By Dave Workman | Senior Editor
The arrest of Charleston, S.C. mass shooting suspect Dylann Storm Roof, 21, about 12 hours after nine people were gunned down during a bible study may open a new debate about gun control laws on several levels.
That much seemed certain when President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters, stated, “I don’t need to be constrained about the emotions that tragedies like this raise. I’ve had to make statements like this too many times. We don’t have all the facts but we do know that once again innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun.”
According to Business Insider, he also observed, “At some point we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other developed countries.”
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UPDATE: CNN is now reporting that Roof has apparently told investigators that he personally purchased the .45-caliber pistol in April with money he got for his birthday. That runs counter to earlier reports that the gun had been a birthday gift from his father. It also raises questions about whether information about an earlier unrelated arrest in February was entered into the National Instant Check System (NICS). If it had been, Roof should not have been able to clear a background check at the Charleston gun shop where the purchase allegedly was made.
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South Carolina state law prohibits the carrying of firearms in churches and other established religious sanctuaries, even by people who have been licensed to carry, unless authorized by church officials.
Published reports say the suspect allegedly let one woman live so she could tell what happened. There have been other unconfirmed reports about what the gunman allegedly said after he stopped shooting.
Almost immediately, Second Amendment activists began wondering on social media how long it would take before the gun prohibition lobby jumps in with calls for more gun control. Because of Obama’s statements, they didn’t have to wait long.
The state recognizes permits/licenses from 20 other states, so long as they are resident licenses. For example, a Florida license held by a Washington resident is not recognized. The state recognizes Florida licenses, but not Washington licenses.
Several published reports say Roof was identified by a relative. He was apparently spotted in North Carolina, and police were tipped off. The arrest happened in Shelby, about 250 miles northwest from Charleston, and about 50 miles west of Charlotte.
South Carolina’s existing gun laws did not prevent the shooting, which was being investigated by the Justice Department and FBI as a possible hate crime.
Among the nine people killed was Pastor Clementa Pinckney, a prominent and respected South Carolina Democrat state senator. He was one of three men who died in the shooting, which also took the lives if six women.
