Someone with a restraining order would not be able to possess a firearm, right?
Come on SF. guns are like drugs, anyone can get them just about any time. I’ve seen them sell at fleamarkets openly by people with no concern about who they are selling them to.
Technically, you're right. As well, anyone who has been adjudicated mentally ill cans't have gun either. The problem is you have to declare this on a Form 4473, which is basically an honor system. The background check should report these disqualification, but the information often never gets enter into the NICS system.
It would depend on what the judge ordered. The restraining order may have lapsed. Or he may have ignored it, had hidden guns or otherwise had access to weapons that were not technically his- newer reports say he was a firearm instructor. He could easily have gotten these weapons from his place of work if not from his home.