The problem here is that this monster DID buy his weapons legally.
Yes, he may have gotten them anyway, as monsters do, but he didn't HAVE to.
THAT is the problem that needs to be addressed here.
Why wasn't he red flagged multiple times for his previous military discharge, court martial, and his assaults?
The gun seller didn't do anything wrong, according to what he knew, and he armed a cold blooded killer.
He should have known.
The point is that it is not efficacious ANYWAY. The point is that all the bullcrap and jumpin through hoops doesn't work anywhere near well, and in the end, doesn't work at all.
The tenor on this thread is what leads invariably to more plastic feelgood 'tightening up' of the laws which don't tighten a damn thing beyond my own ability to buy a gun unhindered.
Well, check that... because I do buy my guns unhindered. Because I go to the same places the criminals do - I buy em off the back of trucks, simply because I can, and because it ain't worth going the legal route. And Uncle Damn Sam doesn't need to know what firearms I may or may not possess. For all he knows, I have only bought two guns in my whole life. And I trade in guns all the time.
Any gun you'd care to mention, I can have in my hands anytime. All I need is enough cash.
And btw, many of my friends were dumbasses in their youth. Many of them can't legally buy a gun, and haven't been able to since they were kids and the judge laid them low... And there ain't nary a one that doesn't own a closet full.
So in my mind,
it would be far better to understand that your 'legal means' doesn't mean a dang thing in the real world and nip the inevitable call for 'stronger laws' right in the bud. All you'll be doing is lending credence to liberal hand-wringing - all of which does nothing at all to stop criminals from being criminal.