June, 30 2010, 12:09pm EDT
Another Mass Shooting, More Convictions, and Other Innocent Victims Murdered by Concealed Handgun Permit Holders
VPC Concealed Carry Killers June Update
WASHINGTON
A Florida mass shooting that resulted in the
murder of four women, an innocent 17-year-old gunned down by a
61-year-old man
in a case of mistaken identity, and a bass player from a cover band
accused of
murdering the female host of the party where his band was playing are
among the
June additions to Concealed Carry Killers, a Violence Policy Center
(VPC)
on-line resource that tallies news reports of killings by concealed
handgun
permit holders.
Since May 2007, concealed handgun permit
holders have killed
at least 175 individuals--including nine law enforcement officers--in 26
states. Of the 104 incidents that resulted in the deaths, in half (52)
the concealed handgun permit holder has already been convicted or
committed
suicide after the shooting. Of the 52 cases still pending, the vast
majority (46) are charged with criminal homicide, two were unintentional
shootings, three are still under investigation, and one involved a
concealed
handgun permit holder who was also shot and killed during the incident.
Of the 104 incidents, 16 were mass shootings.
A summary of each of the 104 incidents is
available at https://www.vpc.org/ccwkillers.htm,
clicking on each category leads to a state-by-state breakout for the
incidents
with current known status. To review all killings by concealed handgun
permit holders, click on "Total People Killed by Concealed Handgun
Permit
Holders." While the incident summaries of the few concealed handgun
permit holders who are eventually found not guilty of their crimes are
listed
on the site, those numbers are not included in the VPC's totals.
Among the new incidents included in the June
update are:
Florida: On
June 6, 2010, permit holder Gerardo Regalado, 38, committed Hialeah,
Florida's
worst mass shooting: killing four women, including his estranged wife,
and wounding three others at the Yoyito Cafe-Restaurant. Regalado
killed
himself after the attack.
Missouri: In
May 2010, concealed handgun permit holder Johnnie Pulley, 61, was
convicted of
shooting and killing 17-year-old Brandon Colenburg after Pulley mistook
Colenburg for the person who had beaten him on a public transit bus in
April
2009. The mother of one of Colenburg's friends testified that he had
been
at her home at the time of the original assault on
Pulley.
Pennsylvania: On June 12, 2010, Paul
Hansen, bass player
for the cover band Disorderly Conduct, allegedly shot and killed Melissa
Barnes, 28, the host of the party where the band was performing. Barnes
had
reportedly confronted Hansen after being told that he had threatened a
party
guest. Hansen allegedly drew a 40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun
and
shot Barnes once in the head.
Violence Policy Center Legislative Director
Kristen Rand states, "In the wake of the
Supreme Court's decision in McDonald v. Chicago earlier this week, the
gun lobby is already threatening to challenge restrictions on the
carrying of
concealed weapons. These incidents clearly demonstrate why states and
local governments must be able to prohibit the carrying of concealed
handguns. The alternative is to force states and cities to license mass
shooters, cop killers, vigilantes, and suicidal individuals to carry
guns in
public."
Because most state systems that allow the
carrying of
concealed handguns in public by private citizens release little data
about
crimes committed by permit holders, the VPC reviews and tallies
concealed
handgun permit holder killings primarily as reported by news outlets.
It
is likely that the actual number of fatal incidents involving concealed
handgun
permit holders is far higher.
The Violence Policy Center (VPC) works to stop gun death and injury through research, education, advocacy, and collaboration. Founded in 1988 by Executive Director Josh Sugarmann, a native of Newtown, Connecticut, the VPC informs the public about the impact of gun violence on their daily lives, exposes the profit-driven marketing and lobbying activities of the firearms industry and gun lobby, offers unique technical expertise to policymakers, organizations, and advocates on the federal, state, and local levels, and works for policy changes that save lives. The VPC has a long and proven record of policy successes on the federal, state, and local levels, leading the National Rifle Association to acknowledge us as "the most effective ... anti-gun rabble-rouser in Washington."
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