Illegally acquired mass shooting weapons accounted for 27 percent of the Violence Project`s data, which showed that 105 weapons came from straw purchases, lies and purchases, street sales, system failures or other means, Densselley said. WASHINGTON – Of all the heartbreaking similarities between the massacres at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Walmart in El Paso and the Tops supermarket in Buffalo, one of them stands out most clearly: every weapon used was purchased legally. The weapons were purchased legally at various locations, Covelli said. The suspect in the fourth july parade attack legally purchased several firearms, including at least two rifles, ahead of the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, in which seven people were killed, authorities said Tuesday. «The reality in this country right now is that anyone who wants to hurt themselves or someone else can easily gain the means to do so — legally,» said Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, was killed in the 2018 shooting in Parkland, Florida. Most of the weapons used in the mass shootings — including those belonging to the Highland Park suspect — were acquired legally, according to the Violence Project database. He legally purchased two AR platform rifles at a state-licensed gun store for two days: on May 17 — just one day after his birthday — and on May 20, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said, according to a briefing that Senator John Whitmire, Chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, received state agencies Tuesday night. The shooter purchased 375 rounds of 5.56-caliber ammunition on May 18. Everytown for Gun Safety found that 1 in 3 mass shootings from 2009 to 2022 involved a shooter who was prohibited by law from owning a firearm. In four mass shootings from May to July, data from the Archives of Gun Violence showed that the guns were purchased legally: On Tuesday, the mayor of Highland Park confirmed that the weapon used in the attack had been purchased legally. Nearly half of the mass shooters bought the weapons law enforcement legally knew through a licensed dealer, an unregulated private sale or other legal means, according to the Violence Project.
The anti-Semitic extremist who killed 11 Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 also legally bought the weapon he used. «I don`t know where the gun came from, but I do know it was acquired legally, and I think at some point this nation needs to have a conversation about these weekly events where dozens of people are murdered with legally acquired firearms,» Nancy Rotering told NBC`s «TODAY.» «If that`s what our laws stand for, then I think we need to review our laws.» The shooter in the deadliest school shooting in Texas history legally purchased two AR rifles shortly after his 18th birthday — days before his attack on Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. While it`s hard to make broad generalizations, Densley and his partner, Jillian Peterson, have recognized several role models among gunmen in recent mass shootings. Many have blank records and can legally buy firearms. When they are minors or young people, they often receive firearms as gifts from their parents – or borrow or steal guns from their homes. It may go without saying, but producing quality journalism is not cheap. At a time when newsroom resources and revenues across the country are dwindling, the Texas Tribune remains committed to maintaining its mission: to create a more engaged and knowledgeable Texas with every story we report, every event we host, and every newsletter we send. As a non-profit newsroom, we rely on our members to keep our stories free and events accessible to the public. Do you enjoy our journalism? Show us your support. CORRECTION (5. July 2022, 3:27 ET): An earlier version of this article distorted a Supreme Court decision banning offensive weapons in Highland Park, Illinois.
The court refused to appeal the decision of a lower court; It did not uphold the lower court`s judgment. A rifle used in the massacre and recovered from the crime scene was purchased in the Chicago area, Chris Covelli, a spokesman for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, said at a news conference. Police found another rifle in the suspect`s vehicle after arresting him, Covelli said, adding that there were also firearms in his residence. A local resident, pointing out that more people had died in car accidents last year than from assault weapons, approached the microphone and asked, «Are you also considering banning cars?» According to Everytown for Gun Safety, which aims to reduce gun violence, nine states and Washington, D.C., regulate high-capacity chargers.