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**Written by Doug Powers

Do honest, law abiding people carrying weapons threaten to escalate a murderous rampage? Sen. Dianne Feinstein thinks so:

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), a longtime advocate of stricter gun restrictions, on Sunday repeated her call for a renewed examination of the nation’s firearms laws.

“I believe people use these weapons because they can get them,” she said on “Fox News Sunday.”

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) took an opposing view, arguing that had someone else in the Aurora theater been carrying a weapon, “maybe, maybe they could have prevented some of those deaths, some of those injuries, and that’s just the truth.”

Feinstein retorted: “And maybe you could have had a fire fight and killed many more people.”

Well, in that case, why even call the police in and risk the crossfire?

Feinstein’s concern wasn’t the case earlier this year, also in Aurora, when an off duty police officer in a church congregation brought an end to a bad situation that could have been even worse.

Flashback from MM: Feinstein also ignores another example of an armed citizen in Colorado who helped save lives during a mass shooting in Colorado Springs in 2007…

Sunday horror: Church shootings in Colorado; gunman killed by armed female church security staffer; Update: Church volunteer rushed toward the gunman; victims ID’d; Who is the shooter?; Gunman reportedly ID’d; Update: Gunman reportedly “hated Christians;” Update: The hero is Jeanne Assam; Vietnam vet parishioner assisted

Related: James Holmes made his first appearance in court today:

He appeared Monday after being accused of the shooting rampage at a Colorado movie theater that killed 12 people and injured 58 others.

Authorities say the 24-year-old former graduate student is refusing to cooperate and it could take months to learn what prompted the horrific attack on moviegoers at a midnight screening of the latest Batman film.

Investigators say they found a Batman mask inside Holmes’ booby-trapped apartment after the attack.

Holmes has been held in solitary confinement since Friday. Prosecutors say they may consider the death penalty but will make that decision after consulting with victim’s families.

Prosecutors will have 72 hours from the hearing to formally charge the 24-year-old Aurora resident originally from California.

Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney Carol Chambers said Monday her office is considering pursuing the death penalty against Holmes. She said a decision will be made in consultation with victims’ families.

He will be formally charged next Monday. Here’s a screen cap from CBS coverage:

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe