Remember the victims of theatre shooting

By now, I’m sure we have all heard of the mass shooting that took place at an Aurora, Colorado movie theatre in the early morning hours of Friday, July 20 during a midnight premiere of the new Batman film The Dark Knight Rises, an attack that claimed 12 lives and wounded dozens of others.

There are a number of troubling aspects about this crime, one being the wide array of age groups harmed in the shootings. Not only does this show the perpetrator’s complete lack of regard for human life, but it also gives the killings a feeling of being a true attack on the world.

Incidents such as the Colorado murders do more than cause us to mourn for the victims and their loved ones. They — albeit temporarily — rob people of their feelings of security.

Those who purchased tickets to that debut screening of The

Dark Knight Rises were just there to enjoy a movie. Most of them had probably looked forward to seeing the film for weeks. Instead, a cretin chose to use that night as a way to piggyback off of a multi-million dollar franchise in a pathetic attempt to bring significance to his life.

The Aurora killings were an attack on our hobbies and passions — things designed to distract us from the problems of everyday life and provide us with enjoyment.

I think all of these factors are what makes this tragedy different from most other crimes, at least for me.

Many Batman fans have publicly stated that they still plan to see The Dark Knight Rises in theatres and will not allow the Colorado tragedy to damper their excitement for the film. That’s good — they shouldn’t. The victims in Aurora were at that cinema for the very same reason.

The Colorado incident was a painful reminder that none of us truly know what is going to happen when we step out of our homes. At the end of the day, we have no other choice than to trust that we aren’t going to be in the presence of somebody who will intentionally try to harm us when we walk out that door. And truthfully, that is correct most of the time. July 20, 2012 was a tragically rare exception.

There are a number of online pieces available for viewing that profile the lives of the Colorado murder victims and I urge everyone to read at least one of them. It is important for their lives to be remembered individually.

My heartfelt thoughts and best wishes go out to every person affected by the Colorado tragedy on Friday, July 20, 2012.

Adam Wilcox Niagara Falls