It’s simply a fact.
A gunman opened fire during a screening of “Trainwreck” at a Lafayette theater Thursday night, killing two and leaving nine injured.
A 59-year-old Alabama man, who police have identified as John Russel Houser, began shooting about 20 minutes after the Amy Schumer film started, then shot himself with his handgun as cops entered the theater about a minute later.
And before the bodies had even cooled, the usual suspects were already shrieking about “gun control.” For example, BuzzFeed “news editor” Rachel Zarrell:
Let's just give everyone guns, right? It's in the goddamn constitution. https://t.co/auI1yorXy5
— Rachel Zarrell (@rachelzarrell) July 24, 2015
Don't pray. Push for gun control.
— Rachel Zarrell (@rachelzarrell) July 24, 2015
And of course, this ghoul:
After shooting like #Lafayette, gun extremists say it's too soon to talk #gunsense. After #SandyHook I'll never be silent again. @MomsDemand
— Shannon (@shannonrwatts) July 24, 2015
There’s just one problem with this idea, as Matt Vespa at Townhall.com notes:
Yet, just like the other horrific shootings that occurred in Chattanooga last week at a U.S. Navy Reserve center and military recruitment center, the Grand Theater is a gun free zone, according to its code of conduct.
I understand the impulse to grab people’s guns whenever there’s a shooting. But even putting aside the Constitutional issue, it simply isn’t practical. Unless you can wave a magic wand and dissolve every single firearm on Earth, disarming law-abiding citizens leaves them defenseless against killers who don’t care about signs or conduct policies.
This maniac planned ahead. He had a getaway car and various disguises prepared. He set out to kill a bunch of people, and he knew exactly where to find them at their most vulnerable: a “gun-free zone.”
Maybe one day we’ll live in a world where innocent people are never put in danger. But until then, it’s unconscionable to strip them of their right to defend themselves.