Texting in movie theater sparks fatal shooting

[GoOKC1991]

Obviously, not a reason to shoot someone, but the constant texting and sometimes even filming (piracy) at movie theaters is very annoying.

Police: Texting argument in movie theater sparks fatal shooting - CNN.com

[hoya]

People should turn off their damn phones.

[kevinpate]

People should turn off their damn phones.

And leave their firearms holstered.

[BBatesokc]

Obviously, not a reason to shoot someone, but the constant texting and sometimes even filming (piracy) at movie theaters is very annoying.

Police: Texting argument in movie theater sparks fatal shooting - CNN.com

It was during the previews and he was texting his daughter. I say before the movie starts you can do what you want.

[GoOKC1991]

It was during the previews and he was texting his daughter. I say before the movie starts you can do what you want.

I fully understand. I was just talking in general, because I see it almost every time I go to the movies.

Once at a movie at Harkins, a staff member came in during the movie to check for specially people texting and told those who were to stop, this was the only time I've seen that happen.

[Mel]

I wouldn't mind some type of software that disables phone use while you are in the theatre. Lobby phone use only.

[BBatesokc]

I fully understand. I was just talking in general, because I see it almost every time I go to the movies.

Once at a movie at Harkins, a staff member came in during the movie to check for specially people texting and told those who were to stop, this was the only time I've seen that happen.

I hear ya. Until recently we'd only go to a movie after it had been out a couple of weeks and only in the early morning to avoid all the clowns who use their phones, bring their loud kids or like to talk to each other - or even at the screen.

However, lately we reserve a seat at Penn Square and have really enjoyed it with no distractions.

[Plutonic Panda]

What an idiot. Lock this guy up for life.

[Mel]

I hear ya. Until recently we'd only go to a movie after it had been out a couple of weeks and only in the early morning to avoid all the clowns who use their phones, bring their loud kids or like to talk to each other - or even at the screen.

However, lately we reserve a seat at Penn Square and have really enjoyed it with no distractions.

The first time we went to that theatre and my wife powered that chair out she looked at me and said " I REALLY like this" which means in couple talk, this theatre and no other.

[Celebrator]

When I lived in Florida, I could never understand why people there were so angry...very short tempered and rude, generally. Stop and smell the orange blossoms, people!

[RadicalModerate]

I wouldn't mind some type of software that disables phone use while you are in the theatre. Lobby phone use only.

Perhaps the same technology could be applied to drivers of vehicles in motion?
They could call this marvelous invention "Choice". . .

[Stew]

Florida? Who knows this could end up being self defense. Perhaps the shooter felt threatened after he confronted the texter.
How big was the victim? Was he sporting a hoodie and perhaps packing skittles and a can of ice tea drink. How tragic.

[jerrywall]

What's funny to me is that no one seems to be talking about the fact that the shooter is evidently a retired police officer (a captain in fact). So either a) he's off his rocker b) they employ some really messed up career officers in florida (totally possible) or c) there's more to this story than simply shooting someone for texting.

[RadicalModerate]

Let's look at the "evidence" here for a moment . . .
71 y.o. former police officer (captain, ret.) . . .
46 y.o. phone texting addict . . .
Scarface (w/Al Pacino) (Movie) . . .
Flashback from the end of the "law and order" days . . .
PTSD: "OK M-frk . . . Say "hello" to MY leetle friend . . ."
(reasonable doubt? . . . maybe yes, maybe no . . .)

[kevinpate]

What's funny to me is that no one seems to be talking about the fact that the shooter is evidently a retired police officer (a captain in fact). So either a) he's off his rocker b) they employ some really messed up career officers in florida (totally possible) or c) there's more to this story than simply shooting someone for texting.

texting, arguing, taunting over talking to a theater employee, arguing, someone throwing popcorn, gun drawn, shot fired, gunman sits down with gun in lap waits for cops, another off duty cop keeps an eye on first one.

Does it make one hoot or hollar whether the chap who brought out his gun during a cell phone argument was a retired cop, school teacher, baker, banker, bricklayer or neurosurgeon?

Anyone trained to carry is trained to not draw unless you intend to put your threat down. If someone draws on a cell phone texting, loudmouth, popcorn pitching, turd in a punch bowl, it will end badly if a round is fired, more badly if the aim is true, unless the shooter can sell it as being in fear for his life.

Preliminary reports don't suggest that this ends well for the shooter. Nor should it absent something very compelling.

