Would better background checks deter gun violence?

On Friday, FBI Director James Comey admitted that failures in the background check process allowed Dylann Roof, charged in the Charleston, S.C., mass shooting, to buy a gun.

I don’t own guns, but I have no problem with people who want to.

I do have a problem with the the wrong people getting guns. I totally agree that more useless laws are not the answer because the ones we have aren’t enforced enough.

The solution isn’t clear. Far too many guns fall into the hands of bad people. Should I just accept mass murders as a consequence of a free society?

Chris Mclean

The fact remains that a mechanism is in place to stop people such as Dylann Roof from getting a gun. It failed, and that’s how Roof got the gun allegedly used to kill nine innocent churchgoers.

David Glass

Even if Roof had been denied the purchase of that specific weapon, he could have found another, probably quite easily, through the black market.

Glen Hill

I do appreciate the transparency that the FBI director provided in giving the details about how mistakes were made. Unfortunately, this mistake ended up being fatal for nine people.

Quin Bernhardt

No matter how many laws are enacted, America will not be able to stop all individuals who have criminal intent.

Imagine how many shots this criminal would have gotten off before being riddled with bullets if a few in attendance were legally carrying a weapon. I bet not many.

Benny Teague

No matter what, the real problem was inside Roof’s demented mind. Guns and the Confederate flag mean nothing in that regard.

Theo Trydent

Another problem is a lot of mental health records are private. Unless the person has had contact with the legal system, his records are not part of any mental health database.

John LeVasseur