Notes on Maryland Mall Shooting: mental health, background checks, gun-free zone
The Crime Prevention Research Center had this information on the attack occurring in a gun-free zone early yesterday afternoon.
I had one other thought on the attack. If Darion Aguilar was trying to simply kill a former girl friend and her boyfriend, I don't think that explosives would be used in addition to the shotgun. Yet, Aguilar brought explosives. This strikes me as more of an attempt to settle a personal score.
Nor is a simple attack against a girlfriend consistent with 16 shots being fired. From ABC News the day after the event:
I had one other thought on the attack. If Darion Aguilar was trying to simply kill a former girl friend and her boyfriend, I don't think that explosives would be used in addition to the shotgun. Yet, Aguilar brought explosives. This strikes me as more of an attempt to settle a personal score.
Nor is a simple attack against a girlfriend consistent with 16 shots being fired. From ABC News the day after the event:
Police said Aguilar used a 12-gague shot gun during the incident and 16 shots were fired. In addition to the gun and ammunition, crude explosive devices made from flash powder and household items were found in Aguilar's backpack. . . . .
Aside from the three dead, five other people were injured. One person, who was below the Zumiez store during the shooting, suffered a gunshot wound to the foot and others had minor injuries as they ran to escape the shooting, according to police. . . .
No amount of effort on mental health seems like to have stopped this attack: "Maryland Mall Shooter Darion Marcus Aguilar Was 'Gentle Person,' Mom Says"
Nor would background checks have made any difference: "Md. mall shooter Darion Aguilar a ‘good kid’ with no criminal record, no known mental issues"
Nor would background checks have made any difference: "Md. mall shooter Darion Aguilar a ‘good kid’ with no criminal record, no known mental issues"
posted by John Lott at 10:08 PM
4 Comments:
These Gun Free Zones are quite dangerous.
So the response will (of course) be - Ban ALL Guns!
gfa
I curious as to whether a case has yet arisen where a citizen chose to ignore a gun free zone and saved himself. What did the prosecutor do. Reduce charges? Prosecute to the fullest extent. What would happen if such a citizen saved the lives of others?
One simple expedient way to address this dilemma would be to have unlawful carry laws reduced to misdemeanor status. Then citizens with a justified reason to arm themselves under certain circumstances could absorb the penalty while saving their lives.
The Columbia Mall is "gun free" by policy, not by state or county law.
If someone had intercepted him and shot the killer, he could only be prosecuted by the State if s/he was not properly licensed to carry a concealed firearm.
Never mind that the shooter at Columbia Mall clearly spent time carrying a 'concealed weapon' in flagrant violation of about 20 state laws.
Note: MD does not allow "open carry."
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