To say "Lopez killed those three guys. He would not of (have) killed them if he had not had the gun. The gun is a form of "instant gratification." A cure all." Would be a little presumptuous of a statement.
So I ask you:
You know what he was thinking?
Did he tell you this?
If he wanted to kill, he was going to kill, the gun just made it easier for him.
As for the .45 ACP, yes it was designed to kill people, but the hand cannons made hundreds of years ago which all firearms can trace their lineage were created for the same reason. I work in law enforcement part time still. So, yes I do carry either a S&W model 66 .357 or a S&W M&P 40 compact off duty both of which were created for the same reason as the .45 ACP. I carry almost all the time when out in public, weather I am bringing the kids to school, karate, shopping, or driving my family from New England to Florida. As for a civilian who has passed all their background checks, it is there legal right to carry a firearm and use such a firearm for any lawful purpose. I have worked in law enforcement both full time and part time for 20 years. I do not have a problem with legal gun owners. My problem is with the lawmakers that create stupid ill thought out laws that take knee jerk reactions to a new level, and the illegal gun owners that use firearms in commission of a crime. No one will take my right to protect my family, friends, and community from evils in this world, God rest their soul who does. "From my cold dead hands."