Some good after some very bad

There were reports that some victims in the Aurora, Colo., movie theater shooting were facing insurmountable medical bills, but Colorado hospitals decided to waive some of the bills, and Warner Bros. (the studio responsible for “The Dark Knight Rises,” which was showing at the time of the shooting) kicked in some more.

If you feel moved to give, go here.

And thanks, Cynical, for the idea.

The homicide rate dropped, mass killings continue, and other Dark Knight news

This Washington Post article explores the strange juxtaposition of a homicide rate that has dropped in the last 20 years, while the number of mass killings (like the one last week in that Aurora, Colo., movie theater) have pretty much stayed steady. From the article:

The United States experienced 645 mass-murder events — killings with at least four victims — between 1976 and 2010, according to Northeastern University criminologist James Alan Fox. When graphed, these incidents show no obvious trend. The numbers go up and down and up again. The total body count: 2,949.

Beyond the raw data, there is the psychic toll. Mass murder, when amplified in the news media, turns a big country very quickly into a small one and turns faceless body counts into real people enduring real pain and real tragedy.

Interestingly (and perhaps understandably), gun groups have remained mostly silent about Aurora, a town that — like Columbine, like — yes — Joplin — will now be remembered for its worst day ever.

Meanwhile, as a side note, the actor Christian Bale, who plays Batman in the movie that was showing in that Aurora theater, took it upon himself to visit some of the shooting victims in Colorado hospitals yesterday. Do click on the Batman link. It has a message from the movie’s director, Christopher Nolan, that says, in part:

I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families.

And another thing…

Oddly, the New York Times reported today that the Colorado theater shooting suspect, James E. Holmes, bought much of his arsenal online — “It was pretty much as easy as ordering a book from Amazon,” the story said.

Twelve people were killed and dozens more were injured in the shooting. Holmes goes to court today.

And thanks, Amanda, for letting me steal this off of you on Facebook.

Prayers for Colorado

This is senseless. It makes no sense. Prayers for the survivors, and prayers for the families.

UPDATE: They’ve just identified the shooter.