[Martin]

wouldn't have happened at alamo drafthouse... -M

[BBatesokc]

What's funny to me is that no one seems to be talking about the fact that the shooter is evidently a retired police officer (a captain in fact). So either a) he's off his rocker b) they employ some really messed up career officers in florida (totally possible) or c) there's more to this story than simply shooting someone for texting.

My vote is for "a" and "b." I didn't talk about it initially because the subject of bully cops get me pretty heated pretty fast. Because of my bias I just assume he's spent most of his life telling people what to do and they do it (because he's the one allowed to bully with a gun). When that doesn't happen he gets offended and that quickly becomes rage. No big mystery to me (but I'm admittedly jaded).

Some people will say this validates why they carry a gun - to me it validates why I don't.

I wouldn't have wanted to be on either end of that argument and I wouldn't have wanted to get into a gun fight in a theater full of people with my wife in harms way. Even if I knew I was 100% defending myself and herself, I guarantee the fact the guys a retired police captain the odds and the lies would have been stacked against me. I'd almost rather take the bullet (and hopefully live) and my innocence be absolute than to go through the hell you'd have to go through to prove your innocence against a cop shooter.

I sound anti-gun in that rant, but people who know me know I'm anything but.

[kelroy55]

What an idiot. Lock this guy up for life.

At 71 that won't be too long.

[onthestrip]

I don't go to the movie theater very much but is it that big of a deal for someone to text during movie? I can see if phones were ringing, answering a call or just generally being loud and annoying but texting..? It's silent, what's the problem?

[PennyQuilts]

Tick,tick, tick, tickitty, tick.....tick ... Tick, tick, tick. Extremely irritating once you notice it (they could turn off the sound and that would help). And it is just barn raised behavior. I noticed a huge difference in movie etiquette a year or two after home movies became widespread - some people started acting like a movie theater was their living room. Most people settle down once the movie starts because they get interested in the show, happily.

Texting isn't quite as annoying as cell phone talking in public. There is something about a one sided conversation that is too jarring to just tune out. 100 times more distracting than just a nearby conversation and I guess it had something to do with the flow of speech, dunno. Can't imagine shooting someone, though.

[FritterGirl]

I don't go to the movie theater very much but is it that big of a deal for someone to text during movie? I can see if phones were ringing, answering a call or just generally being loud and annoying but texting..? It's silent, what's the problem?

Because you go to a movie theatre, and PAY your money to escape reality for a few hours. But when the lights go down and the movie starts, you want to get immerse yourself with what's happening on the big screen, not be distracted by the movement and glaring lights of someone else's smartphone. The room is dark, the phones are not. They stand out, even if put on reverse so someone is texting white characters on a darkened screen. If a person can't go two hours tops without texting, tweeting or checking their fb status, maybe going to the movies just isn't for them. It's about common courtesy to everyone who is in the theatre.

And yes, I feel the same way about talkers and loud popcorn crunchers.

[BBatesokc]

I agree that texting can be as annoying as talking. The bright unexpected light is very distracting. If I wanted to be distracted while watching a movie I'd just watch it at home.

I'm pretty bad about saying something when someone is being overly annoying at a theater. We had a guy wearing his blue tooth head set awhile back and he was right in front of us. All I could see was this blue blinking light. I asked him to turn it off. He seemed annoyed, but complied (or else I was gonna cap his ass! *joke*).

Was at Tinsel Town awhile back and two people went and got staff members because some guy would not stop talking (very loudly) to his date. He was a very big guy and I think he was basically challenging people to say something. He was told to be quiet or leaver. He stood up and flipped off the audience before finally settling down. He wasn't near us so I could barely hear him, but he was really annoying those around him.

Then there's the whole foot next to your face from the guy sitting behind you with his feet on the empty seat next to you.

My pet peeves at the movies goes on and on.

[kelroy55]

If everyone in the theater had a gun they could of prevented this, or so the NRA says.

[Anonymous.]

At 71 that won't be too long.

This. Does being of an older age make people care less about the consequences of their actions?

Perhaps this man was at his "I don't care anymore" age range.


I think there needs to be more studies and research dedicated to the moral decay in elderly people, who are usually suffering in many categories of life. And consequently, help these elders go out on happier steps.

[hoya]

I think there needs to be more studies and research dedicated to the moral decay in elderly people, who are usually suffering in many categories of life. And consequently, help these elders go out on happier steps.