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Politics

Putnam: Orlando Gunman Cleared Background Checks

June 13, 2016 - 10:00pm
Adam Putnam
Adam Putnam

The gunman who carried out a massacre early Sunday in an Orlando nightclub passed all of the legally required background checks for his weapons, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam told reporters Monday.

Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old St. Lucie County resident, had a clean criminal record, passed a mental-health screening to get a security guard job, lawfully purchased guns from a licensed dealer and abided by the state's three-day waiting period to complete the purchase of guns, Putnam said.

"He held a 'D' license, as well as a 'G' license, which means that he is a security guard and a security guard who is permitted to carry a firearm," Putnam said of Mateen, who was killed by local law enforcement after the attack at the Pulse gay nightclub.

"All of the information related to his application to receive those licenses was in order," Putnam continued. "He was fingerprinted. He successfully completed the application, had a criminal background check. There is nothing in that record that would have disqualified this individual, who was a U.S. citizen, who had a clean criminal record, who underwent a background check and mental-health screening."

Mateen's licenses were valid through 2017.

Putnam runs the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which oversees weapons permits in Florida. The department hasn't released Mateen's application paperwork.

Putnam addressed the media after a meeting at the state Emergency Operations Center.

Gov. Rick Scott has labeled the mass murder at the nightclub --- at least 49 victims were killed and 53 others wounded --- as a "terror attack." Putnam called it a "man-made disaster, rooted in hate, rooted in terrorist ideologies."

Mateen, who federal officials say purchased two guns, including an assault rifle, within the past week, worked for G4S, a global security company with offices in Jupiter. He had been with the company since 2007, the same year Mateen applied for his first weapons permit.

News reports said Mateen, U.S.-born to immigrants from Afghanistan, had come to the attention of federal authorities in 2013 and 2014, but no case was ever produced. During the shooting early Sunday, he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group, authorities said.

Putnam said his agency is working with the FBI, along with state and federal law enforcement to "coordinate the appropriate timing of the release of those records."

Putnam objected to a characterization that the FBI was blocking the release of the records.

"There is information in those records that is relevant to the ongoing investigation," Putnam said.

Asked about the need for legislation that would impose restrictions on assault rifles or gun rights, Putnam instead discussed the ability of people hiding "an ideology so dark, that they're capable of using the freedoms and liberties that this country awards all our citizens for the darkest possible motives."

Putnam said his agency is working with Volunteer Florida to create a central type of organization to assist people who want to donate to charities in the wake of the shooting.

"It is fairly common in the aftermath of a tragic event like this for people to further prey on good-hearted people's emotions and rip them off by creating a charity that has no intention of sending the money to the victims or victims' families or anything related to the incident," Putnam said.

Comments

What's an assult rifle ??.. Never heard of one ...

Orlando was NOT a gun crime. Orlando was not a "gun crime." It was an act of hate and terrorism inspired by the core teachings of Islam, which teaches that the only punishment for homosexuality is death. The fact that a gun was used is incidental. The crime was the killing of a group of people because the way they chose to live is despised by another group of people who think that they have the sole authority to determine what is acceptable and what is not. People can blame guns all they want but it will not change anything, and everyone knows but dare not admit it. It will go on long after every gun is banned, every gun is destroyed; because the hatred lives in the twisted hearts of men and the teachings of a virulent, hatred filled false "religion."

John - you are 100% correct. He was determined to kill the infidels because of his twisted radical religious beliefs. If he'd used a truck or car to smash into the building running over 49 people - would the left by calling for a ban on vehicles? If the Islamist are so against homosexuals, why do they practice the rape of young boys? If anyone in America is to blame for allowing this to happen it's the liberal PC crowd who have stripped our country of our morals and knowing right from wrong because we're afraid of "hurting someone's feelings".

Denial is a powerful, powerful force... Blaming liberal people who would NEVER do anything like this because they are willing to allow others to enjoy different beliefs and lifestyles than their own (also a Constitutional right) ??? Are you freaking serious... You are... OMG... You all are like tape recorders stuck on auto replay!!! No matter what happens, the same insane justifications for defending guns and violence. Likening a weapon designed ONLY for warfare with a car or truck???... Blaming the avoidance of "hurting someone's feelings" as the cause of mass shootings and all of the other gun violence that also occurred on the same day and every day across America? How in the hell can you liken rape to consensual sexual relations of any kind ?????? Shame on you! Rape has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with power and control. Does that answer your question??????

Do you blame the firearm used or the person who used it? Because honestly, if I placed ANY weapon of choice on a table no matter how lethal it is, it is harmless unless a person uses it again you. Same with a hammer, machete, letter opener, ice pick, screw driver, wrench, fist and a plane used to kill 3000+ people. Everything one of these things have been used to kill someone. You still use them. My point is the person is to blame, not the tool.

People on the ground and in the air lost their lives (2977 victims) on September 11th 2001 to 19 murders operating in "Gun Free Zones" (aircraft). Virginia Tech was a "Gun Free Zone" when Seung-Hui Cho went on his shooting rampage. Fort Hood shooter Hasan took 13 lives in a "Gun Free Zone". Navy Yard shooter Alexis shot 12 dead and it too was in a "Gun Free Zone". Luby's Cafe in Killeen TX was the scene where 23 died when George Hennard abruptly entered, (in 1991 Texans were not permitted to carry concealed, effectively making most of Texas a gun free zone). Suzanna Hupp's parents both died in the Hennard mass shooting (Suzanna was there too but escaped through a broken window). Ms. Hupp did get the laws in TX changed in 1995 to allow concealed carry. Today Texas allows open carry by law abiding citizens. "Gun Free Zones" are the softest, most desirable targets for mass murderers. When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. Law abiding people in that Orlando night club (another Gun Free Zone) were stripped of the ability to defend themselves against gunman Omar Mateen. Ban gun free zones now. Stop stripping law abiding people of the ability to defend themselves in public and private places. Uphold the 2nd Amendment right to keep AND BEAR (carry) arms everywhere in the USA.

Constitutional Carry is in order NOW! End the gun free zones for law abiding citizens!!! Criminals do not abide by gun free zones and use them to their advantage to kill more law abiding citizens.

I agree with that wholeheartedly!

No assault rifle was purchased. A semi automatic rifle and a semiautomatic pistol were purchased. The terror attack occurred in yet another "gun free zone", a place in Florida law where not even permit holders can legally carry. There will be more mass shootings, and they will likely occur in "gun free zones". Even though the chances of being shot are about 0 for law abiding people, I'll still try to avoid places where government has cancelled the right to self defense and provided a safe haven for psychos and terrorists.

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