Again, like its been happening in all the last mass murders, the murderer bought his gun over the counter legally. Why? Because we don't have any effective gun regulations. The little ones we have have been neutered This will repeat again and again until we take action.
This case is the worst mockery of the pitiful gun regulations we have. John Russell Houser had a criminal history and had previously been denied a concealed carry permit
In 2006, when Houser applied for a concealed-carry permit in Russell County, Ala., the sheriff’s department denied the permit because of a prior arrest for arson and a domestic violence complaint on his record, Sheriff Heath Taylor said at a news conference Friday. In both cases, Houser was never prosecuted; records do not indicate why.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/... In Louisiana by the way that wouldn't have happened because is a shall issue state and sheriffs have no say in who can carry weapons concealed and actually any one and their mother can carry openly without having to fulfill any requirement of any kind. Awesome, the are more regulations on dogs and firecrackers. The killer also had a mental health history, including and a history of being a radical right winger Hitler loving misogynistic pundit in the local station.
Family members stated in court filings that Mr. Houser had committed violence against the family in the past and had “a history of mental health issues, i.e., manic depression and/or bi-polar disorder.” They also stated that he “exhibited extreme erratic behavior and has made ominous as well as disturbing statements” to family members. Ms. Houser was so frightened by Mr. Houser’s “volatile mental state” that she took guns and weapons from their home, according to records.Mr. Houser’s ex-wife could not be reached for comment. Her attorney, Myra LeAnna Smith, said her client “was shaken up by the entire incident,” and had not seen Mr. Hauser in many years.
In a Carrollton, Ga., police report filed with the request for protection, an officer wrote that Ms. Houser told him she had taken all guns from their house and Mr. Houser “and he should not have one unless he obtained it illegally.”
http://www.wsj.com/...
How such a clear menace to society could buy a gun legally? because our legal filters for gun buying are a joke
The gun Houser used, a Hi-Point .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, was legally purchased in February 2014 from a pawn shop in Phenix City, Alabama, Craig said, citing the the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Drew Griffin, a senior investigative correspondent for CNN, said it appears Houser was cleared to buy the gun because he didn't have any convictions for serious crimes.
"He just didn't show up on any of the instant background checks," Griffin said.
http://www.cnn.com/...
And the NRA and other groups are absolutely opposed to strengthen background checks. What are the current problems with the existing background checks:
-To begin with private sellers are not required to conduct background checks. Some of this "private sellers" run full operations using internet facades.
-If for whatever reason the Federal NCIS check can't be completed in 3 business days the sell can be completed without it
-Many states under the influence of the NRA and other groups have made more difficult for courts or LEOs to report to the FBI. The information can't be stored. And through regulation protecting guns over people in many states even if the person conducting the checks commits errors they can't be bothered or sued.
-On top of that States like Louisiana are shall issue conceal permits or even no kind of permit or review to carry open carry. And don't require the gun sellers to register.
We need a stronger system of Background checks at a minimum. We need to do away with any gun sale that doesn't require background checks, even donations or weapons in wills. Sells should not be allowed to be completed without a completed background checks. States are to be forced by federal law to participate in the system and include all information pertinent. FBI or ATF should be able to keep all the background check records. On top I think all guns should be registered and that having a gun must require a license, with an exam, with photo ID and a minimum of hs of training and that states should set pool of insurance for gun owners that must have insurance if they take their gun out of their property (maybe in any case but at least for any conceal or open carry).
I'm doing, and sadly seems I will continue for a long time, a series of diaries on any recent mass killing trying to document where the weapons used in it came from. Here are the previous installments. I just started mid July and there are already three because in our USA one of this incidents happens every week, or more frequently, and in nearly all cases with weapons bought legally including assault weapons and extended magazines to facilitate the killers job. In two of those cases the killers could be easily defined as terrorists
Another mass murder perpetrated with guns bought legally
Terrorist Dylann Roof bought the gun