This information was extracted from an article by Erich Pratt posted on the Gun Owners of America website: Gun Owners of America
Many people from the President on down have predicted that the lack of strict gun laws will result in more mass shootings. In reality, strict gun control laws enabled the shooter at the Louisiana’s Lafayette Grand Theater.
The Grand Theater chain does not allow concealed firearms on its premises, even by lawfully permitted concealed carry holders. This keeps law-abiding citizens from being able to defend themselves and others. It also provides a safe environment for the criminal to carry out their attack. Ever wonder why mass shooters never choose pistol ranges or gun clubs for their attacks? The law forbidding carrying a weapon into a gun free zone did not stop the shooter from doing so.
The shooter suffered from mental illness. He even spent time in a mental hospital which would disqualify him from acquiring firearms. But this information was never reported to the NICS background check system allowing him to “legally” buy a gun. The law didn’t prevent the shooter from buying a gun.
The shooter applied for a concealed carry permit years ago, but was denied. Not having a concealed carry permit didn’t stop him from illegally carrying a gun into the theater.
Bottom line: Gun laws failed to protect the law-abiding civilians in Lafayette, Louisiana. Any law in itself cannot stop bad behavior, it can only punish bad behavior after the fact.
Contrast the Lafayette Grand Theater shooting to one that occurred exactly one year and a day earlier.
On July 24, 2014, a nutcase walked into a Darby, Pennsylvania hospital, intent on killing as many people as possible. His main target was a doctor that treated him.
But the gunman hadn’t counted on the fact that his intended target, his doctor, had defied the hospital’s “no guns allowed” policy and was carrying a gun of his own.
Dr. Lee Silverman is a lawful permit holder who regularly carries a handgun. Having come under fire, he crouched behind a desk and shot back, hitting the shooter three times in the mid-section.
Even though the bad guy was able to murder one person before attacking the doctor, authorities have credited Dr. Silverman with halting a mass shooting in progress.
Guns in good people’s hands are saving lives. But the President’s approach — which denies guns to law-abiding citizens — prevents potential victims from bringing mass shootings to an abrupt end.