Since Lanza had his brother's ID, could he have purchased the guns using his mother's ID online?

[mfcorey1]

Just wondering about that odd collection of guns by a woman. I am sure that will be many theories floating and none will ease the pain that the families and the community are feeling at this time. May God grant them peace.

[Surya Gayatri]

1. Alternative hypothesis: Perhaps he developed a fascination with guns

as many young men do. Did he rag his mother until she helped him to satisfy his new obsession?

Did she mistakenly think that it might be theraputic for her maladjusted momma's boy to find a hobby and friends through his new interest?

They may have been in a destructively co-dependent and symbiotic relationship, which then led to a dangerous distancing from reality. He was her still-at-home baby, with learning and developmental issues.

Only the two principle actors would know, and they're both dead.

ETA: There were reports that both the father and brother were cut off from Ms. Lanza and her youngest boy.

Supposedly, the older brother hadn't talked to Adam for two years and neither he nor his father heard until hours later about the shooting. The neighbors knew nothing of anybody else in the mother and son's lives.

[Edweird]

2. You know, women own and shoot guns as well.

[TorchTheWitch]

3. I'm a lot more puzzled that the tv talkers are saying they were legally purchased

while also saying that he purchased them with a "family member's" ID. If he purchased them using someone else's ID then how the hell can they be considered legally purchased???

And yes, if he did have his brother's ID on him (*the tv talkers have been saying two different things about that) then is it not reasonable to assume that it was also his brother's ID he used to purchase the guns?

According to the brother (Ryan), he and his brother (the shooter, Adam) have not communicated in several years. Apparently, they were estranged from one another. I'm guessing here that rather than Adam having Ryan's current ID (surely he would notice over a period of several years that his current ID was missing) is it possible that he used an older driver's license of Ryan's that he didn't throw away after getting the new one, and whoever Adam purchased the guns from wasn't anymore attentive to the date of expiration as they were to the ID photo and signatures matching?

* Note - some news reports have been saying that Ryan's name as the shooter was incorrectly used because Ryan's ID was found on Adam at the scene, but other news reports have been saying that the reason for the wrong name being used was because a police spokesperson mistakenly transposed the two brothers' names in identifying which one was the shooter and which one was the brother of the shooter that was taken into custody for questioning along with the father.

As for your "odd collection of guns by a woman" statement, this is the first I've heard of this. Did the mother have a number of guns she purchased for herself registered to her? And how does one legally purchase guns online when there is no way to prove the ID they'd have to use to do it as the true identity of the purchaser? Can guns somehow be purchased ONLINE when there's no way to verify the true purchaser is the same person as who is depicted by an ID???

[marions ghost]

5. good questions

I'm favoring the theory that either he illegally purchased them in her name or she provided access to them.

This appears to be a premeditated act by the shooter. He didn't just grab her gun and go berserk. He had thought about this.

[slackmaster]

4. You've done a fine job of applying a stereotpye of women here

Heckuvajob.

[NutmegYankee]

6. By law an online purchase must go to a FFL

The FFL is required to verify the ID and eligibility of the purchaser prior to handing the weapon over.

[baldguy]

9. And how is this relevant if he was using someone else's ID?

Allowing online purchases of guns is just plain stupid. If he used his mother's ID, it led directly to this massacre.

[slackmaster]

12. I think most gun dealers are smart enough not to be fooled by a young man using a woman's ID

Unless the kid was in drag.

This discussion borders on absurd. No, it is absurd.

[NutmegYankee]

19. He woudn't get the gun handed over with his mom's ID

The person receiving the gun has to get ID'd.

[1-Old-Man]

7. I don't see how. Somewhere along the line of sale a registered dealer has to be involved

You can order a gun by mail but you can't receive it yourself, it has to be shipped to a registered gun dealer who will complete the sale and it would be against the law for the dealer to finish the sale to an obvious impostor.

[slackmaster]

13. Yes. The federal firearms licensee has to hand the gun to the purchaser in person, and verify ID.

And the federal eligibility requirements, and whatever other requirements are imposed by state law.

[obamanut2012]

10. You can't buy guns online and have them sent to you

They have to go to an FFL dealer.

And, and others have stated, women also own guns, even Democrats, myself included.

The shooter appears to have been a sociopath who wanted to kill his mother and have his brother blamed for it, and decided to murder a lot of other innocent people at the same time.

[boston bean]

11. Possible the guns were legally owned by a member of that household, but it may be the brother..

Where the killer pretended to be him...... I have a sister who looks very much like me and I know enough about her to pass myself off as her, and her as me.. Not that we would... but it's possible...

It could be the mother owned the guns.. There has been so much misinformation

Have you heard it stated that for sure the guns were registered to the mother? Or were they making an assumptions... I just don't know.. and am looking for some answers.

[slackmaster]

14. It's already been stated in the media multiple times that the guns belonged to the mother

This is a settled issue unless someone has information to indicate otherwise.

[Kei7777]

15. The guns belonged to the mother. Stop being misinformed. This is a fact.

[boston bean]

17. have the police confirmed this fact?

I'm not saying reporting is untrue... but there has been many untrue "facts" reported throughout this...

[obamanut2012]

20. I heard that, but who knows at this point

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. Given the overall confusion, I understand your question

But it seems fairly settled at this point that they were registered to his first victim (mother). It seems to be one of the few things they got right early on in the media.

FFL transfers are in person with Government ID. Really hard to fake.

[boston bean]

22. I just heard Sen Blumenthal say that only one

of the guns was registered to her...

So, I hope people are going to wait for the official story on this.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

23. Why wait, its so salacious...

very disappointed in the media on this

[ProgressiveProfessor]

24. Media is all over the place and replacing older "facts" hourly

[slackmaster]

16. The only way you can purchase a handgun online and have it shipped directly to you is if you have...

...a Federal Firearms License.

I have a Type 03 Federal Firearms License - Collector of Curios and Relics. I've bought firearms online several times. When a firearm of any kind is shipped to anyone, the buyer has to receive it in person and present ID to the shipper.

[Kaleva]

18. I've purchased guns on line but had to go to a gun dealer to get the guns.

There, I had to show proof of I.D., go thru an instant background check and fill out a questionaire. That was for military surplus bolt action rifles.

I can purchase handguns on line too but I'd have to go thru the above steps plus first get a permit (valid for 10 days after being issued) from the local sheriff first which I'd have to show to the gun dealer and then I'd have 10 days after getting the gun to bring it to the sheriff's office to have it inspected and registered.