Weapons revoked

The ACR rifle

After the tragedy in Aurora, Denver last week in which James Holmes murdered 12 and injured many more, I ask should gun laws change and should we be debating the restriction of arms? 

The Aurora shooting occurred just days before the anniversary of the Utoya massacre in which Anders Breivik killed 77 people in Norway. Both attacks have encouraged the awareness of the accessibility to small arms and the damage they can do in the wrong hands. Coincidently the UN is holding a conference from 02-27th of July 2012. The 'Arms Trade Treaty' a questionable potential multinational treaty that would regulate the international trade in conventional weapons. 

We should refrain from using Holmes and Breivik as a lever for debate on the subject of gun control however brutal and easily executed the attacks were. Some states in America permit you to carry a firearm whilst out of your home. If other people are walking around the streets with concealed firearms, would you feel safe not doing so yourself? I doubt you would. The gun laws in America differ too much to go in detail. 

I spoke to two friends with different opinions on gun control. One friend was British, he saw no need for holding a firearm. The other was American, he on the other hand believed it was his right. I put this question to my British friend. "If someone armed with a pistol broke into your property, held you at gunpoint and raped either your wife or child in front of you, what would you do?" I continued, "not only would you be helpless whilst this ordeal ensued, you would no doubt be mentally scarred for life if you survived such an attack". I then added, "everything I just said could be prevented by your family owning a firearm." 

James Holmes acquired all his weapons and ammunition legally from several gun shops over the last two months. Presumably he didn't buy them with his hair dyed bright orange. The fact that Holmes bought his weapons consecutively over the period of two months should have raised the alarm. Should gun stores share information on customers, if say an individual purchases more than one firearm over a short period of time? The blame is therefore not on the gun. Holmes supposedly slipped through the net, he had no criminal offences other than a speeding ticket. One of the gun shops Holmes purchased his weapons from called Bass Pro released this statement: 

"Based on the records we have reviewed, personnel in our Denver store correctly and fully followed all federal requirements with respect to the sale of one shotgun and one handgun to the individual identified in this incident. Background checks, as required by federal law, were properly conducted and he was approved." 

Indeed the staff at Bass Pro reviewed Holmes with due diligence. Had they known that Holmes was collecting arms in such a short space of time would Bass Pro have conducted their background check more thoroughly? Holmes didn't slip through the net, he cut right through it. 

LATEST NEWS

UN global arms treaty talks end without agreement
BBC