Quote:The fact that you are angry isn't an excuse for committing a crime.  Making terrorist threats is a crime.  The idea that "Well i was angry" is a credible defense is preposterous.  As i stated above, a similar situation happened with a JSO lieutenant that i know.  One, not repeated, but one comment about what he'd like to do to the president and it was understood that wasn't the kind of mentality that we wanted from someone entrusted with carrying firearms and entrusting the law.  When you talk about someone with his access, and training with firearms the idea that you would encourage or emotionally subsidize a reckless emotional state defies basic logic.  

 

further, the guy demonstrated a long pattern of abusive behavior.  In the case of a terrorist threat the employer should have been contacted and involved in the investigation to determine the veracity of the claims and also to become active in the monitoring and screening of the individual.   There is no way that you should have a wife running for her life, a co-worker quitting in protest and the FBI not know about it in general.  When you factor in the fact that this is a first generation Citizen who's parents are from a country with a history of extremist views who made two trips to Saudi Arabia this should have been a slam dunk.  These are serious red flags.   

 

For someone of his access and responsibility as an armed employee of a federal contractor the minute that he starts ranting and raving about being a member of hezbollah and wanting to kill everyone he should have been charged with terrorist threats, his ability to work for them should have been revoked and he should have been placed on the terrorist watch list.  The dig into the guys background should have included interviews of his girlfriend and any relevant complaints of mental instability or radicalization of his co-workers.  If we can't catch this guy then God help us!

 

This actually gets to what I was hoping to see, thanks. Quite frankly, I had heard after the tragedy in Orlando that his wife said he had beat her. I really hadn't read about the prevalence of his rants. If you could link something to support that, it would be great. But equally importantly, you imply that the FBI didn't investigate the ex-wife (you said girlfriend, presume you meant the ex, but maybe there is someone else) or co-workers. From what I understand, making a terrorist threat is a third degree felony, so I am assuming that he could have had his ability to purchase weapons revoked. If he made statements that were subject to prosecution, then perhaps said prosecution would have limited his access to the weapons, and the tragedy could have been averted, or at least greatly mitigated. But for all i know, the FBI (which had him on the list twice) did investigate, and no one spoke up. If the ex or co-workers did speak up, then I agree, the FBI either dropped the ball by ignoring policy, or it is the policy not to prosecute terrorist threats. I just include that last part, as I am not familiar with what the current policy is, or if the policy has ever been to actively prosecute such statements. 

Edit - double quote 

---