Can someone please explain to me why when a terrorist act like Boston occurs, we move heaven and earth to go after the perpetrators?
That includes video surveillance, tip lines, rewards, citywide lockdowns, ATFE, state and local police, as well as the FBI.
Yet when we have a mass shooting as at Aurora, Columbine, Tucson or Sandy Hook we pursue the inanimate object — the long gun, handgun or accessories to the firearm.
When a drunk driver kills someone, we go after the driver — not the car or the liquor manufacturer.
• James Holmes legally purchased his weapons and ammunition before the Aurora shooting.
• Evan Ebel got his gun through a “straw purchase” using someone with a clean record to buy the gun to kill Tom Clements and Nathan Leon.
• Adam Lanza, 20, had no criminal record and access to several firearms before he murdered 26 at Sandy Hook, as well as killing his mother.
• Jared Loughner — though perceived by many to have gone through a personality change over several years — was legally able to purchase the handgun used to shoot Gabrielle Giffords and kill 6 others in Tucson.
• Rhonda Fields supports several gun bills, yet as no weapons have been recovered in her son’s murder her proclamation of assault weapons being used is unsubstantiated.
Also, per the news reports, there were eight rounds of one caliber and nine rounds of another fired during the shooting indicating that the 15 round magazine limit recently passed would have had no effect even if the perpetrators followed the laws.
In the meantime, President Obama says “shame on you” to Congress and parades Denver Police and Sandy Hook families around to back his agenda.
Please understand I am deeply saddened and sorry for the losses created by these people.
But the key to the solution is the people — the person pulling the trigger.
As long as we pursue the inanimate object we will never understand — nor address — gun violence.
I do not propose to have the answer — I only know we are wasting our time with magazine capacity, unenforceable background checks or trying to decide what is an assault rifle versus a simple-but equally capable-ranch rifle.
Let us pray to God we learn from Boston.
Ed Lippert
Arvada