A Good Year for the Outlaw

April, 2007 – Virginia Tech. 32 killed, dozens wounded, guns acquired legally.

October, 2006 – Pennsylvania Amish school. 5 little girls killed, guns acquired legally.

Sept, 2006 – Platte Canyon H.S., Colorado. 1 killed, six girls taken hostage, some sexually assaulted, gun acquired legally. 53-year old shooter “researched” girls on MySpace, entered school as “student”, disguised with blue hooded sweatshirt pulled over his head, entered classroom, let all students go except for six similarly sized girls, all blondes. Minimal previous record.

March, 2005 – Red Lake Reservation, Minnesota. 7 killed, 14 injured, guns acquired illegally. Teenage shooter took police issued guns from Grandfather, killed grandfather, took Grandfather’s squad car to school for remainder of shootings. Shot security guard manning metal detector and walked right through detector and down hallway of school, shooting and smiling.

Oct, 2002 – U. of Arizona nursing school. 3 professors killed, guns acquired legally. Shooter, 41-year old male nursing student and Gulf War veteran, was failing classes, came into room where exams were being taken, shot only professors. Let students exit room before shooting self. Said to professor before shooting her, “make your peace with God.”

March, 2001 – Santee H.S., California. 2 killed, 13 injured, gun acquired legally.

Feb, 2001 – Navistar, Melrose Park, IL. 5 killed, 5 injured, guns acquired legally. Shooter had FOID card renewed AFTER he was arrested for, but not yet convicted for, criminal sexual assault, which is a felony.

Dec, 2000 – Edgewater Technology, Massachusetts. 7 killed, guns acquired legally. Shooter received gun permit despite mental instability, including suicide attempt.

April, 2000 – Pittsburgh suburbs. 5 killed, gun acquired legally. Shooter (white) killed a Jewish woman, black male, and natives of China, Vietnam, and India over two hour period. Shooter had history of mental illness, but purchased gun legally from sporting goods store.

Nov, 1999 – Xerox office, Honolulu. 7 killed, gun acquired legally. Shooter was “gun enthusiast”, who owned 12 handguns, 5 rifles, and 2 shotguns, all purchased legally. Gun used in killing purchased in 1989, but gun permit was denied after he destroyed elevator door and committed other property damage in a 1993 incident. Permit was denied, guns were not taken away.

Sept, 1999 – Wedgewood Baptist Church, TX. 8 killed, 7 wounded, guns acquired legally.

July, 1999 – Atlanta stock brokerage firm. 13 killed, guns acquired legally.

April, 1999 – Columbine High School. 15 killed using guns technically acquired illegal because the shooters were underage, but purchased from a) a friend who bought guns for them at a gun show and b) from a pizza shop employee who had legally acquired it.

May, 1998 – Thurston H.S., Oregon. 4 killed, 25 wounded, guns acquired legally.

March, 1998 – Middle School, Jonesboro, Arkansas. 5 killed, 10 wounded, guns acquired legally. Shooters, aged 13 and 11, had 10 guns, including 7 taken from HANGING WALL DISPLAY in grandparent’s home.

Dec, 1993 – Long Island Railroad, NY. 6 killed, 19 wounded, gun acquired legally. Shooter purchased gun legally in California, including waiting the necessary 15 days for background check to clear.

July, 1993 – Law office, San Francisco. 9 killed, 6 wounded, gun acquired by illegal means from licensed dealers. Since shooter lied about residence and used still-valid Nevada driver’s license although he was now living in California, gun purchase in Nevada was technically “illegal” from legal licensed dealer. Background check required: valid NV driver’s license.

October, 1991 – Killeen, TX cafe. 24 killed, 20 wounded, guns acquired legally.

June, 1990 – GMAC office, Jacksonville, Florida. 10 killed, 4 wounded, gun acquired legally. Shooter pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in 1971, adjudication was withheld, so when shooter successfully completed probation five years later, his record was cleared and he was able to purchase weapons.

Sept, 1989 – Standard Corp., Louisville. 9 killed, 12 wounded, guns acquired legally. Main weapon, AK-47, purchased legally at Louisville gun dealer despite shooter having long, recorded history of mental illness and despite shooter being on permanent disability leave due to mental illness.

Jan, 1989 – Cleveland Elementary, Stockton, California. 6 killed, 30 wounded, guns acquired legally. White male shooter had expressed dislike for Asian people, opened fire in schoolyard full of Asian-American children. Shooter had long criminal record, but his one felony was plea-bargained to misdemeanor, allowing him to purchase AK-47 in Oregon with no waiting period and minimal ID and paperwork.

Aug, 1986 – Edmund, Oklahoma post office. 15 killed, 6 wounded, gun acquired legally. Former marine sharpshooter with no criminal record was killer. Had NOT been fired from job, but was told he MIGHT be. Yes, folks, this is where the term “going postal” came from.

July, 1984 – McDonald’s, San Ysidro, CA. 22 killed, 19 wounded, gun acquired legally. Shooter, with no criminal record, professed to hating “children, Mexicans, and the United States” and told wife that morning, “I’m going hunting humans.”

1976-1977 – “Son of Sam” killings, NY. 6 killed, 7 wounded, gun technically acquired illegally. David Berkowitz, while in Texas in 1976, had a friend purchase a gun for him, since he was not a resident of Texas, he could not purchase a gun there. His old Army buddy legally bought the gun for him to take back to New York.

August, 1966 – U. of Texas Tower, Austin, TX. 17 killed, 31 wounded, gun acquired legally. Former Marine, suffering illness, took seven guns and tremendous supply of Ammo to tower, started firing away.

I could go on and on and on with this list, and yes, I’ve shown in several cases where guns were acquired “illegally”, but in reality were not. Yes, there are many, many more cases of murders not listed here, and in many guns were acquired illegally, but those cases are NOT the majority, by any stretch of the imagination.

In a report of the 59 highest-profile shootings from 1980 to 2001, the Violence Policy Center showed that in 62% of the cases using handguns, the guns were acquired legally, and in 71% of the “long-gun” shootings, the guns were acquired legally. 

It’s time for a change. A big one.