FIRST MASS SHOOTING OF THE YEAR: ESTEBAN SANTIAGO IN FLORIDA

Esteban Santiago is ex-National Guard with a reputation for strange behavior. So far it appears he killed five people at a Florida Airport. At least eight others were injured in some way.

The story may change. News outlets rush to get to the story first. But assuming the basics are true, the thing that gets me is the part where the NPR news story says (paraphrased)

1) He took the gun from the baggage he claimed

2) He took it to the bathroom.

3) He loaded it.

4) He came out and started shooting

And then there's this: Either being in the military broke his mind or it broken before he went.

Exhibit A:

"Military records show Santiago received a general discharge — rather than the top honorable discharge — from the Alaska National Guard in August because of poor performance ...

"Santiago received an honorable discharge from the Puerto Rico National Guard in 2013 and served with those soldiers in Iraq in 2010 and 2011. He was a combat engineer, a job that includes clearing roads and detecting mines."

Tom reports that a U.S. official familiar with the investigation says, while serving with the Alaska National Guard, Santiago "was AWOL on a number of occasions, would miss drills and was interviewed by Army criminal investigators at times for what they called 'strange behavior.' "

 http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/06/508559491/reports-of-shots-fired-at-airport-in-fort-lauderdale-fla

EXHIBIT B:  

"Mr. Santiago's brother, Bryan Santiago, told the Associated Press that Esteban was born in New Jersy andmoved to Puerto Rico when he was 2 years old. He also told the A.P. that his brother had been receiving psychological treatment in Alaska, but he did not know exactly what for. "

http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/us/fort-lauderdale-airport.html 

Um...So how did an ex-military guy known by CRIMINAL investigators to exhibit STRANGE BEHAVIOR wind up having a gun in his suitcase? He's ex-military, emphasis on the "ex" Isn't he like Joe Civilian as an "ex?" Joe Civilian isn't allowed to take a gun on a plane. So was Santiago accidentally allowed to transport a gun or pieces of a gun? Or are we saying our airport security isn't what it's cracked up to be? I can't wait to hear the answers--whatever they are. One thing remains a constant though. We need better gun control laws for Joe Civilian and especially the over-taxed ex-military.