Texas Shooter Dodged Background Checks By Buying Gun At Private Sale

MIDLAND, TEXAS – AUGUST 31: Police cars and tape block off a crime scene nearby to where a gunman was shot and killed at Cinergy Odessa movie theater after multiple people were shot on August 31, 2019 in Midland, Texas. Reports indicate that at least two people are dead and 20 injured. (Photo by Cengiz Yar/Getty Images)
Police cars and tape block off a crime scene nearby the Cinergy Odessa movie theater where a gunman was shot and killed on August 31, 2019 in Odessa, Texas. (Photo by Cengiz Yar/Getty Images)
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The suspected gunman responsible for the deadly shootings in the Texas cities of Midland and Odessa on Saturday evaded background checks by purchasing his weapon at a private sale.

According to multiple reports on Tuesday, suspected shooter Seth Aaron Ator had previously failed a background check due to a mental health issue. However, he managed to bypass the process this time by buying his AR-style rifle from a private seller, NBC News, Buzzfeed News, the Associated Press, and CBS News reported on Tuesday.

Under Texas law, private arms dealers aren’t required to run background checks on customers.

Ator allegedly killed seven people and injured at least 20 others while going on a shooting rampage on Saturday. He was killed by law enforcement in a shootout.

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Notable Replies

  1. Was this the first, second, or third #GregAbbottMassacre?

  2. Well Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and Speaker Bonnen hows all that access to mental health you touted as a win for Texas and Texans?

  3. Avatar for daled daled says:

    See…background checks don’t work! /s

  4. Sutherland Springs church shooting 2017, 26 victims dead
    El Paso 2019, 22 victims dead
    Odessa and Midland 2019 7(?) victims dead

  5. As I understand it, in Washington State, private sellers have to do background checks…I am wondering if that is true for the private seller who sold to the TX shooter. If so, hold his ass liable for damages.

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