Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinSE
Sorry, this shooter did not lie on the background check, Texas doesn’t require one. He just turned 18 and legally purchased 2 ar15s a day later and then killed 21 people.
It’s hard to enforce laws that don’t exist.
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Never said that this particular murderer purchased their guns illegally. My point was that there are laws that are not enforced, one of them being lying on the background check which is required by
federal law. Having said that, per the Texas Department of Public Safety, "House Bill 1927 (Permitless Carry)
does not repeal the License to Carry Program (LTC), established by Government Code Chapter 411, Subchapter H.
The department is still required to process applications,
conduct background checks, and produce a laminated license for those who qualify." (
link)
When we hear that we need more gun laws, we don't hear how the additional gun laws would have prevented the tragedy to begin with. For example, a current talking point is how Universal Background Check legislation needs to be passed, yet in this specific case, the ATF reported that the murderer did in fact purchase his weapons legally.
More laws won't prevent these tragedies, I submit that committing murder is against the law, yet that law doesn't seem to stop this madness. If a perpetrator is intent on "suicide by cop" after such a heinous act, just how will more laws get them to not commit these crimes? What is the "endgame" of more laws? Is the reality that gun confiscation is the true goal?
Instead of focusing on more laws, how about understanding why current laws are not effective? Are they not being enforced? If not, why? Is the penalty for committing the crime an insufficient deterrent? Are there societal issues that may be contributing? How are we handling those suffering from mental illness? How about those who are just plain evil?
The FBI reported that they conducted over 38.8 Million Gun Background Checks in 2021 (
link). The NSSF Trade Industry Association conducted a retail survey that showed an estimated 3.2 million first time gun buyers in the first half of 2021 (
link). So why are there so many first time buyers? Maybe people are worried about their safety and prefer "to be judged by 12 than carried by 6".
There is no easy answer to why mass shootings are occurring, but until the focus shifts from the "how" to the "why" we will stay in an endless loop.