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
