Middle Georgia Gun Owners React to Recent Gun Control Bill Denial

MACON, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) – After the gun control bill went down in defeat on Wednesday, local gun owners reacted to the news, and also provided their opinion on background checks. 

President Barack Obama and other supporters of the gun control bill voiced their frustration with Congress after the bill didn’t pass Wednesday.

One of the proposals in the bill was to include extended background checks for gun buyers even at gun shows and for internet sales as well. 41 NBC spoke with Hamp Dowling about the recent bill being shot down. 

Dowling runs the Eagle Gun Range in Macon, he expressed his opinion on Aurora Movie Theater shooting suspect James Holmes, and if he thinks the current background checks are efficient enough the way they are.

“He actually purchased the gun legally, He passed a background check, his mental record wasn’t on file, and he didn’t have a criminal record,” Dowling said.  “He was just a nutcase, these nutcases are going out here killing people…you can’t control crazy with a piece of paper, it just doesn’t work.”

Dowling believes that the current background checks are efficient and believes the existing system seems to be working for honest people.

He says that anyone who fills out the background checks has to fill them honestly and thoroughly and if they don’t then it will be a criminal offense.

“Criminals do offenses,” Dowling said. “Not the good guys.”