As news reports continue to come in regarding the shooting at a Tennessee Waffle House, where four people were murdered, it is becoming clear there was plenty of warnings. In fact, as of now there are reports that three different times the shooter, Travis Reinking, had firearms taken away from him by law authorities, only to have those same guns given to his father, who turned around and gave them back to his violent son.
In August 2017, the Secret Service arrested Reinking in a restricted area of the White House and although he was unarmed at the time, the FBI sent a request to the Illinois State Police that Reinking’s firearm I.D. be revoked.
The police followed through with this request, but instead of taking Reiking’s guns, they turned them over to his father, Jeffrey Reinking. The father gave the guns back to his son.
There were two other previous incidents with Reinking, one in June 2017 and one in May of 2016, where law enforcement warned the father that the guns needed to be kept away and locked up, and that he should seek mental help for his son. Both times law enforcement was ignored and the guns were given back.
Special Agent Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, told reporters that Jeffrey Reinking could face charges for returning the guns to his son, but the Tazewell County state’s attorney office said in an email that they did not have enough evidence to make a determination.
The public is furious.
WHY? The Waffle House gunman was arrested in 2017 after he was found in a restricted area near the White House. His guns were taken by Illinois authorities, and his permit to own them was revoked as a result of the arrest. Then the guns were turned over to the shooter’s father. https://t.co/SQokGRP5tU
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) April 22, 2018
Reading the deeply disturbing story about Waffle House shooter Travis Reinking, whose AR-15, confiscated by the Secret Service, was turned over to him by his father. The father should be charged with accessory to murder.
— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) April 23, 2018
I’m guessing it’s another loop hole courtesy of the NRA
— Nic B (@nikynakynu) April 23, 2018
Try to follow this: FBI seized Waffle House shooters guns, cause of his alarming behavior, then gave guns back to his father, who gave them back to Reinking, who used one to kill four people. https://t.co/Bzjy63b1lw pic.twitter.com/C8r3FjY6IV
— Michael Barbaro (@mikiebarb) April 23, 2018
So let’s get this straight.
-The Waffle House shooter was known to authorities,
-Had his weapons confiscated
-Then given BACK to his father
-Who then gave them back to his son.Bloody hell what is wrong with this country. ..? If you take the guns, then take the f-ing guns!
— Randy Prine #NeverAgain (@randyprine) April 23, 2018
So this Waffle House shooter had his weapons confiscated then given to his father who then gave them back to him? His dad should be arrested then for accessory to murder.
— Staz Trudeaux (@SheJStaz) April 22, 2018
Much of that anger is directed at the NRA:
James Shaw Jr.’s actions during the Tennessee Waffle House shooting dispel the NRA myth that “it takes a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun.” https://t.co/5Ky6eTISKZ
— GOOD (@good) April 23, 2018
What’s that bullshit line the NRA says, you need a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun?
Well here you have it! James Shaw is a hero who saved lives without using a gun. #NashvilleStrong #JamesShawHero https://t.co/2lyVVnWwZj— Christopher Vote2018 (@cwebbonline) April 22, 2018
And many have noticed Trump’s deafening silence on Twitter about the shooting.
Wonder why?
New requirements for #WhiteHouse and #POTUS mass shooting acknowledgement and recognition:
1. Shooter must be illegal immigrant or Muslim
2. Victims must be white.
3. Heroes must have/use guns.#FakePresident #NRA #Parkland #NeverAgain #GunReformNow #WaffleHouse
— The Wiseman Said (@TheWisemanSaid2) April 23, 2018
Trump won’t comment on the Waffle House incident for several reasons:
1.) shooter was targeting minorities
2.) someone without a gun was able to disarm the shooter
3.) the hero was blackMAGA folks not tryna hear any of that. In their world, these things don’t happen.
— Hak33m (@PrinceHAK33M) April 23, 2018
A mass shooter infiltrates White House grounds, then kills four at a Waffle House before citizen hero James Shaw, Jr. stops the massacre & Trump hasn't tweeted a single congratulatory word.
I can't understand why?
Oh, right: pic.twitter.com/4EIuCvkhc8
— David Harris-Gershon (@David_EHG) April 23, 2018
It's been 3 days. @realDonaldTrump’s complete silence regarding the Waffle House shooting speaks volumes. He has not acknowledged the victims, nor has he mentioned the true hero who disarmed the mass shooter. His silence, yet again, is deafening.
— Francis Maxwell (@francismmaxwell) April 24, 2018
H/T: Chicago Tribune
