Florida man who shot theatergoer for texting to invoke 'stand your ground'

[SecularMotion]

Source: Yahoo

The lawyer for Curtis Reeves, a retired police captain who fatally shot a fellow moviegoer in 2014, is planning to use Florida’s “stand your ground” law to defend his client.

Mr. Reeves was arrested for the fatal shooting of Chad Oulson in January 2014. Police say Mr. Oulson threw his bag of popcorn in Reeves' face after the former captain criticized him for texting. Reeves responded by pulling out his gun and shooting Oulson in the chest, according to law enforcement. A bullet also grazed Oulson's wife, Nicole.

“I think we have a pretty solid stand your ground case,” Richard Escobar, Reeves’ attorney, told the Tampa Bay Times. Escobar plans to utilize a video taken at the scene to prove Reeves acted lawfully under Florida’s self-defense law and ultimately have the criminal charges dismissed. A five-day hearing is scheduled to begin on Jan. 25.

With strong support from the National Rifle Association in 2005, the "gunshine state" became the first to pass a ‘stand your ground’ law that allows citizens to use deadly force if they fear their own harm or death. Under Florida’s "stand your ground" law, “a defendant must be able to show that he had a ‘reasonable belief’ in a threat before using deadly force, not that the threat actually existed,” explains the Tampa Bay Times. If the judge determines the defendant had "reasonable belief" for using deadly force, the shooter is “immune from criminal prosecution and civil action.”

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/florida-man-shot-theatergoer-texting-invoke-stand-ground-124807512.html

[KamaAina]

1. Remember, folks, guns don't kill people. Popcorn kills people.

[KansDem]

6. Then this sign needs to be posted...

Or maybe this one?

[valerief]

68. That's what they want us to believe.

[CincyDem]

2. Now I get it...

...makes complete sense. The only way to ensure you're safe from flying popcorn is a gun. Especially if it's buttered (the popcorn that it, not the gun).

Sheesh

[Kelvin Mace]

17. Hey, that oily crap they put on popcorn in theatres

could clog an artery, given a few decades.

[w0nderer]

3. comment to keep eye on thread and kick and recomment n/t

[TeamPooka]

4. He should die in prison with a life sentence as the criminal that he is. nt

[crim son]

5. Popcorn.

Harsh words do more damage, yet this guy thinks he can persuade a jury that he believed he was in danger when it was thrown at him. Know what? Maybe he can. SMH.

[onehandle]

7. The tipping point approacheth, gun nuts.

Tick tick tick...

[friendly_iconoclast]

23. Mere wishful thinking on your part.

[maxsolomon]

31. They only said it approacheth

could be 2 years, could be 20, could be 200.

but because today's situation is unprecedented, eventually gun rights will stop moving towards "guns everywhere" and tip towards more regulation. even if it's only back to the situation we had pre-Heller.

is it your contention that gun rights will just keep becoming more liberal unto infinity?

[friendly_iconoclast]

37. "(I)s it your contention that gun rights will just keep becoming more liberal unto infinity?" No...

...merely that the "tipping point/The tide will turn" claims have been made here at DU for
years at while at the same time gun sales keep roaring along and several states have
liberalized their gun laws- IOW, it's an empty claim at this point in time.

[SoCalMusicLover]

38. And The Good News, People Continue To Get Shot & Killed

Thank god for gun rights. Hooray for more innocent people getting killed by guns.

[Big_Mike]

55. Frankly, we could seriously lessen the numbers of those killed and wounded by legalizing drugs.

Think back to Prohibition. The St. Valentine's Day massacre, running gang fights, Capone trying to take over Chicago. Almost all of that ended when Prohibition took the money out of selling bootleg booze.

[friendly_iconoclast]

56. You *are* aware that the rates of such things happening are declining, are you not?

[GGJohn]

58. Thas funny.

But if that fantasy gets you through the night, more power to you.

[Journeyman]

8. So that's what those dancing boxes of popcorn and candy want me in the lobby for . . .

so the Coke cup can gun me down.

Bastards with their little provocative ditty.

"Let's all go to the lobby. Let's all go to the lobby. Let's all go to the lo-o-o-by, so we can put a cap in your ass!"

[rocktivity]

9. But if he Oulson HAD something more lethal to attack with than popcorn

wouldn't he have used it?


rocktivity

[SoCalMusicLover]

39. Which Is Why It's His Fault

You don't bring popcorn to a gunfight.....or a movie theatre for that matter.

