Washington Navy Yard Memorial

[TinCanSailor]

President Obama paid tribute today to the 12 civilians killed last week in the Washington Navy Yard shootings and urged Americans to help take guns “out of the hands of criminals and dangerous people.”

Among the proposed changes were tougher background checks for potential gun buyers.

Read more: Obama honors shooting victims, urges Americans to help stop gun violence | Fox News

The President started out fine with the memorial to those killed, however it evolved into a gun control speech instead of a tribute. This was a slap in the face of the family and friends of those killed at the Navy Yard. The reading of the names, ringing of the bell, the music and singing were nice.

The fact that this gunman had long term mental issues and that background checks, police reports and witness reports failed our society again. Every one of these past and current mass shootings were from a mentally deranged person. When will we hear that steps are being taken to review and identify these people and remove them from access to weapons. The President "urged Americans to help take the guns from criminals and dangerous people."

As an American with no official title, I have no ability or authority to stop these people. The President and the people who work for him do but as usual he blames everyone else. Our government failed again by outsourcing security clearance checks to a private company who gets paid by the number of clearances, not by detailed investigations. The Defense Investigative Service (DIS) and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) used to look into backgrounds.

The security at the Naval Sea Systems Command was done by private security, not military personnel. Many other commands are protected by military personnel and in sufficient numbers.

The police in Newport, RI told the Navy about his strange behavior and no one at the other end who had the power to do something, did anything.

Tougher background checks would not have prevented this since the killer did not have a criminal record.

The fact that military personnel cannot carry weapons on a military base for which they are highly trained helped this killer. You are allowed to carry weapons on ships, airfields, etc. but not in other areas.

Don't blame us, the average American, Mr. President. You and those under you are responsible for these deaths and only you can reverse this trend.