Elliot Rodger: Gun Control Laws Already Proposed In Response To The Santa Barbara Shooting At Isla Vista

The Isla Vista shooting has already prompted some politicians to propose gun control laws because Elliot Rodger suffered from Asperger’s syndrome and/or autism. But do California’s gun laws need to be updated or do they simply need to be enforced better?

In a related report by The Inquisitr, Bodies found at Elliot’s apartment were apparently killed with knives, not with guns. Elliot’s father Peter Rodger has also made a statement attacking the NRA:

“Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA. They talk about gun rights — what about Chris’ right to live? When will this insanity stop?”

Police have discovered a very long manifesto written by Elliot that describes how he feared the police would find his guns. Because Rodger was fearful the cops might return he kept his gun and ammo close by:

“I had the striking and devastating fear that someone had somehow discovered what I was planning to do, and reported me for it. If that was the case, the police would have searched my room, found all of my guns and weapons, along with my writings about what I plan to do with them. I would have been thrown in jail, denied of the chance to exact revenge on my enemies. I can’t imagine a hell darker than that.”

Police found three handguns that were all legally purchased in three different cities in addition to more than 400 rounds of unused ammunition. Rodger apparently passed the background check required by current California gun control laws. Officials found nothing in the documentation that indicated Rodger should have been disqualified.

Current Federal gun control laws ban firearm ownership by anyone who “has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to any mental institution.” California’s gun control laws are stricter because it includes individuals who have voluntarily committed themselves to a mental institution. Regardless, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal is already calling upon the Federal Congress to “reconsider legislation that would help provide more resources for the mentally ill and prevent them from buying guns.”

When Blumenthal was asked whether any law would have prevented Elliot Rodger’s guns from being legally purchased, the politician admitted that the Santa Barbara shooting might not have been prevented even in the case of tougher gun control laws:

“Obviously, not every kind of gun violence is going to be prevented by law, it’s out of Washington, but at least we can make a start.”

Do you think further gun control laws should be created in response to the Isla Vista shooting?