Before all the details were in regarding the 7:10 a.m. October 21st shooting in Sparks, Nevada, at least one gun control group was calling for “common sense solutions” and readers on various news sites were blaming the NRA for opposing expanded background checks earlier this year. Had they just waited for more information later in the day, these people would have seen that the alleged shooter was a 14-year old student for whom it was illegal to buy a gun, illegal to posses a gun, and absolutely impossible to pass our current background check system.
So how did he get his gun? According to the Daily Mail, authorities “believe…[he] stole the semi-automatic from his parents’ home.”
We saw this same thing following Adam Lanza’s heinous crime at Sandy Hook Elementary, when Democrats like Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and President Obama demanded expanded background checks to prevent another such shooting. The problem is no background check would have stopped Lanza because he stole his guns, just as authorities believe the shooter outside of Sparks Middle School stole his.
In addition to the theft of the gun, the Sparks Middle School shooter ignored (violated) Nevada state law barring “a minor under 18 years of age” from possessing a firearm unless “accompanied by or under the immediate charge of an adult.” And concealing a handgun to carry it, which the shooter would have done to get on campus, is only legal in Nevada if you are “at least 21 years of age” and have a concealed carry license.
However, even if you possess a concealed carry license you cannot carry a gun at a Nevada public school or on the grounds of one unless a special permit has been obtained. The Sparks Middle School shooter completely ignored these laws as well.
When individuals ignore (violate) this many gun control laws to carry out their crime one thing is certain–another gun control law would not have changed a thing.
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins
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