US to pay $88M to families, victims of SC church massacre

[MostWanted]

Families of nine victims killed in a racist attack at a Black South Carolina church have reached a settlement with the Justice Department over a faulty background check that allowed Dylann Roof to purchase the gun he used in the 2015 massacre. The Justice Department will pay $88 million, which includes $63 million for the families of the nine people killed and $25 million for five survivors who were inside the church at the time of the shooting, it was announced Thursday.
...
According to the Justice Department, settlements for the families of those killed range from $6 million to $7.5 million per claimant. Survivors' settlements are $5 million per claimant.

Months before the June 17, 2015 church shooting, Roof was arrested on Feb. 28 by Columbia, South Carolina police on the drug possession charge. But a series of clerical errors and missteps allowed Roof to buy the handgun he later used in the massacre.

The errors included wrongly listing the sheriff’s office as the arresting agency in the drug case, according to court documents. An examiner with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System found some information on the arrest but needed more to deny the sale, so she sent a fax to a sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office responded it didn’t have the report, directing her to the Columbia police.

Under the system’s operating procedures, the examiner was directed to a federal listing of law enforcement agencies, but Columbia police did not appear on the list. After trying the separate West Columbia Police Department and being told it was the wrong agency, the examiner did nothing more.

After a three-day waiting period, Roof went back to a West Columbia store to pick up the handgun.

https://richmond.com/news/national/...cle_ebe5637f-4d38-5b6e-861c-d1197838e1bb.html

 

[Tim]

I don’t hate this outcome.

 

[BatteryOaksBilly]

settlements for the families of those killed range from $6 million to $7.5 million per claimant.

How do ya reckon who decides 1 life is worth $1.5M more than another??

Survivors' settlements are $5 million per claimant.

$5M to $7.5M......still alive pays Big! I'd rather have that one.

 

[Murtaugh]

I don't see how the taxpayers should be on the hook for this.

 

[JBoyette]

I don't see how the taxpayers should be on the hook for this.

Its our government, thats how.

 

[Sleazy P. Martini]

How do ya reckon who decides 1 life is worth $1.5M more than another??

$5M to $7.5M......still alive pays Big! I'd rather have that one.

To be fair, one of the daughters of the slain said they'd rather have their dad than the money.

 

[Sleazy P. Martini]

I don't see how the taxpayers should be on the hook for this.

I believe the survivors are blaming NICS for not catching something on the shooter's history that would've prevented the sale. I don't recall the details, but that's what I heard on the news story yesterday.

That doesn't justify making taxpayers pay for it, but the DOJ only spends, doesn't generate.

 

[Murtaugh]

I believe the survivors are blaming NICS for not catching something on the shooter's history that would've prevented the sale. I don't recall the details, but that's what I heard on the news story yesterday.

That doesn't justify making taxpayers pay for it, but the DOJ only spends, doesn't generate.

I know how they rationalize the fleecing of the taxpayers but somebody at DOJ should be fired. There should be no monetary payments from the government for people that survive murder victims.

This is just opening the floodgates for more abuse of the treasury.

 

[Sleazy P. Martini]

somebody at DOJ should be fired.

Agreed.

There should be no monetary payments from the government for people that survive murder

Disagreed. The argument is that the government failed to do their due diligence when they claim they do (during NICS). Had he bought it from Joe Schmo on ArmsList then I agree, they should get nothing from the govt. Do you think American families that were murdered with Fast and Furious guns should be able to sue (and settle) with the govt?

 

[Murtaugh]

Agreed.

Disagreed. The argument is that the government failed to do their due diligence when they claim they do (during NICS). Had he bought it from Joe Schmo on ArmsList then I agree, they should get nothing from the govt. Do you think American families that were murdered with Fast and Furious guns should be able to sue (and settle) with the govt?

No, I think the government employees responsible should be fired, charged, put in jail, and sued personally to the point of bankruptcy. The argument that the government failed is flawed. There is no reasonable expectation that a government will be perfect...that is a fantasy. There was never a guarantee that the NICS system would 100% prevent crime.

