Comment of the Day

Readers: James Holmes murders shouldn't take away community's theater

Our post about Aurora Century 16 owner Cinemark asking a court to toss lawsuits by theater shooting victims prompted a debate about whether reopening the venue is a good idea.

Here are thoughts from someone who thinks it is.

bafrederickcmb writes:

I get that people would want to rip it down and build a memorial there, but by doing so we're acting as if their victimization is any different than any of the other murders that happen in the nation. I see kayleigh94 says she works in the Aurora Mall -- and I'd be hard pressed to think that she knows how many people have been killed in or around that mall since it's been opened. Do you see any memorials? How come these 13 [sic] are going to be memorialized when we very rarely even see flowers out on the street corners of slain individuals from the same kind of senseless crimes? Bottom line is that it is private property and they can do with it what they choose. It was a popular theater so why allow one man's insane crime ruin it for the community? There doesn't have to be a room 9 -- out of respect, and a small remembrance plaque wouldn't be at all tacky -- which is what I assume the owners will do -- but to say that the land has to be thrown into defunctness for only 13 murders is pretty inane. Unless of course we start a campaign to make memorials for everyone who has been and will be murdered senselessly around the Denver-metro area. Perhaps the families of the movie theater victims will donate their fund money to make this happen? Because victims of other senseless crimes rarely have the luxury of having strangers hand them money so it would only be fair.

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