Tipsheet

Just Like Many Other Mass Shooters, Virginia Beach Suspect Purchased His Gun Legally

Beth Baumann
Beth Baumann  |  June 01, 2019 1:38 PM

Friday afternoon, 12 people were killed and five more were wounded at Virginia Beach Municipal Center in Virginia after a gunman opened fired. The suspect worked for the city for 15 years as a civil engineer. According to NBC News, he used a .45 handgun and multiple magazines to carry out the attack, as well as a suppressor. 

Naturally, anti-gunners used the event to suggest we need to address "gun violence" and push stricter gun control laws.

What these people seem to fail to understand: the guy passed a background check when he purchased the firearm legally. 

Democrats often call for stricter gun control laws, like universal background checks, but, again, that wouldn't have done anything in this case. Nothing in his background, as far as we know, flagged him as someone who would be a danger to others. 

They're also taking aim at suppressors (or "silencers" as they like to call them). They must not know that a person has to pay a $200 fee, apply for a special permit, wait nine months to a year, get approval and then buy the suppressor. It's not like everyone can walk into a gun shop and pick up a suppressor on a whim. They're heavily regulated. 

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It's important to note that this shooter is like a number of other mass shooters. He purchased his firearm legally and within the confines of the law. AWR Hawkins at Breitbart put together a partial list of other attackers who purchased their firearms legally:

  • Poway Synagogue attacker (April 27, 2019)
  • Tree of Life Synagogue  attacker (October 27, 2018)
  • Parkland high school attacker (February 14, 2018)
  • Texas church attacker (November 5, 2017)
  • Las Vegas attacker (October 1, 2017)
  • the Alexandria attacker (June 14, 2017))
  • Orlando attacker (June 12, 2016)
  • the UCLA gunman (June 1, 2016))
  • the San Bernardino attackers (December 2, 2015)
  • the Colorado Springs attacker (October 31, 2015)
  • the Umpqua Community College attacker (October 1, 2015)
  • Alison Parker’s attacker (August 26, 2015)
  • the Lafayette movie theater attacker (July 23, 2015)
  • the Chattanooga attacker (July 16, 2015)
  • the alleged Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal attacker (Jun 17, 2015)
  • the Muhammad Carton Contest attackers (May 3, 2014)
  • the Las Vegas cop killers (June 9, 2015)
  • the Santa Barbara attacker (May 23, 2014)
  • the Fort Hood attacker (April 2, 2014)
  • the Arapahoe High School attacker (December 13, 2013)
  • the D.C. Navy Yard attacker (September 16, 2013)
  • the Aurora movie theater attacker (July 20, 2012)
  • Gabby Giffords’ attacker (January 8, 2011)
  • the Fort Hood attacker (November 5, 2009)
  • the Virginia Tech attacker (April 16, 2007)

Pushing for gun control bills, like HR 8, wouldn't have changed anything in this situation. He passed a background check. He applied for a suppressor and obtained it because, again, there was nothing in his background that would indicate he was a danger to himself or others. Democrats need to wake up and realize that their laws, the ones that are currently in place, aren't doing anything to stop these mass shootings. All they're doing is disarming law-abiding gun owners.