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VegasGeorge
12-27-2008, 02:08 PM
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20081226_Phila__man_shot_because_family_talked_dur ing_movie.html

Way over the top? Yes. Would I have done what Mr. Cialella did? No. But, I firmly believe that one of the major problems we face in modern society is that there are no longer any consequences for bad behavior. People in today's world think it's perfectly OK to engage in outrageous, insulting, and hateful acts simply because nothing bad is going to happen to them as a result. This father should have kept his kids quiet in the movie. It is not right to disrupt other people's enjoyment in a theater. Mr. Cialella paid for a ticket, and he was entitled to the peaceful, quiet enjoyment of the film. If every father thought he might get shot if he didn't keep his kids quiet, particularly after being asked to control the situation, this incident would not have happened in the first place. Unfortunately, it would take a lot of Cialellas, shooting a lot of idiot fathers, before that message would get across. There was a time, however, when everyone knew that insults and rude behavior would likely lead to angry, violent reprisal. Those were more civilized days. And those who fell victim to such violence could honestly be said to have brought it upon themselves.

We do have a modern day corollary to this situation. Road rage. It has become widely known that offensive driving is dangerous because it might set off a road rage incident. People who might otherwise shout insults, blow horns, or waive the middle finger at other motorists don't because they fear the possible consequences. That is a good thing. That is what's missing in many other areas of modern life. That is what was was missing in the theater the day Mr. Cialella shot the idiot father.

Now, having said all this, let me affirm that guns ARE NOT for settling ordinary disputes. And, I assume from the facts reported that this was just an ordinary dispute up to the time Mr. Cialella pulled out his gun. The legitimate use of firearms has to be limited to life threatening situations. There is nothing in this story that leads me to believe that Mr. Cialella thought his life was in danger. So, as between the idiot father and Mr. Cialella, I have to say that Cialella was by far the worst actor. I do not approve of what he did. And, his misuse of the gun makes things more difficult for all of us gun owners in our fight against the gun ban lobby.

Dogman
12-29-2008, 02:47 PM
Did Mr Ciallella have a gun license? I haven't heard. And I do hope the answer is no, that he was carrying illegally.

VegasGeorge
12-29-2008, 10:08 PM
Did Mr Ciallella have a gun license? I haven't heard. And I do hope the answer is no, that he was carrying illegally.

Good question, and I share your concern. I do suspect he was carrying illegally, just based on his irresponsible actions. And, based on the fact that most newspapers would have jumped on that information to make the story more shocking, and to take a poke at us 2nd Amendment supporters. Basically, if there's a way the media can make us look bad, they will almost every time.

junglebob
12-31-2008, 10:01 AM
VagasGeorge, You mentioned road rage. It would be interesting to find out are there fewer instances of road rage in Vermont or Alaska where any adult not a felon can carry or in a state like Kentucky where you can carry a loaded handgun in your unlocked car glove box (not console) no LTC required?

VegasGeorge
12-31-2008, 11:04 AM
Junglebob, this looks like it might help. http://www.monkeymeter.com/citystats.php

I think it would be best to look at cities, rather than States, because of the metropolitan nature of road rage. I don't think rural country folks have much of a road rage problem.