How to Prevent a Shooting—Enforce the Law

For John, BLUF:  Enforce the laws, please.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Existing gun control law barred Devin P. Kelley from buying a gun.

This is about the 5 November shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

By Law Professor Ann Aulthouse.

Here is the lede plus one:

This bolsters that standard anti-gun-control argument that what we need is to enforce the laws we already have. The NYT reports:

A day after a gunman massacred parishioners in a small Texas church, the Air Force admitted on Monday that it had failed to enter the man’s domestic violence court-martial into a federal database that could have blocked him from buying the rifle he used to kill 26 people.

Under federal law, the conviction of the gunman, Devin P. Kelley, for domestic assault on his wife and toddler stepson — he had cracked the child’s skull — should have stopped Mr. Kelley from legally purchasing the military-style rifle and three other guns he acquired in the last four years....

Passing more laws is exciting political theater, and there's ongoing enthusiasm for the show (and the attendant opportunities to express contempt for fellow citizens who don't want more laws burdening law-abiding people).

Yes, the Air Force (or someone within the Air Force) dropped the ball on this.  And there were consequences, including the death of one of its own, Retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Robert Corrigan, and his wife Shani.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff