First and foremost...my thoughts and prayers go out to those effected by this tragedy.
One of the first things I noticed within the first few hours of the incident was how the main stream media who is predominantly anti gun and liberal were quick to demonize "THE AR15" rifle.
It was like they could not wait a single second before they could capitalize on the opportunity to demonize an inanimate object. They quickly pointed out that it was an AR15 which was the same rifle used at Sandy Hook and the Colorado movie theater massacre.
They felt they had to inject the image that the AR15 rifle was the weapon of choice for the killer and he was able to inflict a high body count because it specifically was a military style rifle that no civilian needs.
Well, as it turns out the killer did not use an AR15. There was an AR15 at the scene of the crime but it was never used. In the fog of the chaos it is believed now to have been property of the base security. The FBI confirmed that a "SHOTGUN" and 2 "HANDGUNS" were used but no AR15 was ever in the killers possession.
The media also reported more incorrect so called facts such as... the killer legally purchased the AR15 in Virginia and that he had 2 rifles and a double barreled shotgun. Then they said he tried to purchase an AR15 but was denied.
In fact he legally purchased a "SHOTGUN" (Remington 870 pump action to be more specific). He tried to buy a handgun not an AR15. He was denied because he was not a resident of Virginia. Not because his background check identified him as being a mental health risk due to his documented schizophrenia. (hearing voices in his head)
The media is spreading misinformation and even at the end of the week I still have not heard one channel recant or apologize for their mistakes. I give up and just ignore them all together now.
Another huge issue is that the gun store did the right thing by not selling the killer a handgun due to his out of state residency but still sold him a shotgun? Something obviously went wrong there.
I am all for gun rights obviously but I am also for sensible firearms background checks. States and health care providers are sitting on tons of personal information that identifies who has significant mental health issues yet claim they cannot submit that information into the NICs system because those people have rights. They say mental illness should not be demonized because if you demonize mental illness it will prevent people from seeking help.
So I guess we are at an impasse? Good law abiding citizens refuse to give up their 2nd amendment rights and mental health professionals refuse to submit mentally ill patients in to a national database that would prevent them from purchasing a gun.
Then we have those who think if we let the government restrict citizens who are put on a list because of a panel of Dr.s diagnosis that millions of people will be wrongfully labeled. Some feel the majority of folks in the medical field are liberal minded and could easily effect gun control by mislabeling anyone they disagree with.
So what is the answer? There is no simple one thats for sure. National conceal carry permits? Constitutional open carry? More gun free zones? Less gun free zones? Allow military personnel to carry a sidearm on base? Allow teachers to carry a concealed weapon? Put armed uniformed guards or police in ever school?
Me personally, I like the idea of a 50 state recognized conceal carry permit with no gun free zones other than bldgs with metal detectors and armed guards or police in the bldg. Is it perfect? No but its a reasonable place to start.
It would make alot of the pro gun folks happy because they can defend themselves in a mass shooting event if needed.
It would make the anti gun folks happy that they dont see guns everywhere because they guns are concealed. No one will freak out and call the police because there is a man (or woman) in a coffee shop "brandishing" a gun when in fact the gun was just in a holster being open carried. Out of sight out of mind.
Will idiots have accident and accidentally discharge their concealed carry gun in public? Yes. With more people CCWing its just a fact that there will be accidents. Its a numbers thing plain and simple. Cops have left guns in bathroom stalls and cops have accidentally shot themselves taking a dump. Imagine 100 million new CCW permit holders thrown in the mix?
The risks are scary to think of but the risk of having another bldg full of unarmed defenseless people getting cut down by a crazy person with a gun is equally scary.
There is no law we can write today that will stop the next massacre. The only thing that will stop the next massacre is someone with a gun.
Its literally an Occam's Razor answer to the question of how to stop a massacre.
Can we dissolve the 2nd amendment and ban all guns in America to stop the next massacre?
Can we allow more people to carry a gun in more places so when the next massacre happens, there will be at least one person there who can actually stop him?
