Richard Martinez’ son was one of the Isla Vista victims.
June 11, 2014
As has been reported, Elliot Rodger killed six students, injured 13 others, and then killed himself at the University of Santa Barbara in Isla Vista, California. And how quickly the killings moved off the front pages.
Rodger was diagnosed as being a highly functional Asperger Syndrome child, a form of autism, which is considered a developmental disorder, not a mental illness. Asparger’s syndrome is not associated with violence. However, Rodger’s manifesto “My Twisted World” and videos he posted online show a very troubled person.
Rodger was diagnosed as being a highly functional Asperger Syndrome child — a form of autism. Yet this did not prevent him from purchasing two Sig Sauer P228 semiautomatic pistols and a Glock 34 pistol legally in California, which has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation.
Many thought the killing of 20 children and seven adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School would be a tipping point, providing the impetus for reasonable gun control legislation to be finally passed at the federal level. But unfortunately too many legislators are overly responsive to the National Rifle Association lobby, in tandem with gunmakers and importers, military sympathizers, and far-right organizations. As predicted, meaningful gun control measures failed to pass in Congress after Sandy Hook.
Blood for money.
Richard Martinez whose son Chris Martinez was one of the victims at Isle Vista, was quoted as saying, “Where is the friggin’ politicians that will stand up and say, ‘We need to do this. We’re gonna do something,'” he told CNN. “Those gutless bastards did nothing. And my son died because of it. And it’s outrageous. Absolutely outrageous.” Mr. Martinez only said what many of us feel.
Since the Sandy Hook killings on December 14, 2012, there have been at least 74 shootings and counting. Because of Americans’ long-held affection and obsession for firearms, with many citizens embracing and celebrating the association of guns and America’s heritage, coupled with our many unresponsive politicians, we can expect mass killings to continue.
Now that the sound and fury over the Isla Vista mass killings have died down, the cycle of killings, hand wringing and mourning is expected to continue ad infinitum.
The Hunger Site
June 13, 2014 at 11:29 am
The DOJ told Eric Holder the UBC bill can’t work without a complete registry of gun owners in the USA. This is the danger of this bill and why there is so much resistance to it. The NICS is set up in a certain way, You can trace a gun to it’s owner but not a owner to a gun. If a weapon is found at a crime scene, we call the FBI with the serial number, they have a record of who sold the gun, they call the FFL and they will search their records for the buyer. This way no one can look up your name and know what guns you own, then persecute in some way. This is exactly why the Founders included the Second.
We have a law that would make someone a criminal for lending their relative a gun. In the case of a criminal who will use the weapon for evil, this is a good tool to prosecute with. However, in the case of the common man who lends a weapon for hunting or target practice, the law would have had a negative impact as many decent law abiding people would be considered felons for normally lawful activity. It is a law that would create felons from the normally law abiding and do little to aid in prosecuting criminals, as straw sales are already illegal, but still do nothing to prevent crime.
What would you change anyway?
You probably know that the Isla Vista murderer had three separate background checks for the guns he had with him, from the very regulated Sate of California. A State that pays close attention to a citizen’s mental health records and will consider someone prohibited for even voluntary inpatient depression care. He also fooled his parents and the police. This is because no one can predict the future. What good did your background check do? Nothing. N O T H I N G. Can you begin to see the folly of it now?
We cannot predict the future, no one knows who will commit evil or when as anything is possible. Therefore a background check, no matter how thorough, is never going to produce results better then we are returning now.
Also remember, you cannot preempt the Second, it is a Constitutionally protected Right. Are you suggesting we consider learning disabilities a grounds for restriction?
June 12, 2014 at 9:45 pm
sorry Ralph…not you
June 12, 2014 at 9:44 pm
you Both are wrong, get out of the hut your living in! he was a mental case, you two are the ones that get off on anything like this happening and dont want to solve the mental problems our society has. But! you blame the gun that got this country where it is. Now, I dont know if your just plain dumb…or just just raised liberal, but I’ll tell you….just read the news today about what messed up things our govt has done. Russia back in the 70’s said their most fear fear wasnt invading the US and facing the Army, It was the house to house fighting because of amount of guns in citizens…thats all I have to say…go back to school and grow up!
June 12, 2014 at 5:25 am
Thomas, you are incorrect. “The divorce documents also confirmed that Elliot Rodger was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a form of autism, when he was 7. “Elliot has special needs,” his mother said in a sworn statement. “He is a high functioning autistic child.” http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/27/justice/california-elliot-rodger-wealth
June 11, 2014 at 10:06 am
Thomas, I disagree. See http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/27/justice/california-elliot-rodger-wealth/ I understand Barbara Walters will interview Peter Rodger, father of Elliot Rodger, on 20/20 as well as all ABC news platforms.
June 11, 2014 at 9:54 am
Elliot Rodger was never diagnosed as having Asperger’s or any form of Autism. You should check your facts before misleading readers.