His fault for not packing heat, and being ready to use it. Popcorn is deadly, but so last century.

Never forget, the dead person is usually at fault.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

10. People who text during movies and plays should not be shot

They should be tarred, feathered and forced to listen to John Tesh music.

[jeff47]

27. It wasn't during the movie. Movie hadn't started yet. (nt)

[ohnoyoudidnt]

57. Yes, and Reeves was also texting before he murdered Oulson for texting. nt

[0rganism]

67. maybe they were texting each other?

i imagine their conversation going something like this...

Reeves: "I think this movie's gonna suck ass"
Oulson: "WTF? I'm only here watching it because you told me it was good. I even got popcorn."
Reeves: "STFU usuck"
Oulson: "FUCK YOU MOTHERFUCKER EAT HOT POPCORN AND DIE"
<EOM>

[rocktivity]

44. If the victim had been texting from the DEFENDANT'S phone

WHILE reading what was texting over the volume of the movie, I might be able to agree with you...


rocktivity

[Darb]

11. Didn't Jeb Bush sign that lunatic shit?

He is going to be so easy to beat.

[uppityperson]

12. Words fail me so k&r. The only thing that can stop a bad guy with popcorn is a good

guy with a gun?

[suffragette]

50. Makes me wonder what abuses he may have committed while active police duty

Given clear anger issues and lack of control.

[SwankyXomb]

13. I'm sure the usual band of gun murder lovers will be along

as soon as they get their talking points.

[friendly_iconoclast]

24. Be sure and point them out for us, willya? IMO this guy should do hard time

[Duckhunter935]

51. Me too

They are really stretching it.

[beevul]

54. Same here.

Other than that, someone wake me when hes found guilty and "stand your ground" fails...It probably wont take much...I'm pretty sure I'll be able to hear a pin drop when the time comes.

[GGJohn]

59. When they do, make sure you point them out so we can roundly condemn them.

This asshat needs to do hard time for the rest of his life in a max security prison.

[geek tragedy]

14. the murder victim is white, so it won't work nt

[yardwork]

29. Sadly, this is true.

[Blue_Tires]

35. +1000

But he is a former police captain, so expect the defense to have a lot of leeway in showing his client was a dedicated example of a model citizen...

[Township75]

15. This is why we need to restrict gun ownership to mostly law enforcement

So people like reeves still have them...and are the only ones.

[jeff47]

28. Because shooting police officers ends so well for the shooter. (nt)

[blackspade]

16. Scumbag.

A bag of popcorn was a treat? Asshole.
Was the wife a threat too? How about the other movie goers?
This guy was reckless in his use of a firearm.

[blondie58]

18. Oh come on guys!

You know how much those old maids can hurt.
Especially if they're hot!

I am just kidding, of course. I have enjoyed my trips to Florida in the past, but I have no desire to go now.

Does anyone else think that the NRA is a terrorist organization?

[Catherine Vincent]

19. You got to be kidding me?

[Geronimoe]

20. Don't bring popcorn

to a gun fight.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

21. I find nothing humorous about this story. n/t

[NastyRiffraff]

22. Right. So now "Stand Your Ground" means

you get to shoot if someone does something you don't like. Even Reeves doesn't claim that popcorn is mortally dangerous, so basically he shot because he was texting during a movie.

So if someone is wearing those awful jeans that sag down below the crack, or if someone talks on a cellphone while walking. Bang!

[friendly_iconoclast]

25. He is going to *attempt* it, with no guarantee it will work. Hopefully, it won't...

[ThoughtCriminal]

33. Unfortunately, some gun owners think it entitles them

to shoot anyone they are afraid of. it's going to take more shootings, more death and more than few convictions to convince them otherwise. And good luck getting convictions when the victim is non-white, no matter how bogus the defense is.

[friendly_iconoclast]

34. In this case, all parties are/were white

[MillennialDem]

45. Yes but the victim was a big strong young man and the murderer was a small old former

cop.

There's a war on the big, young, and physically fit. Gun kooks love trying to push us young whippersnappers around.

[PoliticAverse]

26. Just because a defense attorney claims something doesn't mean it is true. n/t

[Person 2713]

49. Again, he was not texting during the movie. Previews before the movie

[yardwork]

30. If this defense works, perhaps Florida will repeal the law.

[maxsolomon]

32. snowballs chance in hell

gun regulation only moves one way: towards infinite freedom and ubiquity.

