Some steps could minimize chances for another Orlando, speaker says

Several measures could have reduced the chances that a mass shooting like the one in Orlando, Fla., would occur, an advocate against gun violence said Monday during a scheduled talk at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

“There’s no doubt that we’re all thinking about Orlando today,” said Joshua Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.

“What we need to do is to learn from that, and to see … how we think about the evidence, and how the evidence will guide us in developing better public policy.”

Horwitz said the Orlando shooter’s co-workers and ex-wife feared him, which was a good indication that he was capable of committing gun violence.

“It might very well turn out that he does have strong terrorist ties, but that should not be the only reason we should be concerned about this shooter having access to weapons,” Horwitz said.

His talk focused on ways to prevent gun violence by evaluating the behavior of an individual. Horwitz said mental illness is often blamed for gun violence, but mental illness alone is not usually the reason behind gun violence.

He recommended policy initiatives such as the expansion of background checks, laws that would prevent violent criminals and those with temporary restraining orders from legally obtaining guns, and creating temporary gun restraining orders, similar to domestic violence restraining orders.

“It’s a breath of fresh air,” said Lou Wetzel, chief of staff at the hospital. “It’s an apolitical look at a serious issue that’s politically charged.”

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 3:27 PM with the headline "Some steps could minimize chances for another Orlando, speaker says."