Replies

Firearms tracing has nothing to do with this case. And it is exceedingly rare it provides ANY meaningful evidence after a crime either. Also, firearms tracing is useless without universal registration, and if a stolen gun is used. It is a big deal in many hit movies though.

My exercise was to show how firearms tracking actually works in the real world, in response to meatloaf saying:

Depending on whether the NCIS check was retained, there would have been a match with a firearms purchase.

My point being that there is no way to check a name against all guns purchased. Meatloaf has subsequently told me that he meant to point out that the FBI didn't find Cruz after the tips were given to them.

The issue is that his information as being in and out of mental institutions, and a background of violence and threats did not even come up when they ran his background.

This is the first that I've heard that Cruz has 'been in and out of mental institutions,' but even so, the form 4473 asks "Have you ever been adjudicated as a mental defective OR have you ever been committed to a mental institution?" And gives these instructions on how to answer the question:

"Adjudicated as a mental Defective: A determination by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority that a person, as a result of marked subnormal intelligence, or mental illness, incompetency, condition, or disease: (1) is a danger to himself or to others; or (2) lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage his own affairs. This term shall include: (1) a finding of insanity by a court in a criminal case; and (2) those persons found incompetent to stand trial or found not guilty by reason of lack of mental responsibility.
"Committed to a Mental Institution: A formal commitment of a person to a mental institution by a court, board, commission or other lawful authority. The term includes a commitment to a mental institution involuntarily. The term includes commitment for mental defectiveness or mental illness. It also includes commitments for other reasons, such as for drug use. The term does not a person in a mental institution for observation or a voluntary admission to a mental institution."

Did any of those conditions apply to Cruz?