Air Force error allows Texas church shooter to buy guns

<p>Some U.S. lawmakers are renewing their calls for gun reform legislation after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsy.com/stories/multiple-fatalities-reported-in-texas-church-shooting/" target="_blank">the mass shooting</a>&nbsp;in Sutherland Springs, Texas.</p><p>At least 26 people were killed and another 20 were injured after a gunman opened fire during a Sunday morning service at a Baptist church.</p><p><a href="http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Shooter-s-weapon-described-as-AR-15-variant-12334112.php?ipid=brkbar#photo-14495363" target="_blank">Officials said</a>&nbsp;the suspected shooter, 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, used a Ruger AR-556.&nbsp;</p><p>That gun was inspired by the M-16 the military uses.</p><p>The suspect served in the U.S. Air Force. A military spokeswoman for the branch said he was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/11/06/who-is-devin-patrick-kelley-gunman-who-officials-say-killed-churchgoers-in-sutherland-springs/?utm_term=.b86aa9f10407" target="_blank">court-martialed in 2012</a>&nbsp;for assaulting his wife and child. He spent a year in military prison and was discharged for bad conduct in 2014.</p><p>But when the suspect reportedly purchased the rifle in 2016, law enforcement&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/05/us/devin-kelly-texas-church-shooting-suspect/index.html" target="_blank">told CNN</a>&nbsp;the gunman didn&#39;t write on his background check paperwork that he had any disqualifying criminal history.</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/trump-consistent-in-blaming-mass-shootings-on-mental-health/">Trump's Responses To Mass Shootings Have Been Consistent In Key Aspect</a></b></p><p>It&#39;s unknown how the suspect passed the background check. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atf.gov/firearms/identify-prohibited-persons" target="_blank">Gun Control Act</a>&nbsp;says it&#39;s illegal to purchase a firearm if you&#39;ve been dishonorably discharged from the military or if you&#39;ve been convicted of domestic violence.</p><p>The law also says a person &quot;convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year&quot; is not allowed to possess a firearm. Although the suspect was court-martialed, his prison sentence did not exceed one year.</p><p>The law also prohibits any person who is a fugitive, is addicted to a controlled substance or has been committed to a mental institution from possessing a firearm or ammunition.</p><p>On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the gunman was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/videos/texas-governor-says-church-gunman-had-been-denied-gun-permit/" target="_blank">denied a gun permit</a>&nbsp;in the Lone Star state before purchasing the rifle in 2016.</p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/multiple-fatalities-reported-in-texas-church-shooting/">At Least 26 People Dead After Shooting At Baptist Church In Texas</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/pentagon-weighs-north-korea-options-supports-diplomacy/">Pentagon Supports Diplomacy In North Korea But Weighs Other Options</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/north-korea-could-return-to-us-sponsors-of-terrorism-list/">Why N. Korea May Be Added To A State-Sponsored Terrorism List</a></li></ul>