the theater.</p>
<p>^^^
I have commented on that fact. So much so that I suspect that he had the gun in his lap, ready to go. </p>
<p>When men are sitting they tend to have to shift and reach deep to get something out of their pockets…which usually takes a couple of seconds. there doesn’t seem to be that delay. </p>
<p>The DA could have a lot to lose. The DA in the Casey Anthoney case was packing his bags shortly after the verdict. High profile case that I think the polls showed that that the state had a great chance of getting the death sentence for her. She had to be one of the most reviled people in the country during all of this. But the jury looking at the facts as presented in the trial thought she was not guilty of charges as laid out. One can never really be sure what is going to happen in these trials, and it’s a chance that the DA might not want to take.</p>
<p>Because the fact of the matter is that there are a lot of people out there who would love to blow some smart ass out who is dissing them. Look at the movies and shows, that play into that fantasy, the books. Jack Reacher, all of those tough guys are much loved by the general population, and if enough of them make it onto a jury, it only takes one for a hung jury, you know. I’m sure the DA is taking polls right now to see how many people think it served the jerk right to get blown away, and let the guy go to teach all such idiots a lesson. I can just see some high testosterone guy’s blood pressure go up at the thought that someone can grab his popcorn, throw it into his face and mock him and not be able to do a thing. Yeah, he’d love to blow him away. That is the risk the DA takes. Because the fact of the matter is that Oelson acted like a jerk that day. </p>
<p>Especially considering this is taking place in a state where it seems people feel entitled to disproportionately escalate public/neighborly disputes by using firearms whether it was a man shooting a passenger of another car in a gas station because the driver refused to turn down the music blaring from his car…or a woman who barged into someone else’s home threatening neighbors with a gun because she felt they were playing their music too loud…in their own home. </p>
<p>However, that says much more about how screwed up a lot of people are in Florida and other parts of this country regarding self-control, over-the-top overreaction, and the consequent abuse of firearms. </p>
<p>I did comment on it. He was ready to shoot him if something happened. Its obvious that the gun was in his hand before he got hit with the popcorn. I’m not sure what the defense is going to say about that.</p>
<p>BTW, do you really think anyone just carries the gun in their pants pocket, with no holster? I don’t know, but it seems unlikely and dangerous. </p>
<p>I know and that was a reason why I put “Florida and other parts of this country”</p>
<p>
[quote]
Florida just has a nice chunk of not so smart ones. [/quote]</p>
<p>Probably a reason why friends who live in that state use the term “Floridiots” to describe them. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’ve read about a few cases of tragicomedy cases when the gun went off in the pocket and they end up needing emergency surgery. Maybe I am mistaken, but that doesn’t seem to be a very prudent practice if one’s concerned about firearm safety…especially for a retired law enforcement officer. </p>
<p>My personal opinion is that the dangers of allowing folks to carry guns exceeds that of the extra safety by a lot, and this is just one of the things that can happen. My husband’s family live in an area where hunting is big, and nearly all longtime residents have a tradition of owning guns. Many of the guns are family heirlooms. It’s not as though it’s new what the problems with having fire arms available are. The oldtimers talk and, yeah, chuckle as well as shake their heads about this hot head or other shooting brother, friend, spouse, kid, neighbor, whatever when they should not have. A tale as old as time, as I llke to say. I have a friend who has a license to carry, and I swear if anyone wanted to get her, she’d be shot long before could locate the gun in that special place in her purse, and get it ready to use, not to mention she hasn’t kept up with practicing with it. Her sons are the most likely ones to shoot or get shot with the thing, something she reluctantly realized when she found out one of them showed the gun to a friend, and another time when her purse got moved and cause a huge panic. </p>
<p>If Reeves didn’t have a gun, there might be assault charges that he and Oulson would be fighting along with civil lawsuits, but a person would not likely be dead, and there wouldn’t be this horrible uproar that has to be causing everyone tremendous stress. Reeves’ life is pretty much ruined from this regardless of outcome, and Oulson’s family has lost a father, husband, son, etc. Jerks though they may have been that day, these are not people who regularly caused society and other problems, from what we can see so far. Just a little bit of time when one upmanship went too far, and there was a gun to finish it off, and look at this mess and tragedy. </p>
<p>So let’s see what we have so far. Oulsen and his wife enter theater and choose their seats. Reeves enters an essentially empty theatre, sits down behind Oulsen, leans forward, thips him on the ear and says “Turn off your cell phone.” Oulsen ignores him. Reeves leans forward a second time, thips Oulsen on the ear again, and says “You’re violating theater rules. Turn the cell phone off.” Oulsen responds “I’m texting my sick kid.” Reeves leans forward a third time, thips Oulsen on his now-inflamed ear, and says “Turn it off … or else!” Oulsen responds with a vulgarity. Reeves thinks “Ah, a hothead … just what I’ve been waiting for.” He leaves the theater, slides a cartridge into the chamber of his .380, switches the safety off, and returns to his seat. Inside the darkened theater he removes the pistol from his pocket and sets it in his lap. With the stage now set, he badgers his prey again. Oulsen stands up, turns around, and in the blink of an eye he “gets what’s coming to him.”</p>
<p>What difference does it make whether the victim dropped his phone or accidentally launched it when he threw the popcorn when two separate people heard the killer say something to the effect of “I’ll teach you to throw popcorn at me”? He clearly knew it was popcorn. He clearly didn’t think it was some deadly weapon. He would not appear to have a leg to stand on.</p>
<p>Oh, NewHope. You really had me. I haven’t been able to follow this thread because there are so many new posts daily, but oh, man…you had me! My jaw dropped when I read, “…thips him on the ear…” I would’ve gone tae kwon do on anyone who touches me because I’m on my phone.</p>
<p>Also, if the gun wasn’t involved in that equation and the shooter responded with “wrassling” or a fist, it’s very possible that only Oulson would be charged with assault due to his youth and greater size/strength and consideration of the shooter being elderly. </p>
<p>The shooter in that case would likely be let off with a warning or even some sympathetic words due to cop discretion. </p>
<p>Niquil, really, so if some little old lady like my 70 lb mother who is ailing would get whacked if she touched you because you were on the phone? Or some kid? Really, “anyone”? Better find a place to go when it happens, because the state pen is not as cozy as some psych units out there. </p>
<p>That’s the issue with Reeves. We can’t have anyone punching, hurting, clubbing, kniving, and shooting others because they"touched" the person, threw popcorn, paper, even some more substantial things. There is that line, and if it gets crossed, a person who so reacts really is not safe being out there with others. Suppose some mentally handicapped kid tapped you? Sheesh. </p>
<p>LOL It was a hyperbole! You really shouldn’t have taken it so seriously. :D</p>
<p>EDIT: In all seriousness, if I was in the theatre and someone hit me on the ear or smacked me upside the head and told me to put my phone away, I wouldn’t say, “Oh, I’m sorry.” I wouldn’t backhand spring onto the top of my chair and let out a rebel yell, either. </p>