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Gun Control Policies Called Into Question
Aaron Fuchs said he's all about upholding 2nd Amendment rights.
"I don't think gun control is going to make a city safer," said Fuchs, who is a Roseburg resident.
However, after a gunman opened fire on movie goers in Aurora, Colorado early Friday morning, killing 12 and wounding 58 others, some are asking if it was too easy for the alleged shooter, 24-year-old James Holmes to outfit himself with a gas mask and bullet-proof gear, from head to toe.
NBC 5 was able to easily find ballistic helmets, gas masks and bullet proof vests when we searched online. These items are also available at some Army/Navy Surplus stores.
Police said Holmes also collected an arsenal of weapons including tear gas, a shotgun, assault rifle, and a handgun...all done legally.
"You can get your hands on an arsenal of weapons [...] in a short period of time with no restrictions, so our gun laws are far too weak," said Daniel Vice, Senior Attorney at the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, a organization based out of Washington D.C. that's focused on gun control.
While the alleged shooter, James Holmes, did not have a criminal record, gun control advocates said more needs to be done.
"You can buy a gun from a private seller without even telling them your name [...] It's very easy for dangerous people to get guns in Oregon and Colorado," said Vice.
Ashland police said if it can happen in Aurora, Colorado, it can happen right here in the Valley.
"All it takes is one person to make a conscious decision that they want to harm another person," said Sergeant Robert Smith at the Ashland Police Department.
Smith said even if there were more stringent gun control policies it might not be enough.
"If somebody wants to get a gun, there's plenty of opportunities," began Smith.
"And [it's] not necessarily through legal means," he continued.
However, those backing gun control said they don't want to make it too easy for dangerous people to get guns.
"Why have no red flags when someone buys an arsenal of weapons?" asked Vice.
Meantime, gun enthusiasts like Aaron Fuchs said they maintain nothing can stop someone who's already made up their mind.
About the Author
Christine Pitawanich
Christine Pitawanich was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. In 2010, she received a master's degree in Broadcast Journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in New York.
Christine also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Washington.
Before joining the NBC5 News team, she had the opportunity to file reports from Washington D.C. for WFFT FOX Ft. Wayne News in Indiana. Christine has also interned at KOMO-TV in Seattle.
Christine loves to ski, try new food and have fun in the outdoors.
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Comments (2)
If Holmes was unable to collect the guns he thought necessary, would a home-made bomb have been more palatable? Or, maybe a fire? Both of those methods could have been far more damaging. I'll take my chances with a shooter and the hopes that someone in the crowd may have a concealed weapon that would at least take the shooter's attention, even through his body armor. Where there is a will, there is a way. Holmes had the "will".
More gun laws are not the solution. Meth is illegal yet there's still plenty of it out there for the buying. If someone wants a gun they're going to get it. After all, they're committing murder and/or robbery, what's a gun violation tacked on to those charges? "Gun free" zones are where mass shootings occur. Most theaters have gun free rules, but that didn't stop Holmes. Virginia Tech was a gun free zone, too. And gun free zones where someone did have a gun (like Trolley Square in Salt Lake City in 2007) stops the mass killing. If more sane people were armed the crazy people would get off fewer shots.