To take this into the main postings instead of the comments. The Chair of the Arkansas Democratic party was killed by a gunman earlier today. (H/t to Leighton for alerting us to this tragedy.) We previously reported that some said the shooter (who was killed also, btw) was possibly a former employee of the deceased chairman, but
this update casts doubt on that:
"The Little Rock police said, however, at an afternoon news conference that the shooter, whom they did not identify, was NOT a Gwatney employee and, so far as they knew, never had been, contrary to some early reports mentioned here earlier in the day."
Our hearts go out to the Gwatney family.
4 comments:
The report that I saw said he went there to volunteer. He may have been turned away or otherwise didn't get the response he wanted. This doesn't appear to be politically motivated, but rather this man was very unbalanced.
How did he obtain the weapon used? I haven't seen anything about that, but expect that all sides of the 2nd Amendment debate will be watching this incident closely.
I have seen some pro-gun folks use this to argue in favor of concealed carry, pointing out that if Gwatney was armed himself, he might be alive today. Interesting argument, but it's also plausible that a number of bystanders could have been wounded or killed in teh ensuing gunbattle.
We don't have enough info to know if this incident might be used to justify stricter gun control. If he purchased this firearm through other than legal means, no background check, waiting period, or outright ban on handguns would have stopped him.
I really don't buy that Gwatney would have been safer with a concealed carry. People who don't grow up in a culture with deep respect for guns rarely have the time or energy to learn to use a gun properly under ideal conditions, let alone stressful situations. Politicians in particular are some of the busiest people around. If he didn't already have one, I don't think it would have helped him any.
I haven't seen much discussion on the politics of this incident beyond the call for stricter gun control. AFAIK, it would have been legal for him to carry if he wanted to.
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