The Uvalde mass shooting has prompted another outcry from the Democrat Party for stricter gun control laws, with the belief among the left being that tighter restrictions on gun purchases would have somehow prevented Tuesday’s tragedy.
But critics say and have long said that this emotionally driven mentality is just plain wrong.
Here’s how conservative commentator Ben Shapiro put it: “The Texas shooter violated a multiplicity of gun laws. The suggestion that more gun laws would have prevented this act of unspeakable evil is unsupported, and the implication that those who oppose such laws are somehow in favor of mass shootings is morally reprehensible.”
The Texas shooter violated a multiplicity of gun laws. The suggestion that more gun laws would have prevented this act of unspeakable evil is unsupported, and the implication that those who oppose such laws are somehow in favor of mass shootings is morally reprehensible.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) May 25, 2022
But is there merit to his argument? The answer appears to be yes and no.
On one hand, schools are gun-free zones, according to Dana Loesch, an expert on guns who used to serve as a National Rifle Association spokesperson.
This means that shooter Salvador Ramos was already in violation of the law when he entered Robb Elementary School. Therefore, the law prohibiting weapons on school grounds did nothing to stop him. So how would additional laws have made a difference?
The Gun-Free School Zones Act/18 U.S.C. § 922(q)(2)(A) restricts firearms on school property:
“It shall be unlawful for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce at a place that the individual knows…— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 24, 2022
” … or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone.”
The school zone is defined as in, around, or on the grounds of a school or within 1,000 feet from the grounds of any school. 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(25)— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 24, 2022
Per TX law, penalty for any weapons crime within 300 feet of a school was increased: https://t.co/Ospiw4gaud pic.twitter.com/b7svgOYfHa
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 24, 2022
Neither Constitutional carry nor concealed carry permits allow firearms on school premises and even DPS sanctioned programs like the Texas School Guardian Program require special permission.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 24, 2022
But on the other hand, according to the latest reports, Ramos may have committed the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School with a rifle he’d purchased legally.
“State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat, said the shooter purchased two semiautomatic rifles on his 18th birthday at an Uvalde-area gun store. It was not clear whether either of those weapons was used in the attack,” according to NBC News.
State Sen. Gutierrez was reportedly briefed by the Texas Rangers.
What’s known is that prior to entering Robb Elementary School, Ramos was seen wielding a handgun and possibly a rifle.
“It is believed that he abandoned his vehicle, then entered into the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde with a handgun, and he may have also had a rifle,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced late Tuesday.
Regarding the handgun, he definitely violated state and federal law, according to Loesch:
“An 18 year-old male” in illegal possession of a handgun and reportedly a rifle, but Abbott says the latter is “not yet confirmed.” https://t.co/Ve4j4rOq8Q
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 24, 2022
18 year-olds are ineligible to buy or carry firearms:https://t.co/eMrWT78SWj pic.twitter.com/w8731LL5A4
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 24, 2022
That isn’t just in Texas, it’s federal law:https://t.co/ATbiOOMY6I pic.twitter.com/WNOuCQI2Ql
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 24, 2022
And so if he primarily used the handgun during the mass shooting, then the question remains — how would additional gun laws have helped?
But if he primarily used the rifle that he’d presumably purchased legally, then that might raise valid questions about the leniency of America’s gun laws, members of the left say:
19 children were murdered in their classroom today by an 18 year old with a LEGALLY PURCHASED AR-15. You have to be 21 to buy a handgun but only 18 to buy an assault rifle. Please explain how in the damn world that makes any sense??
— Porchlandrea 🌻🇺🇦🌵 TEXAS IS F*CKING SCARY (@Porchlandrea) May 25, 2022
In every US state, you must be at least 21 years of age in order to purchase alcohol. However an 18 year old can legally purchase an assault rifle in many states. Make it make a little sense pro-lifers. #FreshWords
— LanaQuest aka RosaSparks (@LqLana) May 15, 2022
Things an 18 year old can’t legally do:
– Smoke weed
– Drink alcohol
– Rent a car
– Go to a casino
– Drive a taxiThings an 18 year CAN legally do:
– Purchase an Assault Rifle— miguel (@miguelmunoz1156) May 25, 2022
However, critics rightly note that the country is littered with illegally obtained weapons, including both firearms and rifles.
In fact, a study published by the Department of Justice in 2019 found that of the 287,400Â criminals locked up in 2016 for criminal offenses involving weapons, over 90 percent of them had obtained the weapons illegally.
“More than half (56%) had either stolen it (6%), found it at the scene of the crime (7%), or obtained it off the street or from the underground market (43%). Most of the remainder (25%) had obtained it from a family member or friend, or as a gift,” the study reads.
Only seven percent had purchased a gun from a licensed arms dealer.
People complaining about how was he able to legally purchase a rifle like people don’t obtain them illegally on the regular.
— SIFU HOTMAN🥋 (@BushidoBurn) May 25, 2022
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