Author of shooting revives controversy for the safety and use of weapons

Aaron Alexis

The violent firefight occurred recently at the Naval Shipyard of Washington has reopened the debate on the control of weapons in the United States. The spokesman for the US President, Barack Obama, questioned yesterday the legislators that have been obstacles to the expansion of the background check to buy weapons and said that the White House will continue to promote that cause.

Aaron Alexis, 34 years old, carrying three guns: an AR-15 assault rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, removed to a police officer at the site, revealed  two officials, who prefer to keep their identity anonymous.

The AR-15 is the same type of weapon that was used in December of last year during the massacre  in Connecticut, that killed 20 children and six teachers, and also during the killing  in a film in Colorado, where 12 people died and 70 were injured.

Alexis had been part of the army, and used a valid access pass to enter the installation where he began the shooting that killed 12 people, and then died in a clash with the police.

The reasons for the killing are still  unknown, however, Alexis’s profile has aroused the attention of the people, since it has been described as a Buddhist who had fits of fury, complained about the Navy, and claimed to have been a victim of discrimination and also had disagreements between 2004 and 2010 with police authorities.