San Bernardino shooting: Prayers offered in wake of tragedy that killed 14

The couple behind the murderous attack in San Bernardino had amassed an arsenal of several thousand dollars worth of arms and ammunition in a state, California, that has some of the toughest gun laws in the US. But without a clear legal path, it could be months before any new measures are revealed. “Yet, it would be wrong not to acknowledge that gun laws often can not stop a person bent on murder”.

The shooting in San Bernardino yesterday, where 14 people died, brought the number of mass shootings in the USA to 355 this year.

The first news alert reporting a mass shooting usually contains just two pieces of information: a body count that will invariably be revised upwards, and the status of the shooter. “But those same people who we don’t allow to fly can go in to a store right now in the United States and buy a firearm and there’s nothing that we can do to stop them”.

That message was similar to his vow in the aftermath of October’s shooting at Umpqua Community College near Roseburg, Oregon.

Critics say that waiting until a respectful time has passed to talk about gun control means the conversation can never take place because there are more mass shootings than days in the year.

Since then, however, the issue has gone largely unmentioned, replaced by attention on the battle against ISIS and almost three weeks spent overseas. “Guns can’t be blamed for Paris 11/13 Attacks; radical Islamic beliefs caused that carnage”. President Barack Obama will deliver yet another angry, impassioned plea for lawmakers to pass stricter gun control measures.

Obama was given an update from Lisa Monaco, his Homeland Security advisor, according to reporters at the White House. The loophole allows certain gun sales – including at gun shows and through private dealers – to proceed without a background check. That includes collectors and some private sellers.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition Presidential Forum in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015.

But navigating the process for closing the loophole unilaterally has proved hard for the White House.

The rifles, which police said had been purchased legally, were both variants of the AR-15, one manufactured by Smith & Wesson and the other by DPMS Panther Arms; the shooters also used two semi-automatic handguns. The White House insists action to tighten current laws is still worthwhile.

“As the investigation rolls forward, it’s going to be important for all of us, including our legislatures, to see what we can do to make sure that when individuals decide that they want to do somebody harm we’re making it a little harder for them to do it”, he said.

As David Kopel recently explained in a policy analysis for the Cato Institute of popular gun control proposals, such as universal background checks and bans on “assault weapons” or high-capacity magazines, gun control advocates simply put too much confidence in regulations without much evidence behind them.

All were blocked by Republicans from moving forward.