Probably more to this story than meets the eye. I don’t trust CNN’s version of the details.
I don't think popcorn can cause great bodily harm but it will lodge in between your teeth. The man clearly overreacted.
Reeves Goal was to watch the movie in peace and quiet.
He was arrested, and did not get to see the movie at all.
I would say Reeves made the wrong choices.
As far as the ‘stand your ground’ concept goes, Reeves had the right to have the man arrested/thrown out of the movie theatre, filing assault charges if necessary. He did not have the right to kill him, unless popcorn is all that dangerous.
Where was the Theater ‘staff’ all this time ?
Death or bodily harm from a bag of popcorn? Please. Guilty as charged. Reeves is unfit to own firearms.
1. The article says the decedent threw a phone at the shooter before throwing he popcorn, but the judge didn’t believe that based on video. I would think a proper investigation would have found the thrown phone and cast more light on that.
2. A bag of popcorn may not be a deadly weapon, but it can be thrown as a distraction before a deadly attack.
Really bad reason to use deadly force. I can understand folks getting irritated about talking during a movie, but texting?? This has the potential to give lawful CC a bad name.
I am for constitutional Carry, and would actually update the state DL database with those who are prohibited persons (everyone else is permitted), but I would also encourage everyone to take an annual class (1 day legal, 1 day training) and do it at state expense. There is a massive public safety benefit to having a well-trained and knowledgeable population.
If the kernals were unpopped, and going at Mach 1, they could be deadly!
Kidding aside, if we have not learned yet: CNN lies outright. I trust nothing they print.
Texting...i f’ing hate texting!
The arguments between the two men started by Reeves was likely a lot more disruptive to the other patrons than the texting ever was. The old guy should have moved to a different seat. Or if you really are a movie fan, watch at home.
“asked the judge to dismiss”
Key phrase.
This’d be something for a jury to decide.
First off why was he confronting the guy about texting in the first place? Is he that much of a bitch? Can people chew gum around him as well? And second, whether he threw popcorn or a cellphone, you don’t shoot the freakin’ guy. Just showing you have a gun is quite sufficient to end any argument.
As much as despise idiots who have to play with their i-Toys all the time no matter where they are, this was an overreaction.
I have sort of been following. The victim was being rude and obnoxious and was texting his babysitter. The old vet was being rude and demanding. It escalated but from what I know, the old vet with the gun had no cause to fear for his life. String him up.
Reeves will be going to the pokey. This was not a righteous shoot.
Get your emotions under control.
Seems as if the old fellow was a blowup just waiting to happen:
http://fox2now.com/2014/01/15/prosecutors-this-wasnt-the-first-blow-up-for-florida-theater-shooter-curtis-reeve
“A few weeks before a texting dispute turned deadly inside a Florida theater, suspect Curtis Reeves had another run-in with a moviegoer, prosecutors said.
During Reeves’ first court appearance on Tuesday, prosecutors said they had heard from another theater patron who said the 71-year-old former Tampa cop saw her texting and “glared at her the entire time throughout the movie” during a screening about three weeks ago.
When the woman got up to use the restroom, Reeves followed her and “made her very uncomfortable,” prosecutors said.”
If the story is true as reported, Ouslon clearly was not covered by any “stand your ground” law. Getting popcorn thrown at you is not a reason to believe your life or well-being are in danger and does not justify shooting the popcorn thrower. Getting up to confront someone about texting in a movie theater in the first place is an indication that this was some hot-head looking for trouble - texting makes no noise and should bother no one else.
Good, Reeves is a cranky old trigger happy ex cop who was trained in confrontation resolution...
He should have known better than to pull the trigger...