Gun used in Scalise shooting was legally purchased assault rifle, sources say

[Eugene]

Source: ABC News

Gun used in Scalise shooting was legally purchased assault rifle, sources say

By JACK DATE PIERRE THOMAS Jun 15, 2017, 7:24 AM ET

The firearms recovered from the alleged attacker in Wednesday's shooting at an Alexandria, Virginia, baseball field that left House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and several others injured were purchased legally, according to multiple law enforcement sources.

While James T. Hodgkinson, the alleged shooter, reportedly had several previous run-ins with the law, because he had no felony convictions, he was able to purchase the weapons legally.

Sources told ABC News that the primary weapon used in shooting was an SKS 7.62 assault-style rifle. Authorities also recovered a Smith and Wesson 9 mm pistol, though it was not clear if it was used in the attack.

After Hodgkinson opened fire Wednesday morning at a GOP congressional baseball practice, he was shot by Capitol Police on the scene and subsequently died of his injuries.

The suspect, who also owned a shotgun, is believed to have obtained a permit to carry a concealed weapon in approximately the last two months.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/gun-scalise-shooting-legally-purchased-assault-rifle-sources/story?id=48051990

[Aristus]

1. Uh-oh, now you've done it; you called it an 'assault rifle'.

Gun-crazies react with hysterical fury any time someone calls an assault rifle an assault rifle.

They think it's wrong to make a weapon used to commit mass murder sound like something scary.

Which tells you everything you need to know about people like that...

[Hoyt]

2. Gunners have busted myth that their beloved "assault rifles" are seldom used in shootings.

I hope we don't have to hear that one again. But those rifles are so popular among those afflicted with gun love, I suspect they'll come up with plenty of new junk to minimize the mayhem they cause.

[billh58]

3. Just another

"responsible" gun owner exercising his Second Amendment right. He could have used a shovel, a hammer, lawn furniture, an automobile, or any other implement, but he chose to use a gun because that is what they are designed for: killing at a distance.

I'm sure that some other "responsible" gun owners will come along and gunsplain this to me using NRA-parroted words that even a Liberal Democrat can understand. I can hardly wait.

[Paladin]

4. Why go through the risk and hassle of illegally purchasing a gun?

God knows it's ridiculously easy for most people to get as many guns as they want, legally. NRA-enabling politicians like Steve Scalise have seen to that.