Patrick Milliner, the shooter, on the left
Boston dot com
The assailant in an apparent murder-suicide purchased a handgun hours before ambushing his ex-boyfriend in a shooting that followed a breakup, state police said Monday.
Autopsy results confirmed that Matthew Rairdon, 22, of Westbrook, died from gunshot wounds to the head and chest and that Patrick Milliner, 30, of South Portland, died from a single gunshot wound to the head, investigators said.
Milliner bought the gun Friday at Cabela's; the shootings took place early Saturday, just after midnight, in Rairdon’s apartment, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
Milliner, who left a rambling post on Facebook, along with a note, was dressed in black and appeared to have ambushed Rairdon as he walked in the door following a late shift at Mercy Hospital, where he was an emergency room nurse, police said.
Just like crimes committed by concealed carry permit holders, no one is checking whether crimes are committed by people who bought guns with no waiting period. That is, unless some reporter stumbles on the information like in this case. The gun nuts don't want us to know these things. They might lead to sensible legislation that would inconvenience them a bit. Saving lives is not their concern.
"Maine State Police continue to investigate what they have deemed a domestic violence homicide. They planned to interview Milliner’s classmates at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, where he was training to be a state corrections officer, and at Cabela’s in Scarborough, where police say he went Friday and bought the .40-caliber pistol that he used to kill Rairdon and himself.
ReplyDeleteMilliner would have had to pass a criminal background check to be hired by the Department of Corrections, and would have taken basic corrections training with the department before enrolling in the two-week corrections class at the academy."
http://www.pressherald.com/news/Autopsy_confirms_murder-suicide_in_Westbrook.html
Waiting periods are normally in place to give the government time to conduct background checks for purchase permits, which Maine doesn't require. In this case, he had already undergone a background check for his job.
Waiting periods? What are you blathering about now? There are no waiting periods in most places. But do you really believe that someone who intends to do this sort of thing will give up because of a waiting period?
ReplyDeleteYes, some would. Just like some (or most) would not end up killing themselves if no gun was available. But, it's not convenient for you to accept either of those assertions, I know.
DeleteIt's not about convenience. I accept facts and logic. You provide only guesses.
DeleteSince these are crimes of passion, it is very logical, that a waiting period would cut back on these incidents.
DeleteAnonymous, you must not have seen many passionate people.
DeleteMeaning what? Passionate people don't change their minds? No wonder most of the people on this site call you a lying coward, including the author of the blog.
DeleteBackground check would have given time for this guy to change his mind.
ReplyDeleteHe bought the gun at a licensed dealer, so a background check had to have been run on him.
DeleteSince the shooter bought the gun HOURS before the shooting, to deny a waiting period would not have changed this outcome, is (as Steve would say) just another one of your lies, or incredible stupidity on your part. I tend to believe you are a liar, but your decision to not explain your criminal statements does show stupidity and cowardice.
DeleteI was addressing background checks here. But prove that I have told a lie on this site--a statement that I knew to be false--and I'll never comment here again.
DeleteThat has been proven time and time again, so why are you still here?
DeleteBecause you haven't proven it once, Jim.
DeleteSteve proved it many times. We are still waiting for your lying response. But the coward you are, that will never come.
DeleteThe Problem:
ReplyDelete"Firearms are the second leading cause of injury and deaths in the United States accounting for 30,896 deaths and 71,417 injuries in 2006. Over 80 percent of teen homicides and almost half of teen suicides in involved a gun in 2005. CDC: WISQUARS. Overall, more than half of all homicides involve a gun. US Department of Justice: Crime Statistics."
The Evidence:
"Hahn et al. reviewed seven studies that measured the effects of waiting periods on murder, aggravated assault, robbery, rape, firearm-related suicide, and unintentional firearm injury."
The Bottom Line:
"In the judgment of a Community Guide expert panel, there is insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of waiting period laws as public health interventions aimed at preventing gun-related violence and suicide."
http://publichealthlawresearch.org/public-health-topics/injury-prevention/gun-safety/evidence-brief/waiting-period-laws-gun-permits