Peter J. Forcelli, ATF agent, on how 19 year old Nikolas Cruz got his hands on the AR-15 rifle used in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018.
Well that's the problem isn't it? All these lunatics, or at least the vast majority of them, bought their murder weapons legally with very few, if any, questions asked. In the case of young, Mr. Cruz the state of Florida made it easier than many places to secure his firearm.
Florida allows anyone 18, or older to buy and possess a gun--any gun. In addition the state doesn't require anyone to have a license, or permit to buy one and the purchaser doesn't have to register it. Florida does require an owner to get a conceal and carry license for a hand gun, but when it comes to long barrel weapons, such as Cruz's AR-15 none is needed to conceal and carry. There are also no restrictions on the number of guns someone can buy at one time, nor is there any limit on the number bullets and ammo magazines you can purchase. In short, if you have the cash and inclination you can arm an entire fucking army and your only restriction is a three day waiting period on the side arms.
So it's all The Sunshine State's fault right? No, this is a national disease. When Nikolas Cruz opened fire yesterday it was the eighteenth time in the last 45 days someone has started shooting on an American school campus. The only real difference in Parkland, FL 24 hours ago was the degree of planning, marksmanship, and the size of the body count.
Here is how nuts it is. This morning, MSNBC reported since the Columbine H.S. massacre in 1999 over 150,000 American students at 170 different schools have experienced an active shooter situation. Name one other country in the world where shit like this happens.
The truth is it doesn't. Or if it does it's only once before the government takes drastic steps to stop it.
Not here though. Oh no, thanks to one line in the constitution, the National Rifle Association, and a huge mooing herd of bought and paid for politicians nothing ever happens to halt the insanity, or even slow it down.
In fact, people like Senator Ted Cruz, R-TX are already screeching liberals are trying to politicize the nightmare in Florida. After the news broke, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan's first reaction was to say, "We cannot have a knee jerk reaction."
What? Are these fucks on the brown acid? What happened yesterday isn't some new phenomenon. Columbine was 19 years ago. The Sandy Hook horror took place in 2012 for God's sake. There aren't knee jerk reactions any more. There can no longer be some sort of panicked stampede to rash legislation. The ugly history and statistics are there for everyone to see. Yet congress refuses to do anything about a well documented, decades old, pandemic of mass murders made possible by the easy access to guns.
As, "thoughts and prayers," are being offered to grieving parents and loved ones the powerful NRA lobby still insists the only way our kids can be safer is if there are more guns. Right now it is estimated Americans own anywhere from 190 to 300 million guns. There is at least one firearm in 39% to 50% of American households. Still, the mass murders continue unabated.
Yeah, that whole we need more guns bullshit has worked out just great for us hasn't it?
Meanwhile, as of 11:45 am central time today there were at least seven different YouTube channels claiming what happened in Parkland, FL yesterday, like dozens of other mass killings, was either a hoax, or a government sponsored, "false flag," operation designed solely to restrict gun ownership.
And we thought Nikolas Cruz was crazy.
How long, America? At what point will we recognize the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--not to mention the right to just grow up--outweighs the one to have unlimited access to firearms of mass destruction?
Tragically, I know the answer to that question. It's never.
sic vita est
2-15-18
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