CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY APRIL 24, 2018
THE MAN WITHOUT A GUN TOOK DOWN A MAN WITH A GUN AT A WAFFLE HOUSE IN ANTIOCH, TENNESSEE. 29-YEAR-OLD TRAVIS REINKING IS THE MAN POLICE SAY SHOT TO DEATH FOUR PEOPLE AND WOUNDED OTHERS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE EATERY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. JAMES SHAW LEAPED AT REINKING AFTER HE STOPPED FIRING. SHAW SAYS HE IS NO HERO, BUT ACTED IN HIS OWN DEFENSE. POLICE AND THE CEO OF WAFFLE HOUSE SAY OTHERWISE, AS DO CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO SAY HE SAVED THEIR LIVES.
REINKING WAS ON THE RADAR OF AUTHORITIES. LAST YEAR THE SECRET SERVICE ARRESTED HIM NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE. HE WAS DEEMED BY ILLINOIS LAW ENFORCEMENT AS UNFIT TO CARRY FIRE ARMS WHICH WERE THEN SURRENDERED TO HIS FATHER. POLICE SAY HIS FATHER LATER RETURNED THE WEAPONS TO HIS SON.
THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED AND IF THAT HAPPENED THE FATHER SHOULD ALSO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AS OF YESTERDAY, REINKING HAD NOT BEEN LOCATED.
REINKING CLEARLY HAS MENTAL PROBLEMS. HE SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAD A GUN. SOMETHING BROKE DOWN AND AUTHORITIES NEED TO FIND OUT WHY AND DO WHATEVER CAN BE DONE TO MAKE IT LESS LIKELY THAT SOMEONE WITH A MENTAL DISORDER CAN GET HIS HANDS ON A WEAPON. I’M CAL THOMAS IN WASHINGTON.
