Florida Man Is Shot to Death for Texting During Movie Previews

[sze5003]

The world needs more people willing to stand up and confront rude, annoying, disrespectful people, not less.

The texter could have done a dozen things to remove himself from the situation but instead decided to be an even larger asshole than he was, escalating the situation on his end. He could have been a normal person and said to the guy "I'm sorry, I will put my cell phone away and be respectful towards everyone around me." But he didn't. He decided the best course of action was a demonstration of his manhood. And now he's dead.

Why does the old man get a pass? You would think a 70 year old has more life experience and wits to control himself and not shoot someone that's being stubborn. Just because someone is being annoying or an asshole, does not give anyone the right to kill them.

I ride a motorcycle and lots of car drivers are assholes to me when I'm on my bike, just because they can be. I get pissed, but you don't see me on the news for mowing down people with an uzzi or throwing spark plugs at cars.

 

[cubby1223]

Why does the old man get a pass?

What? The old man isn't get a pass. He will spend the rest of his life in jail.

 

[Zorba]

The world needs more people willing to stand up and confront rude, annoying, disrespectful people, not less.

The texter could have done a dozen things to remove himself from the situation but instead decided to be an even larger asshole than he was, escalating the situation on his end. He could have been a normal person and said to the guy "I'm sorry, I will put my cell phone away and be respectful towards everyone around me." But he didn't. He decided the best course of action was a demonstration of his manhood. And now he's dead.

A gun was too far. But I absolutely want more people willing to put jackasses back in their place.

Well, that is all road rage is, we should push for more of that.

 

[cubby1223]

The problem in our society is not that people can carry guns.

The problem is that apparently nothing short of a gun can turn a jackass around and start respecting the people around him.

 

[Vic]

Not in most states. Those signs don't mean jack.

If someone is carrying on private property against the property owner's wishes, even an off duty LEO, the property owner can ask them to leave and press trespassing charges if they refuse to do so.
Someone compared this to service animals.

 

[MrPickins]

The issue isn't that he had a gun, the issue is that he was a hotheaded, pushy, impatient, aggressive asshole who badgered someone about doing something that wasn't even wrong because the movie hadn't started yet, and then shot them for no good reason, and possibly for no reason period.

I completely agree with this.

In my mind, carrying a concealed weapon means you have the responsibility to maintain a calm head in any interaction with people. And if possible, you should attempt to deescalate any confrontation.

This guy did the opposite of that.

Both/either/it doesn't matter. Seems like the outcome would have been the same even if the positions were reversed. As you said, people need to mind their own business and lighten up, ESPECIALLY when you are carrying a gun. When you are carrying a deadly weapon for personal protection it is your duty to avoid confrontation at all costs, to prevent this sort of thing from happening in the first place.

Exactly.

 

[Venix]

I was not trying to imply that Reeves was carrying illegally. Just that private property owners do have rights wrt this issue, even with LEOs.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. My understanding was that LEOSA supersedes private property owners' rights similar to how service animal laws work (except in the aforementioned case where "no guns allowed" signs are enforced by state law). In other words, the owner can't tell a cop to leave because he's armed, much like the owner can't throw out a blind person for having a service dog. Of course I may be mistaken.

 

[classy]

This is the kind stuff that is going to happen when you give people a legal loop hole that includes a license to kill.

 

[Daverino]

The problem in our society is not that people can carry guns.

The problem is that apparently nothing short of a gun can turn a jackass around and start respecting the people around him.

Hah, wow. You really think you earn respect from the barrel of a gun. I'm not scared of smart gun owners. But people that think that they gain respect and authority solely by packing a piece? They scare the fuck out of me.

 

[Zorba]

The problem in our society is not that people can carry guns.

The problem is that apparently nothing short of a gun can turn a jackass around and start respecting the people around him.

I have a feeling that most people thought the old dude was, at least originally, being much more rude than the victim. I mean he starting yelling at a random guy, and refused to drop it. Then he went a shot the bastard, so now none of those people got to see their movie, had to witness a murder, had to take their time to give statements and will probably have to testify in court.

So tell me, how exactly was the victim the jackass in this situation? I'd so much rather have someone text in front of me, then witness a murder and all the time consuming crap that comes afterwards.

 

[HomerJS]

This is the kind stuff that is going to happen when you give people a legal loop hole that includes a license to kill.

Why are so many people w/guns willing to settle disputes by shooting someone?

We need renewed licensing with gun handling/mental health tests.

Someone with this mindset should not own a gun.

 

[Vic]

Cases are plea bargained all the time. Plead guilty to a lesser charge. No trial.

The only reason that might happen here is because he's a retired officer.

These cops got clean away, even with a trial.

http://politicaloutcast.com/2014/01/ca-jury-totally-fine-police-torturing-unarmed-man-death/#!

The average American doesn't self identify with a mentally ill homeless person.

 

[cubby1223]

So tell me, how exactly was the victim the jackass in this situation? I'd so much rather have someone text in front of me, then witness a murder and all the time consuming crap that comes afterwards.

Both people were in the wrong. I prefer neither to have occurred.

But what you are actually suggesting is that we all should learn to tolerate rude & disrespectful people because at least they are not murdering anyone... is not the way I believe society should work.

 

[dainthomas]

Get used to it. Gun laws have only gotten stronger, and better defined to allow for people to protect themselves.

And, even if this old man ends up guilty, it doesn't change the fact that guns save innocent lives every single day. One death of a rude, idiotic texter doesn't outweigh the rights of innocent people who want to protect themselves.

