According to the AP, law enforcement has confirmed that the shooter who killed 17 yesterday at a high school in Parkland, Florida purchased his AR-15 legally:
The Latest: A law enforcement official tells AP that a former student who killed 17 people at a Florida school legally purchased his AR-15 rifle about a year ago. https://t.co/sCbz1DbwVb
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 15, 2018
A law enforcement official is telling The Associated Press that a former student who killed 17 people at a Florida school legally purchased his AR-15 rifle about a year ago.
The official is familiar with the investigation into the school shooting but not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Federal law allows people 18 and over to legally purchase long guns. At 21, people can legally buy handguns from a licensed dealer.
He also had on him at the time of the shooting a gas mask, smoke grenades and multiple magazines of ammunition.
According to Trump this morning, the shooter was mentally disturbed:
So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2018
It’s hard to know if Trump is speaking off the cuff here, but I think he is. Trump likely just means shooter is ‘troubled’ and is not suggesting he was mentally impaired in some way. Or he could be suggesting that, I don’t know.
Clearly the shooter had some mental issues in order to do what he did, but at the same time that doesn’t mean he wasn’t sane and in full control of his faculties. In fact he has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, according to the AP, so that pretty much answers that.
It’s also being reported just now that Trump will address the nation this morning on the shooting at 11am:
BREAKING: President Trump issues proclamation honoring victims of Florida school shooting; will address nation at 11 a.m. EST.
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 15, 2018