" Dylann Roof, who is accused of killing nine people at a church in South Carolina three weeks ago, was only able to purchase the gun used in the attack because of breakdowns in the FBI’s background-check system, FBI Director James B. Comey said Friday.
Comey said that Roof should have been prevented from buying the .45-caliber weapon used in a shooting that authorities have said was motivated by Roof’s racist views. The political repercussions of the June 17 massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston led South Carolina to remove the Confederate flag from its statehouse grounds Friday.
“This case rips all of our hearts out, but the thought that an error on our part is connected to a gun this person used to slaughter these people is very painful to us,” said Comey." Washpost
--------------------
Just after these frightful murders by this drug soaked madman, I asked "how did he get the gun?" Now we know. The FBI screwed up the national instant background check mandated in law and FBI Director Comey was man enough to admit it. As Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) said today this breach does not suggest further tightening of gun purchase laws. It suggests that the people in the background check system should do their jobs better. pl
AS I read the article, it seems that having felony drug charges filed against a person does not preclude a gun purchase. Is that correct? The examiner knew charges were filed but that was not sufficient cause, and she needed to know he had confessed.
Steve
Posted by: steve | 10 July 2015 at 07:26 PM
It also suggests that some people should be fired for incompetence. There needs to be consequences to failure.
Posted by: oofda | 10 July 2015 at 08:06 PM
Is this a byproduct of Congress starving the FBI of funds to keep them from having a useful computer system and database that could, say, help in counterintelligence tracking how foreign agents work with Congress? I remember a few years ago an FBI director losing his temper in a Congressional hearing over funding versus what Congress wanted his department to do.
Posted by: SAC Brat | 10 July 2015 at 08:48 PM
Steve,
The weapon was allegedly received in a private transaction. To quote the second WAPO article:
"... 40 states that do not require background checks for private gun transactions, like the one that allegedly took place between Roof and his father. "
The father should have known his son was a drug users and not competent to own a firearm.
Posted by: Fred | 10 July 2015 at 09:01 PM
fred
What 2nd Wapo article? pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 10 July 2015 at 09:20 PM
The same thing could have been said about airport security and 9/11. "You had one job..."
Posted by: Eadwacer | 10 July 2015 at 09:34 PM
Col.,
The link is embedded in the article you linked to.
Posted by: Fred | 11 July 2015 at 12:15 AM
I apologise for intruding; but the article seems to be this, from June 19th.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/06/18/the-legal-loophole-that-allowed-dylann-roof-to-get-a-gun/
Posted by: elanecu | 11 July 2015 at 02:51 AM
elanecu
"Roof didn’t need to go to a dealership. According to his uncle, Roof received a .45-caliber pistol from his father in April for his birthday, Reuters reports." According to FBI Director Comey's statement yesterday the Reuters article the Post was relying on was incorrect. Roof bought the gun from a licensed dealer, the legally required background check was conducted and the FBI failed to detect Roof's legal status. https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-comey-regarding-dylann-roof-gun-purchase pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 11 July 2015 at 07:33 AM
fred
This FBI statement makes the whole thing clear. https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-comey-regarding-dylann-roof-gun-purchase pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 11 July 2015 at 07:44 AM
Col.,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/06/18/the-legal-loophole-that-allowed-dylann-roof-to-get-a-gun/
Posted by: Fred | 11 July 2015 at 09:34 AM
Col.,
Yes, that clears up quite a bit of confusion. I think there are many metropolitan areas with a similar geography. It will be interesting to see what kind of changes the FBI Director intends to make to prevent a repeat occurrence.
Posted by: Fred | 11 July 2015 at 09:41 AM
They (those who want additional federal gun laws) are arguing now that three business days are insufficient to complete a NICS check.
Posted by: scott s. | 11 July 2015 at 04:28 PM
Thanks. So it si true. You can have a felony charge hanging over you and if it has not been decided yet, you are still able to legally purchase a gun. I had though felony cases need to first be resolved, but that is wrong.
Steve
Posted by: steve | 11 July 2015 at 08:39 PM
Scott,
The Left moving the goalposts yet again?
Let me tell you how shocked I am.
Posted by: Tyler | 12 July 2015 at 12:49 AM
Col.
Perhaps it was not the FBI's fault.
http://www.41nbc.com/story/d/story/jail-clerical-error-acknowledged-in-church-shootin/42212/C1EzBqjYq0WthiW_u9vPfA
Garbage in, garbage out comes to mind. So perhaps a waiting period long than three days might be a good idea.
Posted by: Tigershark | 14 July 2015 at 10:52 AM
Steve,
That's right, accusation is not guilt. Too bad that concept is not acceptable to you. The question that should be asked is where were mommy and daddy for the first 18 years of this young mans life? What moral values did they or all that public schooling reinforce? Lets not ask that though.
Posted by: Fred | 14 July 2015 at 12:09 PM