U.S. mass shooters exploited gaps, errors in background checks

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In several attacks in the U.S. in recent years gunmen acquired weapons as a result of mistakes, lack of follow through or gaps in federal and state law.

In this Jan. 19, 2016 file photo, handguns are displayed at the Smith & Wesson booth at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas. Most mass shooters in the U.S. acquired the weapons they used legally because there was nothing in their background to disqualify them, according to James Alan Fox, a criminologist with Northeastern University who has studied mass shootings for decades.

In 2018, there were more than 26 million background checks conducted and fewer than 100,000 people failed. Of those, the vast majority were for a criminal conviction. Just over 6,000 were rejected for a mental health issue.MISTAKE IN DATA: CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, CHURCH Devin Patrick Kelley purchased four guns from federally licensed dealers in Texas and Colorado. The military veteran passed the required background checks because the Air Force never informed the FBI about an assault on his wife and her child that led to a court-martial, a year of confinement and a bad conduct discharge.

He was sent a letter stating his gun permit had been revoked and ordering him to turn over his firearm to police, however he never gave up the .40-calibre Smith & Wesson handgun. Under federal law, private sales of firearms -- such as between friends, relatives or even strangers -- are not required to undergo a federal background check. Some 21 states plus Washington, D.C., have laws that require background checks on some private sales, but Texas isn't one of them. Two other states -- Maryland and Pennsylvania -- require a background check for handguns but not long guns.

 

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These schools say arming teachers 'can be done right.' (CNN) Arming teachers may be a 'terrible' or even a 'ridiculous' idea to critics, but some teachers across the country already bring guns to school. WhyDoAdultsProtect 💰 WithGunsAtBanksBut not kids?

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