There are thousands of things more rude and idiotic than texting in a theater. Or throwing popcorn at someone. If every insecure bully in Florida starts shooting people for any perceived sleight, then there won't be many people left in Florida. Which come to think of it, would be a great thing.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

This is the kind stuff that is going to happen when you give people a legal loop hole that includes a license to kill.

It's not a legal loophole.


Don't want to get <shot, stabbed, blown up, hurt> do not instigate a fight with a random stranger.

Asking someone to turn off their phone is perfectly reasonable. Letting the manager know that a dbag is interrupting your experience is perfectly reasonable.

But confronting an old man to the point to where your wife has to hold you back, then throwing stuff in his face.. Is not reasonable. It may not warrant getting shot, but not everyone is super stable. Guns have nothing to do with it.

 

[Daverino]

It's not a legal loophole.


Don't want to get <shot, stabbed, blown up, hurt> do not instigate a fight with a random stranger.

Asking someone to turn off their phone is perfectly reasonable. Letting the manager know that a dbag is interrupting your experience is perfectly reasonable.

But confronting an old man to the point to where your wife has to hold you back, then throwing stuff in his face.. Is not reasonable. It may not warrant getting shot, but not everyone is super stable. Guns have nothing to do with it.

Remember folks, when you're allowed to shoot people out of fear it's the cowardly that get to shoot the most!

 

[SpatiallyAware]

There are thousands of things more rude and idiotic than texting in a theater. Or throwing popcorn at someone. If every insecure bully in Florida starts shooting people for any perceived sleight, then there won't be many people left in Florida. Which come to think of it, would be a great thing.

Well, it's not like have some major problem here. We might get one of these nutter gun grabber sensationalized stories every couple months.

And there really aren't that many things more rude than messing with a cellphone in a theater. I would say it's in the top 50 or so rudest things.

 

[CitizenKain]

The problem in our society is not that people can carry guns.

The problem is that apparently nothing short of a gun can turn a jackass around and start respecting the people around him.

So the problem to a deranged piece of shit murdering someone in cold blood is for it happen more often.

 

[classy]

Why are so many people w/guns willing to settle disputes by shooting someone?

We need renewed licensing with gun handling/mental health tests.

Someone with this mindset should not own a gun.

I have said on this board for years, we have a gun problem. The argument always is the protection against criminals, but 8 times or more out of 10, these are the kind of killings that are the result. People want to settle their disputes with a gun and its a problem.

 

[Exophase]

I have a feeling that most people thought the old dude was, at least originally, being much more rude than the victim. I mean he starting yelling at a random guy, and refused to drop it. Then he went a shot the bastard, so now none of those people got to see their movie, had to witness a murder, had to take their time to give statements and will probably have to testify in court.

So tell me, how exactly was the victim the jackass in this situation? I'd so much rather have someone text in front of me, then witness a murder and all the time consuming crap that comes afterwards.

Putting the whole murder part aside, I too would much rather have someone in the theater texting during the movie than two people arguing over texting. The latter is definitely going to be more disruptive than the former.

What the guy should have actually done:

1) Waited for the previews to be over because no one gives a crap about talking or texting during the previews
2) If the guy is still texting right before or while the movie is stopping politely ask if he can stop
3) If he doesn't stop, don't keep nagging him, go and get management (actually waiting to have the chance to talk to them) and ask them to do something about the texter and give you a refund or a ticket to a later showing

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I have said on this board for years, we have a gun problem. The argument always is the protection against criminals, but 8 times or more out of 10, these are the kind of killings that are the result. People want to settle their disputes with a gun and its a problem.

You are the minority. CCW rates have been skyrocketing for some time now, and gun violence as a whole has gone down. America loves its guns, and that's not changing any time soon.

 

[Druidx]

The most likely scenario here is that the pea-brained gun nut, knowing full well that he had a gun in his pocket, started shit with a guy texting his babysitter during the movie previews. If he didn't have a gun he would have just sat there and shut up, or moved two seats over, or done any one of an infininte number of things to remove himself from the situation. But, because he had a gun, he felt like a tough guy and decided to provoke and escalate an essentially meaningless situation. Now he rots in jail until he dies, his wife is alone for the rest of her life, and he never spends time with his family again. ROFL @ gun nutter.

You don't think that goes both ways. The guy who died probably wouldn't have had the balls to mouth off if he wasn't dealing with a geriatric.
I think throwing your popcorn on someone is universally classified as a bitch move. Not saying it was worth getting shot over, just funny the way you characterize it.

 

[Jaskalas]

What? The old man isn't get a pass. He will spend the rest of his life in jail.

There are people in this topic who would not see it so.

 

[nehalem256]

Well, it's not like have some major problem here. We might get one of these nutter gun grabber sensationalized stories every couple months.

And there really aren't that many things more rude than messing with a cellphone in a theater. I would say it's in the top 50 or so rudest things.

Well to be fair its not even the rudest thing you can do with your cellphone. I only wish he had gotten one of the bastards that decide to drive 10mph under the speed limit while talking on the phone instead.

 

[cubby1223]

Taking away guns does not make society a better place, it does not make people act more respectful towards strangers.

The problem I see is some people are just plain jackasses towards other people. Guns or no guns will not change this.

I don't know what the solution is, but I can most certainly say gun bans don't solve this problem, gun bans are more so a way for people to comfortably ignore the underlying problems.