A tragic shooting took place at a supermarket in Buffalo this weekend, resulting in the deaths of 10, including a former police officer. The shooter was apparently hate motivated, and even attempted to livestream some of the tragic event on Twitch before surrendering to police.
As the gunman faces several first-degree murder charges, several are already debating whether tougher gun control laws are needed. He had published a hate-filled manifesto online beforehand, leaving many wondering if this could’ve been prevented beforehand. The suspect also mentioned that he chose Buffalo as his target mainly because of the state’s gun laws, though that didn’t stop him from utilizing an illegally modified rifle to get the job done.
Now comes the real question – is banning weapons the answer, or perhaps this is a chance the explore the opportunity of people being able to open-carry as a way to possibly defend themselves from such an incident?
Joining us now to discuss the matter further is Michael Letts, co-founder and CEO of InVest USA, an organization that specializes in providing bulletproof vests to officers across the country, through various sponsorships and charitable organizations.
Q&A
- What more could the Buffalo police have done to stop the shooting, especially with the publication of a hate-filled manifesto on social media?
- The mayor of Buffalo, Byron Brown, believes that stopping the availability of weapons is the answer. But is this the answer, or perhaps there should be something that allows for open-carry, like what Philadelphia currently has?
- Why do you think the shooter had so much hatred towards others? Could it have been something on social media?
- How easily do you think it is to acquire a rifle like the suspect had? Even with a potential ban on guns, could he have easily gotten his hands on such a weapon?
- What do you think is the solution to a situation such as this? We know some states have seen an increase in crime because of dwindled police forces. Is this the time for the government to step up and provide more funding?
- Where can we learn more about InVest USA and the many programs it supports?
You can visit our website at http://www.investusa.org.
About Michael Letts:
Michael Letts is the Founder, President, and CEO of In-Vest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. Those interested in learning more about Letts can visit his official website here.
CONTACT: Gerald McGlothlin at: jerry.specialguests@gmail.com