[Yavin4]

36. If his victim was Black, not only would he walk. He wouldn't even be charged.

It would take massive amount of social media pressure just to get the DA to look at the file.

[Blue_Tires]

69. +1000

[Vinca]

40. He must have a very strange psychiatric condition: fear of popcorn.

[Skittles]

41. gun humpers are the biggest cowards on the planet

seriously, they cannot even go to a movie unarmed? Pathetic.

[Captain Stern]

42. Why wouldn't he try a SYG defense?

It would be stupid not to.

My understanding of the law is that he goes before a judge and presents his SYG defense. If it's upheld, the case is dismissed. If it isn't upheld, then he goes to trial....the same as he would have done if he didn't try using SYG.

I think his SYG defense should be laughed out of court, but I don't blame him for trying.

[sinkingfeeling]

43. Wish I could be on that jury. Deadly popcorn ???

[MillennialDem]

46. I may well get banned for saying this, but if I was the widow, I would be the one on trial

[Dont call me Shirley]

47. Sink in your own quicksand, Curtis.

[christx30]

53. You like quicksand? Try this quote by Reeves:

“That will teach you to throw popcorn at me.”- 3 witnesses heard Reeves say that.According to the sheriff’s deputy who confiscated Reeves’ gun, he heard his wife say: (rough quote) “That was no reason to shoot someone.”

Reeves then told his wife to: “ Shut your fu#king mouth, and don’t say another word.”.

[Dont call me Shirley]

71. That triples the reason this cold blooded killer should lose his case.

[christx30]

73. Oh I totally agree with you.

People that are afraid for their lives and killing out of necessity do not do some kind of stupid action hero quip.

[Bucky]

48. The only way to stop a bad guy with a popcorn is a good guy with a popgun

Seems legit. Y'know, Florida-wise.

[roamer65]

52. Sounds like open/shut case of 2nd degree murder.

Hopefully the jury sees it that way.

[Sunlei]

60. more road rage without a car. all it takes is a gun and a violent, impulsive person.

[DonCoquixote]

61. I would so love to believe

Common sense would prevail, but this is FLORIDA. In many ways, this asshole has a better shot than Zimmerman to get off, because he fulfills the fantasies of both the Dixie natives and the "I paid my taxes in NOO Yawk!" retirees. A gun makes weak people feel good, and nothign would please many of the gray contingent here than the fact they could intimidate people by waving a gun. I know there are some great seniors, but Florida attracts the sort of seniors that made their retirement by screwing over people and they see no reason to stop now, especially as the Churches will encourage it.

[mountain grammy]

62. I believe the only reason charges are being discussed

is because the victim was white. Reeves needs to be in prison. He's a dangerous man, killing at will, in a state that condones it. Everything about this case sickens me. American society, where this shit happens on a daily basis, sickens me.

[Kingofalldems]

63. Will the NRA now call for open carry gun phones?

[Beartracks]

64. So, the only way to stop a jerk with popcorn...

... is a jerk with a gun?

If they find the shooter acted "within the law" then the law needs to change.

Given the absolute rash of mass shootings these days, what if someone sitting next to the shooter had suddenly feared for his own life AND SHOT THE SHOOTER...

===============

[Chemisse]

65. Theatre popcorn can be really scary.

It's VERY high in calories.

Really, the only way to defend yourself is to shoot to kill.

Edited to add:

[lark]

66. In any sane world, this ass goes to jail.

Unfortunately, this seems to have happened in my insane state of FL, so who knows. How the F*** can someone fear for their lives when popcorn is thrown at them? That's just stupid on the face of it. God, I really hope this ass goes to jail. If not, even more people will feel justified in killing anyone who aggravates them, even when there is no threat, as in this case.

[world wide wally]

70. Totally legalized murder?

Gee, that is a wonderful idea.
Are you fucking serious?

[IHateTheGOP]

72. The current right wing is the biggest threat this country has ever faced.

[alcibiades_mystery]

74. I've seen lots of gunners support this shitbag

Yet another hero, apparently.

[Turbineguy]

75. This is why we have trials.

But it's Florida and he'll probably get off the hook. No doubt popcorn will be declared a gateway weapon. First there's the popcorn, then the Raisinetes and the next thing you know, the guy whips out a fuckin' bazooka because that's what you take with you when you take your lady-wife to the movies.

I have to wonder how many people this guy shot in order to be a police captain?

[HassleCat]

76. Popcorn can be deadly!

Particularly the kind with extra butter.