The Aftermath: More Grief and Crickets
On May 22, 2012, James Holmes purchased a Glock 22 pistol. Six days later, on May 28, Holmes bought a Remington 870 Express Tactical shotgun. On June 7, 2012, he purchased a Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifle. All of the purchases, made at three different Colorado gun stores, were in accordance with Federal and State laws —including a NICS background check for each of the separate purchases. In other words, all of Holmes' purchases were "legal transactions" made in compliance with statutory 'safeguards' put in place over the years by the likes of the Brady Campaign.
On July 20, 2012, James Holmes entered Theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex, located at the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue. Police said Holmes bought a ticket and sat in the front row. There were about 400 people inside the theater. About 20 minutes into the film, Holmes left the building through an emergency exit door, which he propped open with a plastic tablecloth holder.
Holmes then went to his car, which was parked near the exit door, changed into protective clothing, and retrieved his guns. About 30 minutes into the film, police say, around 12:30 a.m., Holmes reentered the theater through the exit door and began indiscriminately murdering people sitting in the audience. Twelve people died.
According to Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler, Holmes chose the Century 16 theater for his attack because he liked movie theaters and the specific theater had doors that he could lock in order to increase the number of casualties, as well as being in an area where police response would take longer. Holmes allegedly considered other locations for a mass shooting, but ruled them out because there would be "too much security." Holmes was looking for a gun-free zone.
In the aftermath of the murders, Brady Campaign leadership encouraged the parent's of victim Jessica Ghawi to sue the business that had sold ammunition to Holmes.
The Brady Campaign told [Jessica Ghawi's] parents to file a hopeless suit against a gun dealer. The result was bankruptcy.
[W]hat, one wonders, is the excuse of the Brady Campaign, which gave Phillips the idea, and told her erroneously that she had [a case?]
Phillips’s lawsuit was dismissed under the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which was meant to protect lawful business from politically motivated lawsuits that the plaintiffs claim were responsible for the criminal acts of third parties beyond their control.
In throwing out the case, the judge ordered the family to pay the defendant's legal fees — which totaled more than $200,000.
Why, one must ask, isn’t the Brady Campaign stepping up to help with the legal fees that the [parents] have incurred on their behalf?
Good question! But what would a person really expect from people who are trying to take away a citizen's right to defend themselves?
/fl