Florida Man Is Shot to Death for Texting During Movie Previews

[Mursilis]

Good. Some people just have no fucking manners.

My thoughts are similar. It's just so hard to muster any sympathy for yet another obnoxious compulsive texter/cell phone addict.

 

[Venix]

Sad, but that old man is going to prison for sure. Unless the father pulled a knife on him, he has zero right to shoot the guy over what appears to be popcorn and yelling after unsanctioned texting.


I can tell you from experience that there is nothing that upsets old people more than texting in their immediate vicinity. It's ridiculous that people get so upset about that kind of stuff but it happens, a lot.

My guess is this dude was texting, Old man is having bad day and decides to say something, guy doesn't stop fast enough, words exchanged, popcorn is thrown, old man is obviously deathly allergic to butter and fears for his life and shoots guy while his wife puts her hand between them.

The articles outline the following:

* Dead guy starts texting
* Old guy asks him to stop several times
* Dead guy continues texting
* Old guy leaves theater to complain to management
* Old guy returns several minutes later
* Dead guy turns around and asks if old guy went to complain about him
* Verbal argument
* Someone escalates to physical contact (maybe just popcorn being thrown?)
* Old guy shoots dead guy

We don't know what the physical altercation entailed or who started it. The texter sounds like a complete douchebag (texting in the theater, ignoring old guy's requests, starting an argument when old guy returned) but I'd still be surprised if he did something that warranted being shot.

 

[dud]

I've lived in Florida for 45 years. I used to love the area. Things have changed and not for the better.

Avoid this place if you can ...

 

[nehalem256]

A witness told local television stations that the offended man stormed out to get a manager, but returned without one. The man using the phone explained to the irritated man that he was simply texting his 3-year-old daughter, the witness, Charles Cummings, told Tampa’s FOX 13 television.

Now what about this doesn't seem quite right?:hmm:

 

[cubby1223]

I wish more theaters took a harder stance against cell-phone users. Shooting dead is probably going a tad too far, I may be agreeable to non-fatal shooting for texters during movies.

But if you want a no-guns solution, try the Alamo Drafthouse (just remember this making news few months ago)
http://cf.drafthouse.com/she_texted_we_kicked_her_out2.html

 

[Nintendesert]

This is a scary case of why police officers and former police officers shouldn't carry guns.

 

[Matt1970]

This is a scary case of why police officers and former police officers shouldn't carry guns.

I don't think you are going to get many police officers to do their jobs without a gun.

 

[bshole]

Guns don't kill people, stupid gun nuts kill people....

As thousands of pro-gun activists held rallies across the United States on Saturday, accidental shootings at three different guns shows illustrated the obvious: Being around lots of people carrying firearms can be a tad dangerous. The Associated Press compiles the reports from North Carolina, Indiana and Ohio.
In Raleigh, a shotgun went off when the owner was taking it out of its case at a security checkpoint, injuring three people. In Indianapolis, a 54-year-old man appears to have accidentally shot himself in the hand as he was leaving a gun show. And in Ohio, a dealer was checking out a purchase when he pulled the trigger by accident and injured his friend. Although he had removed the magazine from the weapon, a round remained in the chamber.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slat...n_show_shootings_on_gun_appreciation_day.html

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Imagine that, kneejerk reactions from same ole crowd. The person was arrested and charged with 2nd degree murder.

As for unarming the active police force makes no sense as it potentially places them in harms way. As for unarming retired police it would against state laws in many states as well as being a violation their 2nd amendment rights

Many police go their entire career and retirement without shooting anyone.

 

[sze5003]

I don't care what was said. If the other guy didn't attack the 71 year old, there is no reason to shoot someone. Let that old asshole rot in jail.

 

[sportage]

Shouldn't this be moved to the I LOVE GUNS thread?

Only thing missing was the texter having his gun.
Then they could have had a full fledged old fashion wild west shootout shooting spree
and maybe some innocent kids could have been taken out too in the cross fire.
Hope the NRA corrects this outrage with an actual person bringing their phone but no gun. Whats up with THAT?
If everyone brought their gun, then at least the better shot would have won the argument.
Even if it also cost several kids and a few old women in the theater.

 

[umbrella39]

Now what about this doesn't seem quite right?:hmm:

Yep... that was the first thing that caught my attention when the story came out... texting a 3 year old? Kid has a smart phone at 3 and can read and reply to Dad's texts? More will come out...

 

[Jaskalas]

Yep... that was the first thing that caught my attention when the story came out... texting a 3 year old? Kid has a smart phone at 3 and can read and reply to Dad's texts? More will come out...

Yeah, like the 3 year old wasn't left home alone. Whoever was watching her was likely the one receiving the text? Not exactly a mystery here.

 

[theeedude]

Who brings a gun to the movies? Is it even allowed?

 

[Jaskalas]

Who brings a gun to the movies? Is it even allowed?

Ever since James Holmes, probably quite a few people.

 

[sze5003]

Who brings a gun to the movies? Is it even allowed?

If you have a permit to carry and it's concealed who would know? But you're right. When I go to the movies I go to try and relax and enjoy myself...I'm not preparing for a zombie attack.

 

[Texashiker]

Bet he wont text while watching a movie ever again.

Learned his lesson did he? Next time be a little more respectful.

 

[Jaskalas]

If you have a permit to carry and it's concealed who would know? But you're right. When I go to the movies I go to try and relax and enjoy myself...I'm not preparing for a zombie attack.

You should always be prepared to defend yourself, from other people with guns.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Who brings a gun to the movies? Is it even allowed?

In Texas it's allowed provided the theater doesn't have a 30.06 sign stating concealed carry is not permitted.

 

[Sonikku]

Don't we put up with enough shit going to the movies? They want like 12 bucks to see the damn thing, another $5 + $4 for popcorn and a drink and after ALL of that, we have to put up with people going all "Dude were you at" on their cell?

Enough is enough. These punks just don't get it. Kudos to a man standing up for our movie theater experience.

 

[HomerJS]

Had this cop been given a psychological screening he wouldn't have been allowed to carry a gun.

Mental health!

 

[sze5003]

I think I'll go buy a handgun now and a permit to carry. Gotta be protected from nutjobs, that's for sure.

 

[umbrella39]

Yeah, like the 3 year old wasn't left home alone. Whoever was watching her was likely the one receiving the text? Not exactly a mystery here.

Agreed. Why not just say the victim was texting the babysitter or grandma... as if by saying Mom and Dad were texting 3 year old will pull on my heart strings any more...

 

[Texashiker]

Don't we put up with enough shit going to the movies? They want like 12 bucks to see the damn thing, another $5 + $4 for popcorn and a drink and after ALL of that, we have to put up with people going all "Dude were you at" on their cell?

Enough is enough. These punks just don't get it. Kudos to a man standing up for our movie theater experience.

Since company policy overrides civil rights, the theaters need to make a policy that anyone who text during the movies will be shot.

Problem solved.

 

[nehalem256]

“Three seconds, four seconds later, the argument starts again,” Mr. Cummings told reporters outside the theater. “Their voices start going up; there seems to be almost a confrontation. Somebody throws popcorn, I’m not sure who threw the popcorn, and, bang, he was shot.”

Don't bring popcorn to a gun fight