New reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concerning the man who killed nine church members in Charlotte, N.C., last month indicate that an FBI error resulted in the firearm sale being approved through the National Instant Check System (NICS).
According to the FBI, Dylann Roof had been arrested for drug possession more than a month before purchasing the gun he used to commit the mass murder, which would disqualify him from purchasing a firearm. However, FBI Director James Comey said the arrest record from the Columbia, S.C., Police Department was not included in materials to be reviewed in the background check.
“Because of an error on our part that allowed the gun to be used to slaughter those people is very painful," said Comey. “We are all sick this happened. We wish we could turn back time.”
