#MassacreMitch Trends After Santa Clarita School Shooting: He's 'Had Background Check Bill On His Desk Since February'

Authored by newsweek.com and submitted by nnnarbz

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell faced criticism on social media for failing to act on gun control legislation after a shooting at a California high school Thursday that left two students dead and multiple others injured.

A 16-year-old gunman who police said opened fire at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California was custody Thursday afternoon, but few other details were available. However, people took to Twitter to blame the shooting on McConnell, claiming that it's possible the shooting could have been prevented if he helped facilitate the passing of gun control laws.

People expressed their distaste for the legislator using the hashtag "Massacre Mitch." As of 2:45 p.m. EST, nearly 12,000 tweets were published with the tag.

Some posted simple messages such as "Do something," and "Are you listening?" Others pointed to the background check bill that passed the House of Representatives in February but stalled in the Senate. The bill would require background checks for all firearm sales, including those between private parties.

In September, McConnell appeared on The Hugh Hewitt show and said he wouldn't bring a bill to the floor if he didn't know President Donald Trump would sign it.

"I said a few weeks ago that if the President took a position on a bill so that we knew we would actually be making a law and not just having serial votes, I would be happy to put it on the floor and the administration is in the process of studying what they are prepared to support if anything," McConnell said with regard to firearm legislation.

It's unclear what Trump would sign in terms of gun control legislation. At times, he expressed support for background checks and "red flag" laws, which enables officials to temporarily take firearms away from a person deemed a possible threat, but he's also said that background checks wouldn't have prevented certain mass shootings in the United States.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Captain Kent Wegener said deputies found a .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol at the scene, after they responded to reports of shots fired around 7:38 a.m. PST. The suspect, identified as a 16-year-old male, was transported to the hospital where he is being treated for a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The two who died were identified as a 14-year-old male and a 16-year-old female.

Neither McConnell nor Trump publicly posted on social media about the shooting by publication time.

Senator Kamala Harris, who is vying for Trump's seat in the Oval Office, wrote on Twitter that she was "heartbroken and praying" for Santa Clarita.

"Our children and communities are being terrorized. We can't accept this," she wrote.

FaintedGoats on November 14th, 2019 at 23:37 UTC »

TLDR: Let's be clear, a background check is required in California. Persons under the age of 21 are prohibited from possessing firearms. Everything about this incident was illegal and already prohibited under California law.

Generally, all firearms purchases and transfers, including private party transactions and sales at gun shows, must be made through a California licensed dealer under the Dealer’s Record of Sale (DROS) process, INCLUDING A BACKGROUND CHECK. California law imposes a 10-day waiting period before a firearm can be released to a purchaser or transferee.

Pursuant to Penal Code section 27510, a California licensed dealer is prohibited from selling, supplying, delivering, transferring or giving possession or control of any firearm to any person under the age of 21 years, except as specifically exempted. The exemptions apply to the sale, supplying, delivery, transfer, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun to a person 18 years of age or older.

The Exemptions Include:

A person 18 years of age or older who possess a valid, unexpired hunting license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. An active peace officer, as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of his or her employment. An active federal officer or law enforcement agent who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of his or her employment as a reserve peace officer. A person who provides proper identification of his or her active membership in the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or active reserve components of the United States. A Person who provides proper identification that he or she is an honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or active reserve components of the United States.

As part of the DROS process, the purchaser must present "clear evidence of identity and age" which is defined as a valid, non-expired California Driver's License or Identification Card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A military identification accompanied by permanent duty station orders indicating a posting in California is also acceptable.

If the purchaser is not a U.S. Citizen, then he or she is required to demonstrate that he or she is legally within the United States by providing the firearms dealer with documentation containing his/her Alien Registration Number or I-94 Number.

Purchasers of handguns must provide proof of California residency, such as a utility bill, residential lease, property deed, or government-issued identification (other than a driver license or other DMV-issued identification), and either (1) possess a Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC) plus successfully complete a safety demonstration with their recently purchased handgun or (2) qualify for an HSC exemption.

bottleflick on November 14th, 2019 at 21:18 UTC »

It infuriates me that he wont even let things come to a vote. Yes he dosent like it but let it be voted on a likely voted down with a 51-49 majority like everything else they pass

Pomp_N_Circumstance on November 14th, 2019 at 20:39 UTC »

He's earning so many apt nicknames by stalling the F*$% out of legislation. Perhaps he should try and do his job. Let's also not forget that Barr is now claiming that impeachment means they can't do any gun control legislation.