"We must carry arms because we value our lives and those of our loved ones"

We are deeply saddened by the tragic violence that took place at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado shortly after midnight this morning.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their friends and families.

The suspect is in custody and at least 12 people were shot and killed in the incident.  As many as 50 people may have been injured while attending the premiere of the Batman movies, “The Dark Knight Rises”. 

A similar shooting at a mall in Australia eventually lead to the banning of firearms in Australia.  The right to bear arms is also banned in Canada where several of these type shootings have occurred in recent months. 

Witnesses in Colorado say that the assailant entered the theater through an exit door.  He threw two cannisters which exploded in the theater and emitted gas and smoke.  He waited for both bombs to explode before he started shooting.  Two witnesses say he fired into the air before he started shooting towards people.

Witnesses say the shooter never said a word.  Smoke filled the theater making it difficult for anyone in the theater to see. 

There is no doubt that this tragic event will be used to call for gun control and gun bans in the United States.  Gun bans do not work.  Everything this shooter did is already illegal and there are both state and federal laws making his actions illegal.  These laws carry significant penalties up to and including the death sentence.

Gun control laws do not work.  See similar recent shootings in Norway and Canada for details. Both counties have some of the most strict gun control laws in the world.

Concealed carry by responsible, trained, law abiding citizens saves lives.  If some of the law abiding citizens in that Aurora movie theater had been trained and legally armed, the outcome would no doubt have resulted in the loss of fewer innocent lives. 

Cinemark Theaters ban possession of handguns as a national policy.  AMC Theaters also has a “Gun Free Zone” national policy.  I have not seen signs making it prohibiting licensed concealed carry in any DFW area  movie theater. I do not patronize GUN FREE ZONE establishments or businesses.

My personal policy is not to go anywhere that bans the possession of concealed carry handguns by permit holders UNLESS there are armed police officers on duty at the venue.  When you enter a courthouse or other public building, or a large sporting event, armed police officers are on duty there to protect you.  When you enter a mall, a theater, or a restaurant, you are on your own.

41 of the 50 states have shall issue or Constitutional carry, which allows law abiding people to legally carry concealed handguns.  Take personal responsibility for your safety and the safety of your loved ones.  Get a concealed carry permit/license and then get follow up training.  Be prepared.  Get a gun and don’t leave home without it. We don’t need more gun control laws, we need more law abiding citizens with guns.

We can’t prevent senseless tragedies like this from happening by passing laws.  The only deterrent is a trained, legally armed citizenry. 

“We must carry arms because we value our lives and those of our loved ones”