Elementary School Shooting Incident

A 16-year-old who attacked Silver Rail Elementary School on Thursday used a pump shotgun acquired “legally.”

Reports indicate that the weapon was purchased by the attacker’s mother, and sources cited by the New York Post affirm that this purchase followed legal protocols.

CNN highlighted that the assailant fired various types of shotgun rounds during the incident and still had approximately 44 rounds left when he was confronted and killed by the father of two students.

When law enforcement mentions guns being bought “legally,” it implies that necessary background checks and regulations were adhered to.

Interestingly, a significant number of notorious public assailants have used firearms obtained through these checks and laws.

Here’s a brief list of some high-profile individuals accused of such acts who passed background checks:

• White House Correspondents Dinner attacker (April 25, 2026)
• Pawtucket, Rhode Island attacker (February 16, 2026)
• Dallas ICE attacker (September 24, 2025)
• Minneapolis Catholic School attacker (August 27, 2025)
• UNLV attacker (December 6, 2023)
• Louisville Old National Bank attacker (April 10, 2023)
• Nashville Christian school attacker (March 27, 2023)
• Uvalde School attacker (May 24, 2022)
• Buffalo grocery attacker (May 14, 2022)
• Indianapolis FedEx attacker (April 15, 2021)
• Atlanta-area attacker (March 16, 2021)
• Parkland high school attacker (February 14, 2018)
• Texas church attacker (November 5, 2017)
• Las Vegas attacker (October 1, 2017)
• Alexandria attacker (June 14, 2017)
• Orlando attacker (June 12, 2016)
• UCLA gunman (June 1, 2016)
• San Bernardino attackers (December 2, 2015)
• Colorado Springs attacker (October 31, 2015)
• Umpqua Community College attacker (October 1, 2015)
• Alison Parker’s attacker (August 26, 2015)
• Lafayette movie theater attacker (July 23, 2015)
• Chattanooga attacker (July 16, 2015)
• Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church attacker (June 17, 2015)
• Muhammad Cartoon Contest attackers (May 3, 2014)
• Las Vegas cop killers (June 9, 2015)
• Santa Barbara attacker (May 23, 2014)
• Fort Hood attacker (April 2, 2014)
• Arapahoe High School attacker (December 13, 2013)
• D.C. Navy Yard attacker (September 16, 2013)
• Aurora movie theater attacker (July 20, 2012)
• Gabby Giffords’ attacker (January 8, 2011)
• Fort Hood attacker (November 5, 2009)
• Northern Illinois University attacker (February 14, 2008)
• Virginia Tech attacker (April 16, 2007)

Even with the existing regulations on gun purchases, the typical response from some lawmakers following a high-profile shooting tends to lean towards advocating for stricter gun control measures.