Monday, November 6, 2017

Are we really this inept? (correct answer: yes we are)

Instead of showing the face of the murderer who killed 26 people using an AR-15 in a small town church in Texas yesterday, I'd rather show the photo of this good, brave citizen, Stephen Williford, who retrieved his AR-15 and returned fire, by all accounts saving many other lives.

The evil shooter was an Air Force veteran who was given a "Bad Conduct" discharge after receiving a Court Martial and spending a year in the brig (prison) for abusing his wife and child.  Also, in 2014 the evil shooter was arrested for misdemeanor animal cruelty in Colorado and given a differed probationary sentence.  

Now we learn the Air Force failed to notify the FBI of his court martial for spousal abuse.  Why?  Did Colorado notify the FBI of his recent misdemeanor conviction?  Apparently not.  Are we really this inept?  Either would have prevented him passing a background check and buying a gun through normal, legal channels.

Meanwhile the Texas Department of Public Safety (our State Police), during their standard vetting process, learned something and refused to issue him a license to legally carry a weapon.  What did the Texas DPS learn, and how did they learn it?  (Kudos DPS.  This is why our Texas firearm license holders have such an exemplary record of responsible gun ownership.)

The Federal Instant Criminal Background Check System won't work if felonies and recent misdemeanor convictions (and a few other disqualifiers) aren't reported.

But even if he had been legally disqualified from buying a gun, with an estimated 1,000,000 guns stolen every year, there is a thriving black market in cash-and-carry firearms transactions, and this is where most bad guys get their guns.  The system is full of holes that let bad people obtain guns.  "Black markets" pay no attention to laws....never have, never will. 

There are no more blatant examples of people who should NOT have guns than this Texas church shooter.  Those convicted of family violence, and anyone who would cruelly harm an animal, IMO don't deserve a second chance to prove they can handle something as deadly as a gun.   

Meanwhile we need to see to it that good people like Mr. Williford get the recognition they deserve for stepping up and confronting active shooters and saving lives.  This is a classic example of guns in the hands of good people doing good things. 

S


5 comments:

  1. Indeed. Let's imagine....every one in the church had a firearm, a pistol, rifle, assault gun, whatever. The first rounds go off outside....what do the armed people inside do? Fire through the walls? ok, they do that. There are what 70 people inside, all armed...do all fire in the same direction? Maybe.
    You see were I am going here....the more armed people, the more chaos. The more casualties.
    I've seen combat, I've seen 'trained' people in firefights. you don't want to be there, trust me.
    jesus judas priest...we are so heading down a wrong path it defies understanding.

    S

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    1. Your hypothetical scenario isn't realistic. Not everyone should have a gun. The majority, even here in Texas, don't even WANT a gun. But what if 3 or 4 in the congregation had a gun and were properly trained? I doubt they would have all just opened fire on the outside wall with no eyes on the target. But as soon as he ENTERED the church, I honestly believe one or more of those legally carrying would have returned fire, saving many lives. What if there was no Stephen Willford nearby? The shooter would have reloaded and gone back in and finished off EVERYONE else! Everyone with guns? NO. But a select few? I'll vote yes all day long.

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  2. I consider myself a liberal and I don't think laws banning guns are the answer. I do believe that we should do a much better job of keeping guns out of the hands of mentally disturbed people. The new Republican tax plan cuts funding to mental health programs so in spite of what conservative politicians say, these massacres are and will remain a painfully familiar part of American life.

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  3. Our (quite colorful) sheriff made the comment after this shooting that everyone should own/carry a gun. I guess I'd have to move if that were a requirement to live here.

    I remember after the shooting at a college in Oregon, a good guy with a gun said he did not get out his weapon because he did not want to be thought the bad guy who had just shot a bunch of people.

    It's a difficult subject. I don't want to take away the good guys' guns...but where do the bad guys get them from when they steal them?

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  4. Where do the bad guys steal them? From ordinary citizens. I personally know two people who had their homes burglarized and their guns stolen. I'm sure they were for sale on the street within days....cash, no questions asked. Years ago I was advised to NOT "advertise" I had guns, such as not having bumper stickers on my car saying I was an NRA member (I'm not), or the logo of my favorite firearms maker, for example. If bad guys see those they'll assume you have guns and might follow you home and attack you or come back when they think you won't be home and break in. It's one of those things best kept quiet.

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