The tragic shooting at Lakewood Church by Genesse Moreno has sparked a significant conversation about the effectiveness of background checks.
Moreno, who also identified as Jeffrey Escalante, managed to pass the background check necessary to legally purchase a firearm, raising questions about the system’s ability to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
Moreno’s criminal background, dating back to 2005, includes charges ranging from assault and forgery to unlawful carrying of a weapon. Despite these “red flags,” the shooter was able to legally purchase the firearm used in the attack, highlighting a glaring loophole in the current background check system:
10/24/2005 – Harris County: Failure to stop and give information, sentenced to 20 days in Harris County Jail
8/6/2009 – Harris County: Assault – bodily injury, sentenced to 180 days in Harris County Jail for kicking a detention officer
5/28/2010 – Harris County: Forgery, sentenced to two days in Harris County Jail for trying to use a counterfeit $100 bill
11/3/2010 – Harris County: Theft, sentenced to 30 days in Harris County Jail for stealing hats and makeup
12/5/2010 – Harris County: Evading, sentenced to 75 days in Harris County Jail
6/15/2022 – Fort Bend County: Unlawful carrying of a weapon, still an active case
This incident not only questions the efficiency of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) but also challenges the persistent narrative that gun control, especially universal background checks, are the solution to America’s gun violence.
The shooter’s possible identification as transgender adds to a disturbing trend noted by figures like Elon Musk, pointing to a series of attacks carried out by individuals with similar identification:
This aspect, coupled with Moreno’s firearm including a “Palestine” sticker, ignites debates on the shooter’s motives and the political ideologies they may represent. It’s also a reminder of the complex and multifaceted nature of such tragic events, which cannot be simplistically attributed to a single factor like gun ownership or lack thereof.
Far-left Democrats, often proponents of stringent gun control measures like universal background checks, overlook the reality that such policies do not effectively address the root causes of gun violence.
Instead, these measures potentially disarm law-abiding citizens, leaving them vulnerable to the very dangers these policies purport to mitigate. The inefficacy of background checks, as demonstrated by this incident, underscores the need for a reevaluation of current strategies in favor of more holistic approaches that address the underlying issues contributing to violence.
Moreover, the high rate of false positives in NICS denials, which exceeds 94%, further illustrates the system’s shortcomings. Such inaccuracies not only inconvenience innocent individuals but also divert resources from effectively monitoring and preventing actual threats. This incident at Lakewood Church serves as a stark reminder that reliance on background checks as a panacea for gun violence is misguided.
In light of these events, it becomes increasingly clear that the focus should shift towards solutions that respect the rights of law-abiding citizens while effectively targeting the root causes of violence. Strengthening mental health support, improving law enforcement capabilities, and fostering community engagement are crucial steps in this direction. It’s time to move beyond the flawed premise that gun control can safeguard our communities, and towards comprehensive strategies that genuinely enhance public safety without infringing on constitutional rights.
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