While I am a proponent of the right to carry and feel that every law abiding citizen should be allowed to carry. Believing that even a well trained civilian, engaging in a pitched fire fight with a heavily armed and armored madman would have changed the outcome is naive at best. James Holmes went into that theater intent on killing as many people as possible. Having said that look at the preparations he made.
- Armament - when he was arrested he had a;
Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun with an 8 round magazine
2 Glock .40 cal. pistols
- Body armor - when he was arrested he was wearing-
Tactical ballistic vest, depending on what kind of protection plates these are capable of taking a hit
from all hand guns and most rifles.
Throat, crotch and shin protectors, although not bullet proof they can deflect shrapnel and blows
from objects and people.
Military grade gas mask
Essentially he was geared up the same as a S.W.A.T. officer. As I said earlier a heavily armed and armored madman. He was physically impervious to most handguns unless they could get a face shot.
So, here you are in a dark theater, your trusty Glock, H&K, Sig , whatever your weapon of choice on your hip. Suddenly, something goes bang and there's smoke clouding the the theater you can't see, your chest is tightening and it's getting hard to breath.You're coughing and gagging from the smoke/tear gas. A second or 2 later some guy has made the entire auditorium a free fire zone. You decide to stop him. Adrenalin has doubled or tripled your pulse, you can't see because of the smoke/tear gas, you're sweating profusely and your hands are shaking like a leaf. People are screaming, some are trying to escape, some are trying to hide. There are muzzle flashes from his gun that destroy what little night vision you have. But, you're going to be a hero, so you grab your gun and try to acquire a target, through the smoke, your shaking hands and your own terror. You touch of the first round, maybe you missed him, maybe it hit his body armor, either way he doesn't stop shooting. You fire again, same result, again, nothing, now you have his attention and you are now in a fire fight with this madman and you're losing!! Because you are out gunned, out armored and your sidearm is having no effect. Mean while the entire auditorium is in pandemonium, you're now fighting to stay alive and to Hell with anyone who happens to be in either of your line of fire.
The NRA and several other groups are using this tragedy as an opportunity to rally people to the right to carry. "Because one armed citizen could have saved everyone". The scenario I describe is more accurate than movie versions of the good guy bad guy fire fight. So again to anyone who believes having someone in there with a gun returning fire would have saved lives I say again BULLSHIT!!
