For once, a fairly benign observation by Huffington Post on Rick Perry's comments about how concealed carry might help prevent shootings in "gun-free zones" like the one in LA. Fairly benign, if still somewhat off-base.
One comment: "Houser legally purchased the gun used Thursday at a pawn shop in Alabama last year, according to law enforcement officials. He had previously been denied a pistol due to a prior arrest and reports of domestic violence."
If one follows the link to ABC News, it does not say that Houser bought the pistol legally:
"The gun that was used to kill two people and wound nine others in the horrific movie theater shooting in Louisiana was purchased legally in Alabama, police said Friday." Further down the page it says' "Police did not immediately say who made the purchase."
If he had previously been denied, then it is not likely he bought it legally, but that someone else bought it for him to circumvent the law. That is illegal - known as a "straw purchase". So the purchase was not legal if that is the case. UPDATE: Apparently it is now being confirmed that he purchased the firearm. Of course, if he had been denied previously then he should have been denied again - especially after an involuntary commitment. Clearly a failure in the NICS system. So we don't need more background checks - we need accurate reliable ones.
None of that changes the fact that, although what he is saying is blasphemy to the gun control advocates, Perry is correct. There is a reason all of these shootings happen in gun-free zones - it is not random coincidence. Be it Lanza, Holmes, Columbine, Alexis, Hassan, or whoever wherever, those who want to kill as many people as possible choose areas where they can expect the least resistance.
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