While I haven't used any guns in decades, yet I have known a few, that own guns. I do understand the necessity because I have lived in remote areas. Dangerous wild life does exist in those areas.
However, in urban areas the worst wildlife is mankind itself. The necessity in cities just isn't necessary for semi automatic weapons of any sort.
Now this latest case involved several issues that just are not being addressed.
1. This latest person most certainly had mental issues. There's no doubt what so ever that he shouldn't have had any type gun on two counts: a. He had already threatened to shoot up a military base b. He had put himself into a mental hospital because he was hearing voices.
2. This person was not just the average person. He was a gun instructor as well as a military reservist, therefore a gun expert on several counts.
3. The type of gun use wasn't a average gun, nor did it have the average capacity. It was a AR-15 style semi automatic with a extended clip. The last meaning the clip contained more than 30 rounds of ammo. Plus he was carrying a belt of such extended clips.
You have had any type of military training you would know that such AR-15 style guns can be easy modified to full automatic. Hence why he was carrying a extra belt of clips.
This was a instructor! He knew how to modify it. And it's not all that hard to do so.
Why the heck wasn't his house search for any weapons is totally beyond me, for any of the single reasons above! 🤷🏻♂️
The mental health issues had to have been known just by the military. That's where he likely reported it.
@DeWayfarer i understand about keeping a gun for serious wildlife problems. Every now and then we get a rabid raccoon or skunk walking circles in front of the house.
@robingoodfellow Well... I am more talking about the real dangerous types like: mountain lions, bobcats, bears or poisonous rattlesnakes. I have seen each of those. More the rattlesnakes however. Rattlesnakes are everywhere here.
Unless you're a marksman you can't shoot a bear just once. Hence the need for a semi automatic.
@DeWayfarer i don't have rattlesnakes around the home, but I do have copperheads. Never had a problem though. Same with the bears. I have a coyote who has made my backyard a cut through between the fields. We seem to have an unspoken agreement: he doesn't bother me or my pets and I leave him alone. Sometimes he runs right past me while I'm reading.
@DeWayfarer I'm very sorry to hear that, I know they can be dangerous. They've made a big comeback in the wild around here. They're a concern to a lot of people.
