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SWAT Gear Scariest Part of James Holmes' Arsenal

What made James Holmes unique was his defense, William Saletan argues

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 23, 2012 1:46 PM CDT

(Newser) – James Holmes "didn't just kill a dozen people" with his Colorado shooting rampage, writes William Saletan on Slate. "He killed the NRA's answer to gun violence." The NRA has been arguing for years that, to quote its CEO in the wake of the Tucson shooting, "The best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." But would-be gun-slinging heroes would not have fared well against Holmes, who was armored from head to toe.

"Really bad guys—guys capable of planning a serious rampage—aren’t stupid," Saletan argues. It's incredibly easy to buy bullet-stopping armor online. Saletan likens it to missile defense ruining the concept of mutually assured destruction. Gun control probably won't stop people like Holmes. "But what if arming the good guys doesn't work either? What if an Internet full of gas masks and bulletproof vests has plunged us over our heads in an arms race with psychopaths?" Click for Saletan's full column.

SWAT gear is seen in this file photo.
SWAT gear is seen in this file photo.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 162 comments
Libtard
Jul 23, 2012 8:59 PM CDT
Flac vests are completely outlawed unless you are in law enforcement so the fact that he had this stuff shows how Dunb libtards are. They cry out to ban guns and think it would help. Well libtard half wits flac vests are illegal in Colorado and what do you know he had one anyway. Murder is illegal he murdered anyway. Laws won't make you safe because criminals break laws it's what they do.
steuss
Jul 23, 2012 7:46 PM CDT
How about, if everyone was armed, and someone pulled out a gun, who would you shoot, especially if everyone pulled out your gun. How would you know who was the initial agressor. You'd just have a bunch of idiot cowboys shooting each other while the initial killer could sit back and watch everyone shoot each other. allowing guns for everyone is utter lunacy.
Nxxxx
Jul 23, 2012 7:35 PM CDT
I'd like to see more concealed carriers in the news for being able to stop, or limit, this kind of thing.
 

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