Colorado representative says ‘You have to let go’ to colleague whose son was killed in Aurora theater shooting

KDVR ^ | Feb 19, 2021 | Matt Mauro

[real saxophonist]

Colorado representative says ‘You have to let go’ to colleague whose son was killed in Aurora theater shooting

by: Matt Mauro

Posted: Feb 19, 2021

DENVER (KDVR) – A Republican state representative on Friday told another lawmaker whose son was murdered in the Aurora theater shooting, “You have to let go.”

Rep. Richard Holtorf made that comment to Rep. Tom Sullivan after Sullivan talked about his son Alex, gun violence and Colorado’s “red flag” law.

The comments from both legislators came during the announcements and introductions of the House Friday morning.

“Today is the 448th Friday since my son Alex was murdered in the Aurora theater massacre,” Sullivan, a Democrat, said.

Alex Sullivan was one of 12 people killed during the shooting in 2012.

Sullivan then talked about Colorado’s “red flag” law, which allows law enforcement officers to confiscate people’s firearms in extreme circumstances. Sullivan was one of the bill’s sponsors in 2019.

“I can assure you that it means plenty to those families who don’t have to endure another year and another empty chair around their Christmas dinner table, like my family has endured the last eight years,” Sullivan said of the law.

“I’m here to remind you daily what gun violence looks like,” Sullivan continued. “Whether you listen or not, I will continue to come to this microphone and tell you about its impact.”

Moments later, Holtorf spoke.

“I will tell you that all of us have suffered loss in our lives,” Holtorf said. “Here’s the most important thing we have to remember: scripture tells us that when something is taken away from us, we must understand that maybe there is a time when God needs the spirit of those children to do something in heaven.”

Holtorf, an Army veteran, farmer and rancher who represents southeastern Colorado, then told the House people should not be vengeful or divisive because of the loss they may have endured.

“Let me tell you,” Holtorf said, in reference to his military service. “The most important lesson I learned — and I offer this to my fellow colleagues, particularly the one that just spoke — is that you have to let go.”

[Flaming Conservative]

I’m sorry for your loss. But “getting over” is not what’s needed, because it’s almost impossible, I’m sure. What’s needed in the case of harm or death of a loved one, especially one’s child, is forgiveness, because the alternative is that a root of bitterness is allowed to grow on the inside of such a person. And while forgiveness may help alleviate the criminal’s pain, (and I suspect THAT’S the reason many refuse to forgive), what forgiveness really does the most, is free the one who holds the grudge.

[real saxophonist]

Thanks for the comments. My comment is that Sullivan's grief is misdirected, as are several who have run for office (at the state and federal level). 'I lost a family member, so I will now infringe on everyone's rights.'

Did Tom Mauser (lost his son at Columbine) accomplish anything by camping out at NRA Headquarters? I don't think the shooters at Columbine or the theatre were NRA members.

[moovova]

“Cancun is another “look, squirrel !” “

The Cruz “Cancun story” has had about 3 hours more than the 15...no...5 minutes it might’ve deserved. And there’s been little-to-no mention of Biden’s lack of assistance in Texas.

[Subcutaneous Fishstick Blues]

If Repubs aren’t outright supporting the Democrats...at the very least, they’re shooting themselves in the foot.

Cancun anyone?

Sure!


Cancun anytime, if one is not in an executive position and merely a legislative one. That is, assuming one is not responsible for the policy causing the problem and is not missing any important votes. I mean, it's not like he implemented policies that killed helpless grandparents in nursing homes now, is it? (Gee, you don't suppose this is all a cover -- and a rather transparent one -- for that, now do you?)

You see, I don't allow the fascistic formerly mainstream corporate media to henpeck and browbeat me into letting them set the narrative and judge what responses are appropriate or not.

I takes a little bit of work and self-discipline, but I keep them out of my head by not letting them in there in the first place. I don't watch their news, including Fox. I don't get their papers, not even on Sunday. We cancelled WSJ a couple of years ago and recently subscribed to the Epoch Times. For various reasons I usually end up listening to talk radio on the internet, and have found recently that there are streaming talk radio stations that have stopped using Fox Radio News (which may not be as slanted as the other major networks, but is still awful) for their news breaks every half hour and instead use smaller, less biased, independent sources.

Mind you, I never consciously bought the dishonest MSM arguments in their phony narratives back when I listened to them, but they did get under my skin and make me less sympathetic to the positions of the people on my side under attack. And why wouldn't they? Isn't it called 'agitprop' for a reason?

The point is, I'm not only able to see through their arguments, as I was before, I'm able to remain calm when one the brainwashed sheeple regurgitates them, treat them like the fools they are and laugh in their face.

