Your Opinion: Alarming publicity stunt

Dear Editor:

I sent this letter to the management of Capital 8 Theater to express my sincere disappointment in their establishment.

On May 4 my fiancé and I decided to tour the Capitol building, have dinner, and catch the new "Iron Man 3" movie at the theater. The day went perfectly until we emerged from the theater following the show. As we were getting into our car, I spot a man across the parking lot dressed in full assault gear carrying what appeared to be an M4-style assault weapon and a 9mm handgun.

Being a retired soldier who suffers from PTSD as a result of service in three different combat zones, I can't tell you the emotions that were sparked by this sight. My fiancé said "Jump in the car and let's get out of here."

Knowing that everyone inside wouldn't stand a chance, I handed her the keys, told her to get into the car and if she heard anything to get out of there and call the cops. I then tracked the man inside the theater. I watched as he made his way through the crowd at the ticket line and was soon relieved to see him take up a position next to another person dressed in an Iron Man costume.

I can't believe that with everything going on in this country, from the Denver theater shooting and the more recent Newtown shooting, that they could be so callous as to parade a man dressed in such gear through a crowded theater. I can't tell you the emotions that surged through me as I tracked this man into the theater. You have obviously never felt the sheer terror of combat or suffered the effects of PTSD.

I would ask that in the future, they consider recent world events before deciding to subject your public to these types of publicity stunts.