"In December, 2019, two months after the police call, the killer’s father (no, I won’t use his name) co-signed a gun license application, which is required in Illinois, and a sponsor is required for applicants under 21 years old. The state police found no reason to deny the application. That’s a problem right there."
"According to the family’s attorney, the father claims he was unaware of the threats when he signed the application, because his son lived with another relative at the time. That’s some good lawyering to get out in front of a civil liability suit or potential manslaughter charge."
"The AP obtained a statement from the state police, that “there was insufficient basis to establish a clear and present danger” to deny the application. There’s a huge disconnect between requiring a father to sign, and the state doing its due diligence. That’s why the law failed, and why all the other state laws fail."
The State of Illinois definitely dropped the ball in doing its due diligence, but I hope that the State also hauls the father into court on some enabling or accessory charges since he did sign that application. To not do so renders that application basically meaningless, if there's no consequence for endorsing the suitability of someone to possess a firearm. I hope Illinois makes an example this fellow so future endorsements aren't made so blithely.
It probably won't happen via the Republican Party. Even a hint of a GOP pol supporting "red flag laws" will get that pol voted out of office, due to the reactionary nature of the base.
We can solve this problem in less than a decade. Just double the budget for law enforcement. Force DA's to enforce the laws as written and quadruple the allowable capacity of jail cells.
I read somewhere that a constitution, like ours, that guarantees individual freedoms and the right to self-determination, requires honorable citizens of good will to be workable. It appears that greed and envy and laziness have become the dominant traits in our society. Career politicians and the nanny state have not helped.
"In December, 2019, two months after the police call, the killer’s father (no, I won’t use his name) co-signed a gun license application, which is required in Illinois, and a sponsor is required for applicants under 21 years old. The state police found no reason to deny the application. That’s a problem right there."
"According to the family’s attorney, the father claims he was unaware of the threats when he signed the application, because his son lived with another relative at the time. That’s some good lawyering to get out in front of a civil liability suit or potential manslaughter charge."
"The AP obtained a statement from the state police, that “there was insufficient basis to establish a clear and present danger” to deny the application. There’s a huge disconnect between requiring a father to sign, and the state doing its due diligence. That’s why the law failed, and why all the other state laws fail."
The State of Illinois definitely dropped the ball in doing its due diligence, but I hope that the State also hauls the father into court on some enabling or accessory charges since he did sign that application. To not do so renders that application basically meaningless, if there's no consequence for endorsing the suitability of someone to possess a firearm. I hope Illinois makes an example this fellow so future endorsements aren't made so blithely.
It probably won't happen via the Republican Party. Even a hint of a GOP pol supporting "red flag laws" will get that pol voted out of office, due to the reactionary nature of the base.
We can solve this problem in less than a decade. Just double the budget for law enforcement. Force DA's to enforce the laws as written and quadruple the allowable capacity of jail cells.
I read somewhere that a constitution, like ours, that guarantees individual freedoms and the right to self-determination, requires honorable citizens of good will to be workable. It appears that greed and envy and laziness have become the dominant traits in our society. Career politicians and the nanny state have not helped.