Authorities have indicated that the weapon used in the killing of Charlie Kirk may be an untraceable rifle, purportedly a Moser Model 98 in .30-06 caliber. This type of gun dates back to a time before regulations were strengthened following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1968.
The firearm reportedly belonged to Tyler Robinson’s grandfather, who is a 22-year-old man from Utah. According to police, Robinson intentionally selected this rifle because, well, it’s hard to trace. There’s a note suggesting he had a conversation with his roommates shortly after the incident that hints at his thoughts on the matter.
In a somewhat alarming message, Robinson expressed concerns about how his grandfather might react if he didn’t bring the rifle back. He mentioned, “I have a serial number but I don’t follow it, I’m not sure.” This raises some eyebrows, especially since he left a change of clothes in the bushes when he was apparently trying to conceal his actions.
Recent court documents reveal that the Utah Bureau of Investigation found DNA linked to the murder weapon that is believed to match Robinson.
DP authorities are concerned that such vintage firearms could complicate investigations in the future. It’s a troubling thought—knowing that so many of these weapons might be residing in homes across America. After World War I, many soldiers brought back Moser rifles, and in subsequent years, they were available for purchase through mail services.
Interestingly, according to reports from the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agency, incidents involving such rifles in crimes are quite rare. In general, most gun violence in the U.S. tends to involve handguns, while semi-automatic AR-15-style rifles are linked to some of the deadliest mass shootings.
It seems concerning that a weapon, not typically associated with modern crime, was used in such a high-profile case. I wonder how this may change discussions around gun control and safety moving forward. Meanwhile, both the ATF and the FBI in Salt Lake City haven’t yet provided comments on this developing situation.
