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James Holmes Is Insane, But So Are Our Gun Laws

Roger Ebert: Now would be a good time to change things

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 21, 2012 12:09 PM CDT

(Newser) – Roger Ebert guesses that Dark Knight shooting suspect James Holmes isn't obsessed with Batman, just publicity. He "must also have been insane," writes Ebert in the New York Times. The problem is that our nation's gun laws are equally so. The US "is one of few developed nations that accepts the notion of firearms in public hands," he complains. We're about to enter the usual back-and-forth that always follows a public shooting, but don't expect much to change.

"The issue has become so closely linked to paranoid fantasies about a federal takeover of personal liberties that many politicians feel they cannot afford to advocate gun control," writes Ebert. He finds it poignant that one of the victims, Jessica Ghawi, barely survived a mall shooting last month, only to die this week. "The circle of madness is closing." Read his full column here.

Three helicopters make a flyover of the Century Theater on Saturday in Aurora, Colo.
Three helicopters make a flyover of the Century Theater on Saturday in Aurora, Colo.   (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 262 comments
ChristinaSmythe
Jul 24, 2012 11:43 AM CDT
I am very sorry for the loss of the families of the victims.Someone created a memorial page for these victims on Evertalk within Facebook. There is a memorial fund on this page and people can donate to help the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy. Here's the page. https://apps.facebook.com/evertalk/index/memorial/victimscolorado2137
DaiichiKuronama
Jul 22, 2012 3:34 PM CDT
He's right. Mexico doesn't allow civilians to own guns, and their streets have never been safer.
LarryG
Jul 22, 2012 11:21 AM CDT
I wonder how many of the victims are NRA members....if they were, I wonder if they were cheering that he was enjoying is right to bear arms,,,,sad day in America,,,,,
 

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