i stand by my original assessment for non-parents. anyone who's looked at infantry training or just basic military training in general, knows that people have to be repeatedly exposed to combat conditions so that they become desensitized in a sense to chaos, along with developing that muscle memory to react properly. you don't just join the army, learn how to tie a boot, then get shipped off to Afghanistan for example. You go through a lot of bullshit (that's actually good for you in hindsight) before you set foot in your unit, but by the time you do you're a step ahead mentally than someone fresh off the streets.
the sound of gunfire is very unlike a house fire, in the sense that they come with loud bangs and the potential to end your life with one bullet. The sound alone can make someone panic, let alone seeing people get shot around you. Like I said before, if it was natural for the average joe to behave in a 'military' manner, a nice chunk of training and smokies could be could out of the defense budget. Even with months of training and exposure, some people still bug out.
As for the parental side of things...I dont know what to say. If there's gas, bullets and bodies hitting the floor all around you, you may be inclined to think your kids are already dead. I don't know the specifics tho. Were they sitting together or scattered throughout the theater? If they were sitting together, I think it would have been easier. Even with the instantaneous panic and adrenaline spike from the sound of gunfire, looking at someone you know helps your brain remember certain things. Sudden panic and stress like that can make you forget.
i'm really trying to refrain from calling the guy a coward until all other avenues are exhausted.:smt012