Another week, another school shooting. This time it was in Olathe, Kansas, about an hour away from where I live.
18-year-old Jaylon Elmore was a football player for Olathe East High School. This past Friday, March 4th, Elmore was called into the school’s offices on suspicions he had a gun. Those suspicions turned out to be correct, as Elmore allegedly exchanged gun fire with school resource officer Erik Clark. Clark was struck by gunfire, as was Assistant Principal Kaleb Stoppel. Both Clark and Stoppel were treated for their injuries and released from the hospital on the same day. Elmore was shot by Clark and at last report was in the hospital in critical condition.
Elmore has been charged with attempted capital murder, and his bond has been set at $1 million. He has a previous criminal conviction of aggravated robbery.
In what used to be surprising but isn’t anymore, the gun used by Elmore in the shooting is said to have been a ghost gun. For those who may not be familiar with the term, a ghost gun means the gun was assembled from parts that can be obtained through the mail, and the parts don’t have serial numbers. Since gun parts aren’t classified as firearms, dealers don’t have to perform background checks on their customers. Ghost guns are actually legal in Kansas and most of the United States. This is just one of the many ways people use to get around firearm background checks.
If you think anything will ever be done about ghost guns in Kansas, you’re incredibly mistaken. Kansas gun laws are so lax, Texas is jealous. In Kansas, you don’t need a permit to own a gun. You don’t need a permit to open carry. I’ve seen more than a few 300+ lb. Gravy Seals open carrying at the supermarket. You also don’t need a permit to conceal carry. There’s also no waiting period in Kansas. As long as you’re over 21 and not a felon, you’ll have minimal difficulties in purchasing a gun in Kansas. When I first moved to Kansas, we couldn’t go a week during the warmer weather without hearing gunshots. It wasn’t as bad as when I lived in Philadelphia in the late 90s/early 2000s, but Topeka is nowhere near the size of Philly.
I’m so tired of talking about guns and school shootings anymore, since nothing ever changes. It only gets worse. I guess I’ll leave you with these two sayings that I seem to be using more often lately. An armed society is not a polite society, it’s a violent one. You can’t solve gun violence with more guns, that’s like trying to cure cancer with more cancer.
In closing, guns are for cowards, and repeal the 2nd Amendment.
(Sources)
- Student charged with attempted murder for Kan. school shooting
- Student charged in Kansas school shooting that wounded 2
- Student charged in Kansas high school shooting that injured 2
- School resource officer injured in Olathe East school shooting identified
- Teen fired ‘ghost gun’ in Olathe East High School shooting, prosecutor says
- Ghost Guns in Kansas
Real Crime with Trench Reynolds 