(*See my update about Roof's possession, below.)
Like everyone else, I was horrified by the racial, murderous terrorist act committed upon Christians at Emanuel AME by 21 year-old Dylann Roof.
Roof was charged with felony possession in February, 2015:
According to South Carolina court documents exclusively obtained by Radar, Roof, 21, was arrested in Lexington County on felony charges of possession of cocaine, methamphetamine and LSD on February 28, 2015.
This alone disqualified him from legal carry and purchase of a firearm. In South Carolina, you only have to be charged with a felony to lose your 2A right. Roof would have failed a background check to purchase a firearm. It was reported that his father purchased him a handgun for his 21st birthday. Roof's birthday is listed as April 4, 1994. His 21st birthday was this past April. Two months after he's charged with a felony his father buys him a gun? This means if his father purchased a gun for his birthday it was a straw purchase, a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.
In order for laws to work, criminals must follow them.
Exist question: Was this the firearm used in the massacre?
*Jim Hoft reports that the firearm used in the massacre was stolen from his mother. Same gun? Her gun? Either way, he stole a firearm, another felony charge.
**UPDATE: CNN reports that the family changed their story and claims that Roof was given birthday money to purchase a gun and they “dont know what he did with [the money].” Bottom line: He was ineligible to carry and the truth will out in this. Three things to consider, however:
1) If Roof, who was ineligible due to the pending felony charges (remember, charges only for ineligibility in SC) purchased a firearm through a storefront, that store will likely face charges and lose their FFL. It's a violation of federal law to make an illegal sale such as this.
2) If such a sale was allowed to go through and his 4473 wasn't flagged, who in the state did not note this on his record? What is the point of having a law that a felony charge renders someone ineligible to excercise 2A if nothing is noted on the record to prevent a background check from going through? What is the point of laws if the state refuses to enforce them?
3) The family could be lying to avoid an investigation into a felony straw man purchase.
Like I said, the truth will out.
