The shocking mass shooting that unfolded in Maine on October 25 shows us the cracks in our system when it comes to gun control and mental health.
Robert Card, the man behind the crime, killed 18 people and wounded 13 more.
His story reveals glaring gaps in how we deal with potential threats, particularly those with serious mental issues.
Card tried to buy a silencer on August 5.
Rick LaChapelle, who owns the gun store where Card tried to make the purchase, said, “He came in and filled out the form, he checked off a box that incriminated himself saying that he was in an institution.”
This admission stopped him from buying the silencer.
Just a month before, the Army had committed Card to a psychiatric facility for hearing voices and erratic behavior.
But here’s where the system failed us: despite all these red flags, Card was still able to legally buy firearms.
According to The New York Times, he purchased several guns that might have been used in the crime.
The FBI also stated that there was nothing in their records that would have stopped him from acquiring a weapon.
This raises serious questions about the effectiveness of our existing background checks and coordination between federal and local agencies.
Police had been warned about Card.
He had even threatened to “shoot up” a military base.
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His family also alerted authorities about his declining mental health.
But no substantial action seems to have been taken.
This is more than just a hiccup; it’s a significant failure that allowed a troubled individual to carry out a devastating attack.
Federal law does state that people committed involuntarily to a mental institution can’t buy firearms.
It shows that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the agency in charge of overseeing gun purchases, needs to step up its game.
Card’s family pointed out that his mental health took a downturn after he got high-powered hearing aids.
He became paranoid and developed a belief that people were saying terrible things about him.
Authorities believe that this paranoia, along with some “conspiracy theorist” ideas, played a role in his tragic actions.
Card ended his own life after the shooting spree, leaving behind no clear reason for the terrible act he committed.
His case should serve as a wake-up call.
It’s not about stricter gun laws, but about giving serious attention to mental health issues in this country.
That way, we can work to prevent such heartbreaking tragedies in the future.
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