Word is the President’s call to politicize the Umpqua Community College shooting was heard loud and clear by many of the usual suspects in Congress. And that they’re readying a (doomed) piece of legislation to #DoSomething featuring, according to the Washington Post, “closing background check loopholes for Internet and gun show sales, expanding the background check database and cracking down on the illegal gun market.” Reader Danny Griffin had some thoughts on the topic in the comments yesterday which seem apropos . . .
Universal background checks? Here’s what I think about that:
I think that the Umpqua CC shooter Christopher Harper-Mercer legally purchased his guns from FFLs and had background checks performed.
I think that the Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof legally purchased his gun from an FFL and had a background check performed.
I think that the Isla Vista shooter Eliot Rodgers legally purchased his guns from FFLs and had background checks performed.
I think that the Colorado theater shooter James Holmes legally purchased his guns from FFLs and had background checks performed.
I think that the Virginia Tech shooter Seung-Hui Cho legally purchased his guns from FFLs and had background checks performed.
I think that the Ft. Hood shooter Ivan Lopez legally purchased his guns from an FFL and had background checks performed.
I think that the other Ft. Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan legally purchased his gun from an FFL and had a background check performed.
I think that the Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis legally purchased his gun from an FFL and had background checks–state and federal–performed. He also had a security clearance.
I think that the Minneapolis shooter Andrew John Engeldinger legally purchased his guns from an FFL and had background checks performed.
I think that the Las Vegas shooters Jerad and Amanda Miller legally purchased their guns from an FFL and had background checks performed.
I think that the Tucson shooter Jared Loughner legally purchased his gun from an FFL and had a background check performed.
I think that the Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza used legally purchased guns, he just murdered the owner first and then stole them.
Should I go on? How many you want? Who did I forget? Oh, yeah, the Columbine shooting. The guns were a straw purchase, but the ATF declined to even prosecute the straw buyer.