[The Reaper]

Fox had a former NYC cop on this morning who was a complete idiot.

He kept referring to the AR-15 as an automatic weapon and left the impression that the guns were purchased over the internet.

There are a lot of ways to cause significantly more casualties in no more time in such an environment. No point in mentioning any of them.

As far as the firearms go, an AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle. Nothing special about it, though it looks "evil" to some people. It has a mag, as do most weapons beginning more than 100 years ago. He had a Remington 870, which is a magazine-fed hunting shotgun, and a Glock pistol, which is a normal semi-auto pistol. It is notable for being reliable, and relatively inexpensive ($500 or so).

You can own an M-16 assault rifle (full-auto) in some states. The scumbag in question would probably not have qualified to own one. You would have to have at least $15,000 to buy the weapon, find a willing seller, pay $200 for a tax stamp, get your application signed by your local sheriff, wait 6-9 months for approval, and then you can complete the forms and take the item home. Everyone I know with Class III / NFA items keeps them in a safe and are pretty much exemplary citizens. The legally held NFA items are too valuable for most criminals. Since the NFA registry started in 1934, only one registered automatic weapon is known to have been used in a crime, and the owner was a police officer.

Guns cannot be purchased and shipped to individuals, except by the federal government.

Firearms sales require a BATF Form 4473, proper photo ID, and a background check. You have to complete the form and sign it in person.

Unless you are an illegal alien. The BATF just issued new forms removing the requirement that you present ID and be a legal resident for 90 days or more.

No one can buy firearms for other people who cannot legally possess them. Except for the BATF.

You can buy ammo on the phone or the internet, and have it delivered. He bought a lot of it. Big deal. The ammo he expended at the scene would have fit in his pocket. Thr remainder at his home is irrelevant. You do have to have a photo ID, unlike our elections, and sign a statement that you are not prohibited from purchasing ammo. Or you can just go to the local Wal-Mart and buy all you like.

For those who are unsure, as was the misinformed idiot on Fox, the Second Amendment isn't about duck hunting. It is about the citizens' rights to form an armed militia, to protect themselves, and to forcibly remove oppressive governments.

I would love to point out to him that while, as the talking head noted, the founding fathers had no concept of rapid fire, magazine-fed firearms, the militiaman WERE REQUIRED to own military type weapons and they also held their own artillery. Attempts by the Brits to disarm the colonists led to the Revolutionary War. And I really doubt that the authors of the Bill of Rights had any concept of the television said head was appearing on, but that does not negate the First Amendment either.

I wish an armed citizen had terminated this scumbag's attempt before he fired the first round, but unfortunately, as I understand it, the theater was posted "No Guns" and it would appear that the rest of the patrons were law-abiding.

Now we (and more importantly the victims and their families) have to endure the murdering idiot grinning at us from the TV screen for the next six months.

Tragic. He should have been tried away from the media, his name never repeated, his face never shown, and his sentence carried out in a swift and effective manner. Now he has all of the notoriety he desired.

Prayers out to the families. RIP to the victims.

TR