 

[Catfish]

There's the flip side of Gun Control: If you're going to claim the authority to say who can and cannot own one, then you get to be responsible for getting it wrong. As a tax payer I don't want either. What I WANT is for the Dylan Roofs in this world to meet armed resistance at all turns. If there's anything positive to take away from this tragedy it's since this happened, many churches have decided it won't happen again.

 

[BatteryOaksBilly]

To be fair, one of the daughters of the slain said they'd rather have their dad than the money.

To be Real fair, there's no way to test that.........and they Took the money.

 

[Downeast]

They should have given the money to charity if they had any class. Not that it matters. Within a year or two the money will have been spent and back in the hands of the treasury through taxation.

 

[GymB]

This is good news. A trial would have put this back in the spotlight off and on over years, each time whipping up the call for additional gun control by the government.

 

[Button Pusher]

"the examiner did nothing more"
Should have called the FFL and had them question the guy about his drug charge. No doubt the FFL would have told him I'm not selling it to you.

 

[chiefjason]

A little surprised but not upset by the outcome. Upset that no one will likely be held personally accountable for their personal work decisions that led to the sale.

Gov is the only entity that gets to screw up, pay for it with someone else's money, not have to hold anyone accountable, not have to make any changes, not have to do anything different, and just keep doing what they do.

 

[MostWanted]

A little surprised but not upset by the outcome. Upset that no one will likely be held personally accountable for their personal work decisions that led to the sale.

Gov is the only entity that gets to screw up, pay for it with someone else's money, not have to hold anyone accountable, not have to make any changes, not have to do anything different, and just keep doing what they do.

But they do hold someone accountable for it... us. This is what the Grabbers call the "Charleston Loophole". They say the law must be changed so that you don't get your gun until NICS approves. They would permit the Government to take as much time as they want to approve a gun sale. Like they do for a suppressor--and that takes nearly a year now. And with clerks like this government drone that just put it in a filing cabinet forever, you'd never get your gun.

 

[Walkabout Dan]

Why ?

 

[tablebeast]

Crisis actors are well paid, it seems! Every day is fresh nonsense from this potato regime.

 

[BatteryOaksBilly]

But they do hold someone accountable for it... us. This is what the Grabbers call the "Charleston Loophole". They say the law must be changed so that you don't get your gun until NICS approves. They would permit the Government to take as much time as they want to approve a gun sale. Like they do for a suppressor--and that takes nearly a year now. And with clerks like this government drone that just put it in a filing cabinet forever, you'd never get your gun.

Absolutely agree.....That's why the Murder Beach Gun Show this week end should be attended and people should buy from individuals Legally [S.C. Resident for Handguns] anything their heart desires. Every purchase done like this removes a gun from the Tracking that can be done.....buy, sell, trade as much as you want. Move those guns status from Govt. owned to my new carry gun. Hundreds of guns and Thousands of dollars changing hands without Any interference. Free people doing Free purchases.

 

[BigWaylon]

That's why the Murder Beach Gun Show this week end should be attended and people should buy from individuals Legally [S.C. Resident for Handguns] anything their heart desires.

Not arguing in anyway…but if they’re buying from an individual wouldn’t they also have to be an SC resident for a long gun? Or it has to go through an FFL on-site, right?

(I’ve never had an FFL, or bought from an individual out of state, just asking from what I thought I understood)

 

[TripleO7]

Not arguing in anyway…but if they’re buying from an individual wouldn’t they also have to be an SC resident for a long gun? Or it has to go through an FFL on-site, right?

(I’ve never had an FFL, or bought from an individual out of state, just asking from what I thought I understood)

That has been my understanding. I bought a rifle at Cabela's, an FFL. We were chatting while the guy was doing the NICS and he said no problem for a rifle, but any handgun would have to be shipped to a NC FFL.

 

[Murtaugh]

No firearm (handgun or long gun) can be sold by one individual directly to another individual from another state.

All of us SC deplorables need to visit the murder beach gun show.

 

[Downeast]

I.ve bought long guns from legitimate businesses (including BPS) in SC and FL without any problems. I'm a NC resident.

 

[Triple Lock]

Do a search on "contiguous states long gun"

 

[Gunbelt]

Those horseshit rules only apply to FFL’s. A private citizen can sell his property as he pleases!

