In the wake of this week’s mass shooting, we’re going to hear calls for more background checks. This, despite the fact the shooter underwent and passed several background checks when he purchased his guns. This, despite the fact that Oregon passed more strict background check legislation only a couple of months ago.
Background checks don’t stop these tragedies. With the exception of Newtown, every mass shooter in the last two decades has purchased his weapons at retail and passed a check. The lack of a deterrent effect is obvious. Any other social policy that has failed this utterly would have been abandoned by now.
Of course, whenever I point this out, it’s implied that I’m somehow obligated to provide a solution. Well, OK. Here’s one that might actually help.
In 2013, Dan Roberts conducted a study on mass shooters. Every single one of them had been on Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors. Continued...