I'm not going to get into the gun issue here because that's my not question. My curiosity has to do with an ordinary citizen purchasing anti-ballistic gear that would normally be on the equipment list of a Military Special Forces or a SWAT team and a bell doesn't go off in someone's head. My son sells this kind of equipment to the uniformed services and you've got to have verified credentials to purchase certain items from him.

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"Another day in paradise!"

There is always a way to circumvent any rule, regulation, or law. That's why they don't work to stop the crazies and the villains. Only clear headed, law abiding people are concerned with following the law.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

Hi Doc: people are ill-advised to comment on these issues from oceans away and I'm assuredly not going to stick my oar into other people's debate. These things happen everywhere now and again and we all watch primarily with deep, deep sympathy for those whose lives have been torn apart by the event.

Personally, I'm curious as to what was going on in the perpetrator's head. Obviously, we'll never know that for sure, but since it was done (almost to the day) on the anniversary of the similar event in Norway I'm wondering if there was an element of imitation of those paramilitary fantasies? Several similarities, to the outside eye. A trail of internet usage and perhaps even contact with certain groups would go a long way to indicating that. Are people on the ground talking about that sort of thing yet?

The usual phrases of "loner" and "dropout" don't really get us far. The world's full of dropout loners who don't go wild with weapons.

Probably not much to contribute, but I'll be watching this thread with interest.

Cheers - C

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These matters are certainly without borders as you have indicated and the bombings in London as well as the history of the IRA in Britain are not forgotten in my mind. Presently there's not been any social media profile for him, including internet usage. This is a Phi Beta Kappa honors student in Neuroscience, a PhD candidate whose academic performance seems to have nosedived into the crapper and appears to have been in the process of withdrawing from the program. Beyond that, no one knows. Respecting your interest in motive, I'm concerned about access to materiel of such a nature as to not raise eyebrows in any quarter. Are private citizens, in masses, purchasing the kind of stuff this guy wore to war so as for it to seem business as usual?

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"Another day in paradise!"

a point of view i have is coming from a hobby that involves using imitation firearms, and for some people recreation of armed forces equipment. this can be done both for the hobby i was involved in, airsoft (like paintball but more realistic) or for the more established war re-enactors.

i know from my time involved in airsoft, which isnt so much these days, that even here in the UK, other than real weapons and super expensive hi-tech stuff, you can kit yourself out like any soldier of any force in the world if you want to and have the money.

for years people have re-enacted, and dressed up like WW1/WW2/Vietnam etc armed forces, and nobody has minded. its a nice addition to your local county shows or air displays etc, bringing history to life. the same amount of effort and detail can easily be achieved for a modern 'loadout' as being used in Afghan as we speak. SAS, US Marines, Delta Force, all those 'buzz words' for military enthusiasts can be recreated to minute detail.

i looked at a quick write up of the situation, and a spokesman from a company called 'Blackhawk' spoke up about how disgusted he is that their companies equipment was purchased and used by the $@!&# who did the shooting. i know for fact i can buy Blackhawk equipment, easily, legally, and relatively cheaply here in the UK.

i also know that lots and lots of military 'surplus' finds its way out of armed forces depots all over the world. a few years ago i was handling current issue UK Forces bulletproof ceramic vests, helemts etc.

so, ZZDoc, the list i've seen of what he brought from Blackhawk (vests, magazine pouches, holsters etc) is definitely not something that is out of the ordinary for anybody doing the hobbies ive mentioned, and no more difficult to get than buying guitars off ebay.

Black market, China, local weapons dealers. All under the table.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Moochy...thanks for your input. The spokesman for Blackhawk would be have kept his comments limited to something to the effect of: 'We are deeply saddened by this heinous act. Our hearts and minds go out to all of those who have sufferd this attrocity. Our customers base is comprised of decent, law-abiding citizens who use our equipment for honorable cause. Their interests should not be condemned as a result of it

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"Another day in paradise!"

the quote i read is exactly as follows, from the CEO of the company no less.

"from our perspective its quite shocking, we process thousands of these orders a day. we're pretty horrified by it".

the total cost of the order was $306, not very much at all for the kit he brought.

as for 'all under the table', far as i could make out from what i've read, nothing he used was illegal to get. he brought 4 guns from 4 different stores leading up to it, equipment online and ammo in bulk locally.

when its that easy to get stuff, you dont need to go black market.

It never ceases to amaze me the number of deranged people
in the world. It may be safer to stay home in the not too distant
future.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

the bottom line is no matter how the gov. regulates or bans weapons and bullet-proof equipment if a person wants to do something horrible, they will. you can take all weapons off the market and some jackass will pick up a rock and kill another person. it's not weapons or laws that are the problem it's people. you an't gona change that no matter what. my thoughts and prayers to the folks in aurora.

Well, Doc, I was wondering the same thing until I read this in this morning's SF Chronicle:

Holmes also bought an urban assault vest, two magazine holders and a knife for just over $300 on July 2 from an online supplier of tactical gear for police and military personnel, according to the company.

Chad Weinman, CEO of TacticalGear.com, said his company processes thousands of orders each day, and there was nothing unusual in the one that Holmes placed. While his company often receives orders from military units and law enforcement organizations, it is not out of the ordinary for individual police officers or soldiers to place orders, he said.

"Everything Mr. Holmes purchased on July 2 is commercially available," Weinman said, adding he was "appalled" that the material was sold to Holmes before the shooting.

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“All music is folk music, I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.” Louis Armstrong

How lame can you get!! Does he think he's selling jelly beans.

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"Another day in paradise!"

The way that's been written is suggesting the company somehow knew it would be used as it was, and is appalled this guy was allowed to buy it. That's stupid. The CEO is appalled at how his goods were used, not that his company sold them to that guy. He could have been anybody. He could have been your airsoft playing next door neighbour. Unfortunately he wasn't. You cannot decide who's a gun wielding pyscho and who isn't from an online order. The stuff could have been ordered from any company, or an individual, you or me, off eBay. You just don't know.

But to suggest the company is in the wrong is ridiculous.

The company is not wrong in this case. These CEO's have to come forth with a sensible comment or say nothing at all. In that industry it foolish to attempt to apologize for what you knowingly sell or for who buys it in an unrestricted freemarket. You have to expect that somewhere down the line it is going to be used for the purpose for which it was designed and 'evil' is part of it. I'm reminded of that scene in the film Casablanca when Louie shuts down the casino, 'shocked to find gambling going on'...and then they hand him his winnings and he say "thank you.' It's lame. Offer profound condolences to the victims, justify your place in the market and move on with business as usual or shut it down.

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"Another day in paradise!"

"Proof Government Stages Mass Shootings: Batman Massacre Decoded:

http://www.infowars.com/proof-governmen ... e-decoded/"

It can be established that the Columbine and Aurora incidents are staged, false flag terror psy ops meant to frighten people into giving up their right to own firearms. The lunatic who did the shooting is the child of people who work in black op psy ops programs in Colorado as were the Columbine shooters.

Look up false flag wars and false flag terror acts.

Go ahead, please...I beg of you -- debunk the false flag info!

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"The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a Conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists. The American mind simply has not come to a realization of the evil which has been introduced into our midst." J. Edgar Hoover