The shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the murder and shooting of over a dozen persons is an awful thing to ponder. I am sure there will be much speculation as to what compelled the alleged shooter, Jared Loughner, to open fire in a town hall meeting. To say that the alleged shooter was mentally disturbed doesn’t really explain much. And then the speculation as to whether the more ardent political rhetoric, the hate mongering and such, was the reason for his deciding to shoot a U.S. Congresswoman will only partially address the situation.
There is a call for more gun control. And that always raises controversy. All of it valid, none of it by and of itself explaining why someone would commit such a heinous and senseless act.
Fox News reported that Laughner passed his FBI background check, which enabled him to legally purchase a firearm. While this is alarming, it shouldn’t be surprising. Those buying a gun must be cleared of previous criminal convictions. If the would-be buyer, Laughner in this case, had arrests but no convictions, then he would legally be eligible to buy a firearm. Mind you, I am not saying this is a good law or appropriate, considering that the background check does not take into account the buyer’s mental state. But it is the law as it currently exists.
I am not quite sure how you change the law where you can mandate, say, an examination of one’s mental health records. Most health records are confidential and, to date, are not open to examination. As for reviewing arrests, it is possible to consider arrests as part of the gun purchasing process. But then there are many innocent people who are arrested and then released who are guilty of nothing. As the laws exists, it would be difficult to consider arrests and subsequently prevent the buyer from obtaining a firearm.
This is a terrible situation. Some idiot in whatever cause he believes in takes the life of a Congresswoman, a judge, and a nine-year old child, among others. I hate to say this but in our history it has happened before and will happen again. Once again debate will ensure and there will be controversy. Then, as someone said, by Super Bowl, much of it will be forgotten.
Terrible.
