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FBI chief admits gun background check system failure over Dylann Roof FBI chief admits gun background check system failure over Dylann Roof
(35 minutes later)
The FBI director, James Comey, said on Friday the 21-year-old suspect in the deaths of nine black churchgoers in South Carolina last month should not have been able to purchase the gun he allegedly used in the shooting.The FBI director, James Comey, said on Friday the 21-year-old suspect in the deaths of nine black churchgoers in South Carolina last month should not have been able to purchase the gun he allegedly used in the shooting.
According to reporters who met Comey at FBI headquarters on Friday, Comey said Dylann Roof was only able to purchase the gun he is accused of using in the attack at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church in Charleston because of flaws in the FBI’s background check system. According to reporters who met Comey at FBI headquarters on Friday, the FBI chief said Dylann Roof was only able to purchase the gun he is accused of using in the attack at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church in Charleston because of flaws in the FBI’s background check system.
Questions were raised immediately after the shooting because Roof was arrested on a felony charge in February. That should have stopped him purchasing a gun. Questions were raised immediately after the shooting because Roof was arrested on a felony charge in February. That should have stopped him purchasing a gun, but this information was not properly handled by the FBI, either being improperly entered into the federal computer system or used incorrectly by an analyst, according to the Washington Post.
“We are all sick this happened,” Comey said on Friday. “We wish we could turn back time.”“We are all sick this happened,” Comey said on Friday. “We wish we could turn back time.”
Comey said he had learned of the error on Thursday and ordered a review of the lapse. He said the Justice Department was also going to review its policy that gives the FBI three days to determine whether someone should be denied a gun.
Roof was arrested the day after the 17 June attack. Police found a .45 Glock pistol in his car and photographs posted online showed Roof with a similar weapon.Roof was arrested the day after the 17 June attack. Police found a .45 Glock pistol in his car and photographs posted online showed Roof with a similar weapon.
This information was not properly handled by the FBI, either being improperly entered into the federal computer system or used incorrectly by an analyst, according to the Washington Post.
Roof was this week indicted on three new charges of attempted murder, in addition to the nine counts of murder and weapons charges that were handed down after his arrest last month.Roof was this week indicted on three new charges of attempted murder, in addition to the nine counts of murder and weapons charges that were handed down after his arrest last month.
The day after the shooting, President Barack Obama spoke from the White House about how shootings were too frequent in the country. The day after the shooting, Barack Obama spoke from the White House about how shootings were too frequent in the US.
“At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries,” Obama said. “It doesn’t happen in other places with this kind of frequency – and it is in our power to do something about it.”“At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries,” Obama said. “It doesn’t happen in other places with this kind of frequency – and it is in our power to do something about it.”
Comey’s words came on the same day a Confederate flag was removed from the South Carolina statehouse, a decision that was prompted by the church shootings.Comey’s words came on the same day a Confederate flag was removed from the South Carolina statehouse, a decision that was prompted by the church shootings.
Roof, who is white, appeared in photos that featured a Confederate battle flag.Roof, who is white, appeared in photos that featured a Confederate battle flag.