Texting can get you killed in Florida
SNL give a rare serious, poignant cold opening
The Front Page
Morning Update
Monday, February 28, 2022
By Ken Tingley
We’ve all probably been there before.
The person in front of us starts talking during the movie, then pulls out their phone and starts texting. The person behind us keeps kicking our seat. We have that “urge to kill” moment.
But here’s the different from what happened in Florida, we didn’t do it.
You may have missed this news story during this past tumultuous week.
Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” gun law allows a person to use deadly force if they “reasonably believe” that their life is being imminently threatened.
Eight years ago, a Navy veteran and finance manager in a local motorcycle dealership near Tampa, Fla. was out on a date with his wife at a local movie theater. The couple were concerned about their 2-year-old daughter at home who was ill. Before the movie started, the man texted the babysitter for an update.
Behind the couple was a 71 year-old retired SWAT commander with his wife. He became agitated when the man in front started texting. He got up and told the man to stop texting.
The man ignored him and continued to text in the semi-dark theater.
The former SWAT commander left to get the manager, but returned alone.
The man who had been texting made a remark about being “tattled on” and the two men exchanged words.
Another man sitting in the row ahead of the SWAT commander said in 2014 that the man was “aggressive” and had been kicking the seat in front of him because “he was agitated” that the man was texting.
Finally, the man who had been texting stood up and threw his popcorn in the SWAT commander’s face.
Video footage from inside the theater showed the SWAT commander instantly drawing his weapon and shooing the other man fatally in the chest.
This is the world we now inhabit in our country.
But here is what is most frightening of all. The SWAT commander was acquitted this week of second degree murder.
HIs lawyer argued that he was fearful of being attacked by a stronger, younger man. He argued he had fired his handgun in self defense.
In a police recording afterward, the SWAT commander said that the man texting kept hollering at him. “Whatever he was saying, it was threatening, it was enough for me to look for a way out.”
The prosecutor argued that the SWAT commander had displayed an “explosive moment of anger.” He said, “there wasn’t any imminent threat of death.”
At least not from a box of popcorn.
The case raises a multitude of questions about the use of firearms in our country and the need for some folks to be armed on date night.
But more importantly, it sets the precedent that popcorn is now a deadly weapon and rude conduct is reason enough to kill someone.
The movie neither of them got to see was “Lone Survivor,” an action movie about Navy SEALs in Afghanistan.
Conversation with Ken
WAMC host Joe Donohue and myself will be holding a conversation about life, journalism, newspapers and my book “The Last American Newspaper” on Thursday, March 10 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Greenwich Public Library.
The event was rescheduled from January because of Covid-19. We are encouraging all to register for the event since space will still be limited. Check out the the event site on the Greenwich Public Library and register.
Books will be available at the event or before hand at Battenkill Books in Cambridge.
SNL opening
Saturday Night Live, known for its edgy cold openings, took a different tact this week.
Staff staples Cecily Strong and Kate McKinnon stood center stage at the opening and introduced the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York. Dressed in somber choir robes, they sang a poignant “Prayer for Ukraine.”
Basketball back
Basketball is back at the Cool Insuring Arena this week with six straight days of the Section II Basketball Tournament. If you are a basketball fan, this is heaven. The games get under way with a triple header Monday night at 5 p.m.
Sen. Romney should have left out the word "almost".
Tragic what happened in the theater. The NRA should take some responsibility. Also, Sixty Minutes had a great segment last night re the loss and importance of local journalism.