FL man stands his theater seat over texting argument

[EVT1]

You would think an ex cop would know better- looks like he went to get his gun in the middle of it.  71yo- I smell a self defense claim.

www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/two-people-shot-at-wesley-chapel-movie-theater/2160784

     The man in back — identified as retired Tampa police Officer Curtis Reeves Jr., 71 — asked the other man to stop. At one point, Reeves left the theater, then returned to his seat.

     The man in front of him — identified as Chad Oulson, 43 — asked Reeves if he had reported Oulson to theater management for using his cellphone.

     The pair argued and, deputies say, Reeves pulled a .380 semi-automatic handgun and fired a shot at Oulson.

     Reeves retired from the Tampa Police Department in 1993 and later worked security for Busch Gardens. He moved to Hernando County several years ago and became a member of the Crime Stoppers board.

   At one point in the late '80s, he was the firearms coordinator for the Tampa Police Department. He was instrumental in establishing the department's first Tactical Response Team, often referred to as SWAT, according to the agency.

Dementia?  Florida?

[Opti]

Hopefully Dementia.


I don't like rude people in theatres either, but killing them is overkill.
Even though he might have been an ass, there's a three year old who
is now without her Dad and a wife who watched someone kill her
husband over something stupid.


I smell healthcare in a prison setting, but since it is Florida,
anything could happen. I wonder how the pro guns in theatre
people feel. Not much of a win if someone shot and killed the
71 year old as well.

[grits]

It won't be seen as a stand your ground case. We can only hope the man has dementia.

I hate it when people text, talk on their phones or blab in general when you are trying to watch a movie or play, listen to a musical or concert. People are just flat out selfish, and rude.

The Alley Theater in Houston actually announced that if you were going to need gum, candy, a mint, a cough drop, etcetera, unwrap it now as it is not allowed during the performance. 

[EVT1]

I wish more theaters would have policies like the Alamo Drafthouse- where they will toss you out without a refund.

At least have a choice of screens- one for people that want to watch the movie, and the other for inconsiderate self-important jerks.

But sure it could be SYG- assuming he had a right to carry in the theater.  All he has to claim is that he 'was in fear of great bodily harm'.  Plus it is a bonus if the dead victim is black- that seems to help down there.  SYG is the best thing to happen to the defense bar in a decade.  Still haven't arrested that guy that shot the alzheimers patient- cuz he wuz scairt

[justme]

People can say whatever the hell the want as a reason why they do stupid shit. But the facts actually have to back it up for it to be a SYG case. From what I remember, that's a hearing pretty early on where a judge allows it or not. Idiots still shot people before the expanded SYG laws went into effect.

[grits]

Jan 13, 2014 19:58:21 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

I wish more theaters would have policies like the Alamo Drafthouse- where they will toss you out without a refund.

At least have a choice of screens- one for people that want to watch the movie, and the other for inconsiderate self-important jerks.

But sure it could be SYG- assuming he had a right to carry in the theater.  All he has to claim is that he 'was in fear of great bodily harm'.  Plus it is a bonus if the dead victim is black- that seems to help down there.  SYG is the best thing to happen to the defense bar in a decade.  Still haven't arrested that guy that shot the alzheimers patient- cuz he wuz scairt

That is an extremely racist remark that you made. It is without excuse.

[zibazinski]

But, but, but its Florida so it's open season.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

That is an extremely racist remark that you made. It is without excuse.

I didn't see any reason for adding that little tidbit/comment either. Race wasn't even mentioned in the incident described in the OP. It was about a gun-happy theater-goer who was pissed at a bit of "noise" from someone texting. How loud could it have been - a few "pings"? - While inconsiderate to other patrons - it doesn't warrant being shot.

[zibazinski]

It does make you wonder if people will be less rude in the theater now?

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

They'll take this guy's guns, but don't look for them to take his 3,300 pound missile. That's the REAL problem and ever present threat of death in Florida. Ballistic missiles weighing several tons fired at random every day.

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2014 21:07:53 GMT -5 ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ said:

That is an extremely racist remark that you made. It is without excuse.

