USAF 'Mishandled' Reporting Texas Church Shooter's Conviction to Background Check System Says Report
Devin Kelley
On November 6 Breitbart News reported that  the gunman  Devin Kelley   passed a background check in 2016 to acquire  his  rifle. CNN quoted a law enforcement official who observed that  Kelley  âdidnât have a disqualifying criminal history when he filled out the background check paperwork at the storeâ in San Antonio.
Questions immediately aroseâhow did  Kelley  pass a background check  considering the fact that  he  had a domestic violence charge?
According to NPR   Kelley  was arrested in 2012 and âwas court-martialed for assaulting  his  then-wife and stepson.â  His  conviction in that case âdisqualified  him  from legally possessing a firearm.â  He  entered a plea deal for a lesser sentence  but one which was still enough to prohibit  him  from firearm possession under federal law. Nevertheless   his  arrest and conviction were not reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)  thus  he  was able to buy firearms.
NPRâs Tom Bowman said  âThis was mishandled by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico  where  Kelley  was serving when he was arrested. An investigation is now underway  and the Air Force is taking it very seriously  said the source.â
On November 6 Breitbart News reported that   [TGT] passed a background check in 2016 to acquire   [TGT]   rifle. CNN quoted a law enforcement official who observed that  Kelley  âdidnât have a disqualifying criminal history when he filled out the background check paperwork at the storeâ in San Antonio.
Questions immediately aroseâhow did  Kelley  pass a background check  considering the fact that  he  had a domestic violence charge?
According to NPR   Kelley  was arrested in 2012 and âwas court-martialed for assaulting  his  then-wife and stepson.â  His  conviction in that case âdisqualified  him  from legally possessing a firearm.â  He  entered a plea deal for a lesser sentence  but one which was still enough to prohibit  him  from firearm possession under federal law. Nevertheless   his  arrest and conviction were not reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)  thus  he  was able to buy firearms.
NPRâs Tom Bowman said  âThis was mishandled by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico  where  Kelley  was serving when he was arrested. An investigation is now underway  and the Air Force is taking it very seriously  said the source.â