A full auto military, can fire hundred of rounds in a span of minutes. Just because the barrel is overheated doesn’t mean it won’t fire. It could just have degraded accuracy, which might not be significant if you’re firing at random into a crowd. Likewise, that much heat could warp the barrel, meaning the gun would need to be replaced sooner, but I doubt he was worried about replacement costs. Again, without more information, it’s entirely possible he could have pulled this off with a single rifle.
Authorities should be able to determine if he was winning large sums over the course of this year. I believe for gambling wins that exceed $10,000 he would have to file some sort of federal “transaction report.” Similar to what banks file when a consumer makes transactions over $10,000 in one day. I think the casinos also have to notify the IRS for wins above a certain amount.
@roethlisburger Analysis of the bullet pace says he was firing modified semi-automatics. Would one be able to fire a modified semi-automatic for ten minutes? (Not a rhetorical question. I don’t know the answer.)
I heard a report on CNN this morning that recently he had been sending wire transfers in the amount of $10,000 each to the Phillipines, MANY of them. They didn’t have information on who the recipient (s) are.
I just looked on the CNN website and don’t find this allegation on there, so who knows?
If deaths are are inevitable (and acceptable cost of gun ownership), how about a mandatory fee paid into a fund that pays medical and/or funeral expenses for the victims? Manufacturers can pay this fee and pass it onto the gun buyers. Sort of like environmental fees we pay when our car oil or battery gets changed. That would be a small start. Of course, gun industry will cry and scream.
I’m interested in the motive. Feeling like we don’t know the motive/what flipped him makes it too hard to process for me. Like I cannot put him in a box so that I can “understand” what happened.
Totally agree that every gun owner should be required to carry liability insurance on the gun. Or perhaps the manufacturers should pay it for each gun made.
Right now you have the iron-clad right to own a gun which can shoot someone. The person getting shot has the responsibility of paying for medical insurance to cover their injuries after getting shot, or they can choose not to be insured in which case going bankrupt from medical bills from getting shot are their own darn fault. Typically it’s the same people advocating for both ends of that scenario.
Something about that just doesn’t seem quite right to me.
But because deaths are inevitable in cars, we don’t do away with seatbelts and airbags.
But because deaths are inevitable from cancer, we don’t say we shouldn’t bother trying to treat it.
But because deaths are inevitable from the water, we don’t say don’t bother even trying with lifejackets.
But because deaths are inevitable from x, y, and z, we don’t say don’t bother trying to make it safer.
Guns are literally the only thing we apply this logic to that I can think of.
My suggestions, some of which are already in place in some states, would be,
Repeal HR2612, which effectively blocks the CDC from funding any research on gun violence. The original sponsor of the bill now thinks it's been applied too broadly and wants to see it repealed.
Full background checks and waiting periods for weapons bought at gun shows and from private sellers. The current loophole is enormous.
No gun ownership by anyone under 18. If a kid wants to hunt they can use a gun owned by an adult who will accompany them. We don't let 6 year olds drive cars without an adult but in many states a 6 year old can own their own rifle.
No silencers, armor piercing bullets, or assault weapons. Exactly who is using these to hunt deer or to protect their homes?
No states allowed to restrict communities or institutions from enacting additional restrictions on guns, for instance allowing colleges to ban guns from campus.
Limit the number of guns any one person can own. I'd suggest 3. That would allow for a personal hunting rifle, a hunting rifle for your kid and a handgun.
Heavily tax guns and ammo. We do this with cigarettes and gas, so why not guns? The proceeds could go to gun buyback programs or funds for victims of gun violence.
There are probably more restrictions that could help to reduce gun violence, but this is what I could come up with for now.
What a thoughtful list, @Sue22 . The tax paying for the buyback programs for banned semiauto rifles-silencers-etc, plus for enforcement of the laws seems like it would work especially well. Or has, elsewhere.
The funds transfer to the Philippines is interesting. Investigators need to be able to question his girlfriend.
His means of support comes into question as well. His brother describes him as having plenty of money, apparently, but it also seems he hasn’t been employed for a long time.
I would not be surprised to find some sort of scam or illegal activity involved, although there is apparently no currently apparent evidence of that. It is also interesting that he held pilots licenses.
Right now its just wait and see. I hope the FBI doesn’t run out of energy to keep looking after this.