[Albion Wilde]

If you get into a verbal confrontation with somebody at a theater, as described in this case, and respond by putting a gun in your lap that others can see, you're heading to jail. The cops won't be laughing as you claim when a physical assault takes place.

In hindsight, if the shooter who is now on suicide watch, having killed another white male American, an unarmed fellow Navy veteran and a young father, could choose whether
1) to take his chances with the legal system for brandishing or
2) for his present second degree murder rap and a jury trial unless he pleads out,
which do you think he would choose?

What conceivable principle could he stand for if he still chose the murder -- "cain't nobody thoe no popcorn in mah faice an git awuay widdit"?

[sport]

After giving it further thought, I believe that a temporary insanity defense might be best for him. why? I believe that when he shot the guy, he was angered to the point that he could not function as a sane human being. Why was he anger, because the guy allegedly threw popcorn on him? No. The guy's refusal to heed his “no texting orders” triggered his authortian tendencies and he switched into his, “I'll teach this peasant to defy me” mode and he became so enraged, that he was incapable of acting rationally. The feeling probably lasted for no more than a few seconds, but that is all it took. In all probability, other that that , he is/was a decent individual. Who win in this? There are no winners, only different degrees of losers.