 

[Catfish]

Do a search on "contiguous states long gun"

Contiguous States myth is persistent but wrong (sort of). You can buy a long gun from an FFL in ANY state that allows it, including contiguous states And this thread is going off the rails.

 

[BigWaylon]

I.ve bought long guns from legitimate businesses (including BPS) in SC and FL without any problems. I'm a NC resident.

Right, buying a long gun from an FFL isn’t the issue.

 

[Triple Lock]

My advice is to read, comprehend, and abide by the law.

 

[Gunbelt]

My advice is to read, comprehend, and abide by the law.

When laws are unconstitutional it is our duty to disobey them. Shall not be infringed is dam clear.

 

[Nick Leduc]

How do ya reckon who decides 1 life is worth $1.5M more than another??

$5M to $7.5M......still alive pays Big! I'd rather have that one.

Watch the movie "Worth" on Netflix. It breaks down the process on how each family received the 9/11 fund. It goes into the struggle of if a CEOs life is more valuable than a dishwasher.

Kenneth Feinberg is a lawyer known for doing these types of cases.

 

[Goofyfoot2001]

Agreed.

Disagreed. The argument is that the government failed to do their due diligence when they claim they do (during NICS). Had he bought it from Joe Schmo on ArmsList then I agree, they should get nothing from the govt. Do you think American families that were murdered with Fast and Furious guns should be able to sue (and settle) with the govt?

Yes but not apples to apples, the government broke the law intentionally in that case.

 

[Tailhunter]

Don’t worry your taxes are going up to cover it.

Unlike what Brandon thinks money doesn’t grow on trees.

 

[chiefjason]

But they do hold someone accountable for it... us. This is what the Grabbers call the "Charleston Loophole". They say the law must be changed so that you don't get your gun until NICS approves. They would permit the Government to take as much time as they want to approve a gun sale. Like they do for a suppressor--and that takes nearly a year now. And with clerks like this government drone that just put it in a filing cabinet forever, you'd never get your gun.

I think you know what my point is. Gov employee's doing Gov things tend to not have the same accountability as private sector employee's. There are a dozen things they can hide behind so the public never knows. Unions, privacy laws, impossible evaluation standards, lateral movement, even promotion.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I don't see how the taxpayers should be on the hook for this.

We're on the hook for this BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT IS THE ONE ENACTING ALL THE GUN CONTROL MEASURES WHICH SET UP THE CONDITIONS ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN.

They were held reasonable because their background check system FAILED.

What we need NOW are law suits which hold the government responsible for every failure to protect citizens because they were denied their RKBA in the first place.

 

[Tailhunter]

The government is pandering. Period.

 

[yard mongrel]

The rest of us will await our millions for the negligent, bleeding heart, liberal POS courts that put killers and criminals back on the streets to kill again.

But yeah, happy to have my money taken under duress for what is really more of a PR stunt than any attempt at real justice.

 

[Murtaugh]

We're on the hook for this BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT IS THE ONE ENACTING ALL THE GUN CONTROL MEASURES WHICH SET UP THE CONDITIONS ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN.

They were held reasonable because their background check system FAILED.

What we need NOW are law suits which hold the government responsible for every failure to protect citizens because they were denied their RKBA in the first place.

Again, I am aware of how the herds of confused people can rationalize the government stealing your tax dollars to "pander" (excellent word choice Tailhunter) and redistribute wealth. People who can think independently should wonder how excessive payouts of taxpayer money does anything to prevent "failures" or abuses by the government when the individuals in government are not penalized personally. Hint: it doesn't.

The last thing we need is more lawsuits enforcing the idea that the government isn't protecting us enough. That will just result in bigger government, more taxes, more government failure, then even more taxes and/or deficit spending.

 

[AR10ShooterinNC]

Why was not every person involved in the failed process of putting this mans information in the system not fired and personally help accountable? This is what it's going to take to make people responsible for their lack of action.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Why was not every person involved in the failed process of putting this mans information in the system not fired and personally help accountable? This is what it's going to take to make people responsible for their lack of action.

Because government.

Government isn't supposed to BE held accountable, government is supposed to hold OTHERS accountable.

It's in the definition of "government"...a governing body, meaning to govern people.