Now, I'm not saying you have to do what I do, but I think it might improve things for you, making you appear to be less of a victim of Stockholm Syndrome, and not make me others do the internet equivalent of laughing in your face and treating you like a fool when we're not feeling as tolerant of you.

[bramps]

Cold.

Just not called for.

Neither was this likely disingenuous commentary:

Holtorf said. “Here’s the most important thing we have to remember: scripture tells us that when something is taken away from us, we must understand that maybe there is a time when God needs the spirit of those children to do something in heaven.”

Sounds like Mr. Holtorf knows scripture. So does he know that that the son that died had accepted Christ and therefore is in fact in heaven?

[OrangeHoof]

Realistically, you have to let go eventually. You can’t live the rest of your life in mourning. But I also know it sounds heartless to tell that to a parent of a dead child.

Liberals *feel* more than they think which is why these sort of moments resonate with them. To thinking individuals, what the lawmaker said was simply stating the truth.

[Subcutaneous Fishstick Blues]

“Cancun is another “look, squirrel !” “

The Cruz “Cancun story” has had about 3 hours more than the 15...no...5 minutes it might’ve deserved. And there’s been little-to-no mention of Biden’s lack of assistance in Texas.

https://www.infowars.com/posts/smoking-gun-joe-bidens-dept-of-energy-blocked-texas-from-increasing-power-ahead-of-enduring-storm/

Well, yes! That is always the point when they push stories like this (Cancun) one; to distract from the story they don't want to tell, and keep their opposition on defense or otherwise off-balance, rather than exposing the real story.

Or, that there's no defense like a good offense; particularly when you have no defense for something indefensible.

[norwaypinesavage]

"I’ve never suffered the kind of loss that he did..."

Then stop right there, and don't lecture people who did.

[logi_cal869]

This is one of the most ridiculous threads I’ve read in a long time.

One way to bring out the trolls, however...

[fieldmarshaldj]

Nice to know that next time there’s a rainshower in Fresno, that if Feinstein isn’t there with umbrellas tout de suite, she’ll be fully responsible for whatever happens. I mean, fair is fair, with this new media definition that Senators are completely in charge of dealing with the weather.

[Amberdawn]

Perhaps, but last I checked, going on vacation isn’t a crime and what can Ted Cruz do that others can’t handle? If properly functioning government can be brought to a halt because one man is out of town, what does that say about our government?

[moovova]

Thank you for the pep talk...I do believe I’m suffering from a little Stockholm Syndrome!

You’re correct, though. The MSM can definitely get into your head. I need a break.

[Flaming Conservative]

No, but Jesus did; and as He hung there dying a torturous death, innocent of ANY wrongdoing, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” I don’t know how I would be able to forgive someone who violently took the life of one of my children, and I pray I’ll never have to find out, but I DO know that I would HAVE to, because Jesus said, “If you do not forgive, my Father in Heaven cannot forgive you.” He said that for our good, and He would not have said it, if it were not possible.

[TennesseeProfessor]

If this were a recent loss I would agree -— but the shooting was 9 years ago. Will there ever be a point when it is acceptable to tell people to stop dwelling on an event they couldn’t control that happened long ago? And if not after 9 years, then when?

[PrairieLady2]

Yep! You are right. Even though the head knows what it needs to do, the emotions have a mind of their own. Until the head and heart come together, letting go can’t happen. Thats the place where healing begins.

What the rep said was true, and I’m sure he meant well and was trying to be helpful, for the recipient of those words, it can seem cold and insensitive.

Healing begins when it begins; not before.

It absolutely sux being stuck in that spot. One hungers for ‘normalcy’ and it won’t happen.

The only normalcy you can have is to learn to live with the new ‘normal’. The dacts will NEVER EVER go away. All you can do is get tired of carrying it...the emotional burden, and set it down for even a minute. It can come as a surprise when you realize that you went a whole minute without thinking about your loved one and what happened.

Yes, sickness loss can be different because in most instances, you have time to adjust yourself a bit, and its not a sudden, unexpected trauma. Its traumatic but not a violent one.

There’s a sort of spirit behind a murder that continues to reverberate for a very long time.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Context is everything.

In this case he was using the death his son as a club to beat on people who had done him no harm.

That is down right nasty and he should be called on it.

[real saxophonist]

Thank you. That is what many on this thread seemed to miss.

[GailA]

Called INJUSTICE and PAROLE HEARINS, EARLY RELEASE., I started CARRYING the year before he was release because of his threats. I’ll shoot to kill.

What makes it worse is parents dealing with Death Row inmates, 30 yrs or more waiting for justice, when there Is DNA PROOF, CONFESSION, LED POLICE TO DUMP SITE. And your little girl is just 8 yrs old, raped and murdered, never ends.

I’m already having crying jags and it is not April. How much of my health issues was caused by the stress of my son’s murder, BTW the 8 yr old is my BFF little girl, just a year later.