The sadness and devastation being felt by the friends and family of Saturday's victims, and entire community as a whole in the Buffalo-area is something I hope no one ever has to experience ever again. While there are various theories on how this tragedy became a reality, or how it could have been stopped, or what new laws government can enact to prevent it, there seems to be an obvious question that not enough people are asking.

While I don't know that there was a catastrophic failure in the system used to screen and approve the backgrounds of individuals who are looking to legally purchase a firearm, it sure seems like there was. At least to me.

This piece is not looking to determine if the suspect's motivation was race-related, or stemmed from mental illness, or anything else. I'm just asking an obvious question.

How - in a state that purports to have the strictest gun laws in the country - can someone with Payton Gendron's background be allowed, approved, to legally purchase a semi-automatic rifle less than one-year after he threatened a mass murder-suicide at his own high school graduation?

Via USA Today: 

I don't want to hear that he was a youthful offender, or it was because of his age that his case was sealed.

If his case was sealed, did it magically become 'unsealed' after his deadly rampage on Saturday?

I only ask because soon after news of the shooter's identity surfaced came a flow of reports that this is the same teenager who was nearly kicked out of high school for a terroristic plot to murder fellow classmates. Not 50-years-ago, or 20-years-ago.

It happened just one-year-ago.

So other people in his school, and in his community, and in other parts of the state were aware of his background. They knew what he had once allegedly planned.

Yet, the agencies or authorities we trust to screen individuals who are looking to purchase firearms in New York State apparently did not have access to that information?

Does that make any sense to anyone?

I ask again, how the hell could that be?

Now, if he had been denied the purchase for the reason stated above (his previous threat at his high school) could he still have found a way to purchase a gun?

Yes, of course, whether it be illegally in a back-alley or maybe he could have bought one online.

But, that's not what happened here. He bought that gun legally at a gun shop in Endicott, NY, and reportedly passed a background check in New York State, despite having been the subject of a mass-shooting or mass-murder probe less that 12-months-ago.

How did his background check not trigger some kind of a 'red flag' and get the attention of someone in law enforcement that, hey: 'Ya remember the kid who wanted to murder countless fellow classmates then himself like ten months-ago...yeah, he's trying to purchase a semiautomatic rifle at a gun shop in Endicott..."

But, somehow, amazingly, that did not happen?

Sadly, if it had, it's likely he would have then appeared on the radar of state, or local, or national law enforcement who may have been able to step-in and prevent the horrific massacre that occurred in Buffalo on Saturday.

15 Of New York State's Most Wanted Criminals- May 2022

Below are individuals wanted by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's (DOCCS) Office of Special Investigations who have been designated as its Most Wanted Fugitives. They should be considered armed and dangerous. This list is current as of 05/01/2022:

NEVER attempt to apprehend a fugitive yourself. If you have information on the location of any of these fugitives, you can contact OSI 24 hours a day / 7 days a week to report it. All leads and tips are treated as confidential information.

If an immediate response is necessary, such as you see the wanted person at a location, please call “911” and report it to the police.

May- 45 New York Lottery Scratch Off Tickets With The Most Number One Jackpots Remaining

Here in New York, the time is now to start searching for some amazing jackpots. There are all sorts of different kinds of Scratch-Off tickets offered by the New York Lottery.

While looking at the latest weekly roundup for grand prizes, we counted 44 different tickets that have their grand prizes still on the market. The report was last updated on March 28th, as we publish this article. 

WIBX Radiothon Heart Run and Walk 2022!

America’s Greatest Heart Run and Walk Weekend is here!
The WIBX Heart Radiothon is taking place May 6 from 6 AM-6 PM and May 7 from 7 AM-1 PM.

 You can make your donation by calling 866-716-9429

After being held virtually last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s run and walk will be taking place as an in-person event at a new location.

The Heart Run and Walk will be held on Saturday, May 7 at Accelerate Sports on Judd Road in Whitestown.

‘Basic Instinct’ Home For Sale

It’s a home featured in one of the most iconic movies on the 1990’s. The 1992 thriller “Basic Instinct” starred Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone and the house in Carmel, California is on sale for a cool $29.6 million. Here's a photo gallery of the stunning property.

Top 9 Corrupt New York Politicians

The resignation of New York Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin is the latest in a long line of political corruption in New York State. Over the past two decades, we here in New York have elected more than 30 current or former politicians to positions where they would later be convicted of various acts of corruption. Here are the Top 9.

Rupert Murdoch's Two NYC Condos On Sale For $78 Million

Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch is selling his One Madison condominium in New York City's Flatiron District for $78 Million. You can buy the penthouse for $62 Million and the residence below for $16 million, or you can buy them both.

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