I didn't see any reason for adding that little tidbit/comment either. Race wasn't even mentioned in the incident described in the OP. It was about a gun-happy theater-goer who was pissed at a bit of "noise" from someone texting. How loud could it have been - a few "pings"? - While inconsiderate to other patrons - it doesn't warrant being shot.

one of the reasons we rarely go to theatres anymore

too many people are assholes

if you need your cell phone on, you shouldnt be in a theatre

and texting back and forth is just plain fucking rude

all the phone screens are so bright.....

i understand the anger of the guy....i wouldnt have shot him......

but people with zero considerations for others sometimes get what is coming to them.....

karma is a bitch

[Opti]

They'll take this guy's guns, but don't look for them to take his 3,300 pound missile.

Hmmm. I missed in the article where it stated the guy had a 3300 lb.
missile and the ability to fire it from his back yard or truck. Great
attempt at topic change and deflection from a gun owner who just
shot and killed an annoying person because he was unhappy with the situation.

[Tennesseer]

Jan 14, 2014 8:53:09 GMT -5 @gdgyva said:

Jan 13, 2014 21:07:53 GMT -5 ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ said:

I didn't see any reason for adding that little tidbit/comment either. Race wasn't even mentioned in the incident described in the OP. It was about a gun-happy theater-goer who was pissed at a bit of "noise" from someone texting. How loud could it have been - a few "pings"? - While inconsiderate to other patrons - it doesn't warrant being shot.

one of the reasons we rarely go to theatres anymore

too many people are assholes

if you need your cell phone on, you shouldnt be in a theatre

and texting back and forth is just plain fucking rude

all the phone screens are so bright.....

i understand the anger of the guy....i wouldnt have shot him......

but people with zero considerations for others sometimes get what is coming to them.....

karma is a bitch

So getting shot to death ìs "sometimes" getting what ìs due them?  Karma will be the shooter's bitch too.

[Opti]

but people with zero considerations for others sometimes get what is coming to them.....

karma is a bitch

I don't think you understand karma if you think the consequences are not in
kind/similar. Karma does not prescribe rudeness is returned with premature death.


A better example of karma would be if 71 year old guy was really rude to someone
and wouldn't stop when asked. Shortly thereafter he gets shot and killed by the
person he was rude to. Rude texter being shot to death is not karma. Karma is your
bad behavior being visited back onto you.

[Deleted]

If you want less rude people don't go to a movie theater that costs $10 to get in. Go to a real theater that costs $200 to get in. That keeps the rif raf out.

[Tennesseer]

Jan 14, 2014 9:02:29 GMT -5 Opti said:

They'll take this guy's guns, but don't look for them to take his 3,300 pound missile.

Hmmm. I missed in the article where it stated the guy had a 3300 lb.
missile and the ability to fire it from his back yard or truck. Great
attempt at topic change and deflection from a gun owner who just
shot and killed an annoying person because he was unhappy with the situation.

The less violent option would have been to change your seats ìf possible.  If that was not possible, ask for a ticket refund.

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2014 9:07:24 GMT -5 Opti said:

but people with zero considerations for others sometimes get what is coming to them.....

karma is a bitch

A better example of karma would be if 71 year old guy was really rude to someone
and wouldn't stop when asked. Shortly thereafter he gets shot and killed by the
person he was rude to.

is that exactly what happened here?  Rude texter would not stop being rude when asked.  Then he was shot by the person he was being rude to.

[Deleted]

Not condoning what he did, but I can fully understand the rage behind having to deal with bad-mannered A-Hole idiots.
We older folks weren't raised like this and to many of us it's extremely frustrating.
Yesterday, some B, talking on a cell phone and not wanting to wait her turn to merge, cut right in front of my car, causing me to slam on my brakes, almost causing a chain reaction accident with the cars behind me. 
I was livid and shook all the way into town. It was all I could do to keep from following and confronting her.

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2014 9:26:25 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Not condoning what he did, but I can fully understand the rage behind having to deal with bad-mannered A-Hole idiots.
We older folks weren't raised like this and to many of us it's extremely frustrating.
Yesterday, some B, talking on a cell phone and not wanting to wait her turn to merge, cut right in front of my car, causing me to slam on my brakes, almost causing a chain reaction accident with the cars behind me. 
I was livid and shook all the way into town. It was all I could do to keep from following and confronting her.

Maybe older folks should be kept in old folks homes and not let out where they can rage on the rest of us.

