The gunman in Sunday’s mass shooting at a church in rural Texas was not legally eligible to buy firearms and had been denied a state gun permit, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said Monday.
“Current law, as it exists right now, should have prevented him from being able to get a gun,” Abbott told “CBS This Morning.”
“I can tell you that before he made this purchase, he tried to get a gun permit in the state of Texas and was denied that permit.”
Abbott did not say when the permit was denied, nor did he cite the reasons why, saying only that it was due to “either answers, or the lack thereof, that were provided in his request.” Because Texas does not require a permit to purchase or own firearms, Abbott’s reference appears to be to a request to carry a gun.
Twenty-six churchgoers were killed, and at least 20 others injured, during Sunday’s shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, a small town about 30 miles east of San Antonio.
Devin Kelley, 26, whom law enforcement identified as the gunman, had previously served in the Air Force but was court-martialed in 2012 for an assault on his then-wife and child. Two years later, he was discharged for “bad conduct,” according to numerous reports.
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