Reports: The Maine Shooter Was Able To Buy Guns Legally

[marmar]

(Mother Jones) The Maine mass-shooter obtained several weapons legally, including some in the days immediately before the attack, according to the New York Times, citing local officials.

Robert Card, who shot and killed 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, during a rampage on Wednesday, bought guns in July, just before being hospitalized and ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, according to CNN.

New York State Police told the broadcaster that police were called to Camp Smith in July, where Card was serving in the National Guard, because he was acting “belligerent” and was potentially “intoxicated.” An unnamed federal law enforcement source told CNN that Card informed Army personnel he was “hearing voices” and having thoughts about “hurting other soldiers.”

Just ten days earlier, Card had purchased a high-powered Ruger SFAR rifle. Maine, where Card purchased the gun, does not require background checks on all gun sales. Twenty states currently enforce universal background checks on firearms purchases. .......................(more)

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/10/maine-shooter-lewsiton-guns-legally-purchased-manhunt/

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Downward mental spiral

The more guns he bought the sicker he became?

[Kaleva]

5. Or, the sicker he became, the more guns he bought .

[bucolic_frolic]

7. I suspect there's coincidence and causality in there somewhere

If he were having delusions of power or anger or revenge, he and his victims would be a lot better off if he didn't have free access to purchase. So many of these mass shooters in particular were recent purchasers.

[PSPS]

2. Just another to add to this already-out-of-date list

[yagotme]

3. I didn't see in the article if he actually had a background check done.

If it was purchased new, or from a dealer, I'm sure he did have one.

[sl8]

4. I noticed that, too. (updated)

Last edited Mon Oct 30, 2023, 10:16 AM - Edit history (1)

The way the article is written, it seems to suggest that universal background checks would have helped in this particular case. Other reports say that he purchased this rifle from a gun shop or dealer, in which case a background check would have been required.

On edit:
The NYT article that they reference says that he purchased several guns in the days prior to the shooting, but they don't provide any details. They also said it's unclear when he bought the rifle he used in the shooting. Other sources have reported that he bought the rifle that he used in the shooting back in July, from a dealer. It's possible that he bought some firearms in private sales, but I haven't seen any reports that he did.

[AndyS]

6. 68% of all mass shootings are committed with legally purchased

guns.

These are the "Law Abiding Citizens" whose 'rights' are protected so vociferously by the gun industry.

[Chainfire]

8. If he was involuntarily committed to mental health care, he could not have bought firearms "legally"

after that date. He would have had to lie on his application which would make the purchase unlawful. Like that means anyone who plans to go out in a blaze of homocidial/suicidal "glory."

[Johonny]

9. But we're prosecuting Hunter Biden

American freedumb.