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2014 9:27:57 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Jan 14, 2014 9:26:25 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Not condoning what he did, but I can fully understand the rage behind having to deal with bad-mannered A-Hole idiots.
We older folks weren't raised like this and to many of us it's extremely frustrating.
Yesterday, some B, talking on a cell phone and not wanting to wait her turn to merge, cut right in front of my car, causing me to slam on my brakes, almost causing a chain reaction accident with the cars behind me. 
I was livid and shook all the way into town. It was all I could do to keep from following and confronting her.

Maybe older folks should be kept in old folks homes and not let out where they can rage on the rest of us.

That's a ridiculous statement, Archie. Who really set the game in motion here? Right or wrong...If not for this man's bad manners, none of this would have happened. Right?

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2014 9:33:53 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Jan 14, 2014 9:27:57 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Maybe older folks should be kept in old folks homes and not let out where they can rage on the rest of us.

That's a ridiculous statement, Archie. Who really set the game in motion here? Right or wrong...If not for this man's bad manners, none of this would have happened. Right?

If old people can't contain their rage they should be put away where they can't harm the rest of us.

[PK Bucko]

Don't text in the theater.

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2014 18:32:20 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

Dementia?  Florida?

Here's another option:

A cop (retired) drunk on power that he no longer has?

I mean cops are never the bad guy right?

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

According to this article by CNN, the texting that the old guy was so vehement over wasn't even being done *during* the movie, but instead during the previews before the movie.  The movie began at 1:20 and the shooting was reportedly at 1:30.  The movie hadn't even started yet. 

www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/justice/florida-movie-theater-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2014 9:53:34 GMT -5 Rocky Mtn Saver said:

According to this article by CNN, the texting that the old guy was so vehement over wasn't even being done *during* the movie, but instead during the previews before the movie.  The movie began at 1:20 and the shooting was reportedly at 1:30.  The movie hadn't even started yet. 

www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/justice/florida-movie-theater-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Now that's ridiculous. I can understand being irritated (not shooting someone) during the trailers....but before anything starts on the movie?

[Tennesseer]

And from the CNN link Rocky Mtn Saver provided us:

"On the theaters' website is a list of prohibited items and actions. Among them: No cell phone use, including texting, in the theater auditorium. And no weapons allowed."

Idiots all.

[chiver78]

small world. Mr Oulson was a friend of an acquaintance of mine.

I can understand being pissed about someone texting during a movie, but there was never a need for a gun to be used here. now his daughter is growing up without her daddy. so sad.

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2014 9:36:02 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Jan 14, 2014 9:33:53 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

That's a ridiculous statement, Archie. Who really set the game in motion here? Right or wrong...If not for this man's bad manners, none of this would have happened. Right?

If old people can't contain their rage they should be put away where they can't harm the rest of us.

And isn't it bad manners that causes most people to rage? Whether it's getting cut off in traffic, beat up, or getting your house broken into, it doesn't matter. Bad manners are at the root of most of our world's problems. 
Like I said, I am not condoning his shooting a man, but I can fully understand the rage that caused him to do it.

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2014 10:08:09 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Jan 14, 2014 9:36:02 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

If old people can't contain their rage they should be put away where they can't harm the rest of us.

And isn't it bad manners that causes most people to rage? Whether it's getting cut off in traffic, beat up, or getting your house broken into, it doesn't matter. Bad manners are at the root of most of our world's problems. 
Like I said, I am not condoning his shooting a man, but I can fully understand the rage that caused him to do it.

Shooting someone is the worst manners of all.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Jan 14, 2014 10:08:09 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Jan 14, 2014 9:36:02 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

If old people can't contain their rage they should be put away where they can't harm the rest of us.

And isn't it bad manners that causes most people to rage? Whether it's getting cut off in traffic, beat up, or getting your house broken into, it doesn't matter. Bad manners are at the root of most of our world's problems. 
Like I said, I am not condoning his shooting a man, but I can fully understand the rage that caused him to do it.

Yes, it does matter. One of those things is rude and potentially dangerous.  The other two are crimes against person or property.  They are different beasts. 

If a person cannot handle 'bad manners' so much that they fly into a gunt-toting rage at the first demonstration of bad manners (a text during a movie preview), the problem does not lie with the person showing bad manners, but rather with the person who's so full of angry vitriol that they cannot control themselves in average society.