What Would It Have Taken for Dylann Roof to Buy Gun in North Carolina?
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CHARLOTTE, NC — Suspected Charleston Church shooter Dylann Roof should have never been allowed to buy the gun he used in the attack, according the FBI.
Time and the law were on Roof’s side when he bought the gun he used to kill nine people. The FBI admits in his case the system failed.
“Of all the times for the system to screw up, it had to be with him,” said Larry Hyatt.
Hyatt has owned Hyatt Gun shop for 56 years. He says Roof would have undergone double the background checks in North Carolina.
“I’ve seen it when there were almost no laws, to heavy regulation,” said Hyatt. “Crime has not changed.”
In South Carolina, Roof only had to undergo an in-store federal background check. The FBI says Roof’s prior drug charges showed up, but the NICS agent couldn’t confirm the county of arrest.
Since the check took longer than three days, the store was, by law, able to sell Roof the gun.
“For people to do things timely, that might need to be an area that needs to be looked at,” said Hyatt.
To get a handgun across the state line, Roof would have undergone a state background check at the Sheriff’s office. He would have to take that paperwork to the store. Then, he would have a second federal background check at the store. If he was after a rifle, he would have only had to undergo a federal background check.
“I don’t think there’s any kind of gun control programs that you are going to put in to place that’s going to stop the real people that’s going to get a hold of guns for the wrong reasons,” said Charlie Williams.
Others think buyers should wait as long as it takes to get the background check complete.
“They need to have more people monitoring the systems,” said Tasha Davis.
Gun control groups agree. Everytown for Gun Safety wrote WCCB Charlotte: “Make no mistake–this background check was incomplete… law enforcement should be given the time it needs to investigate criminal histories–because it could save lives.”
Hyatt says the last security screen at his store would be his employees. They have the right to prohibit purchase of a gun if a buyer is acting suspicious or might cause harm.
“People prone to violence or bad deeds usually find a way to get what they want outside the system,” said Hyatt.
