New York City police haven't announced a motive or a suspect in the shooting death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot and killed in what authorities believe was a targeted attack outside a Manhattan hotel Wednesday morning, but the lack of information isn't stopping the gun control lobby from trying to exploit his death.
In a post on X.com, Everytown for Gun Safety noted Thompson's murder, but neglected to mention that none of New York City's extensive gun laws were able to prevent the attack.
Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was tragically shot and killed this morning outside of a hotel he was staying at in New York City, in what police believe was a targeted attack. Thompson was a father of two.
— Everytown (@Everytown) December 4, 2024
Senseless gun violence is tearing families apart.
Our hearts…
Everytown affiliate Moms Demand Action weighed in with similar commentary, opining that "[p]eople in America should be able to go about their daily lives without the threat of being gunned down."
So what gun control law would have prevented this attack? It's highly unlikely that the suspect possessed a valid NYC carry permit, after all, and the suppressor appears to have caused issues with the cycling of the pistol, which may be an indication that it was a homebuilt (and illegal) device.
Video shows NYC gunman executing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson at close range pic.twitter.com/PyRNpS1WYu
— BAY AREA STATE OF MIND (@YayAreaNews) December 4, 2024
Again, what law or policy that Everytown supports would stop someone with a plan and malice aforethought from carrying out a homicide? New York imposes licensing requirements for handgun purchases, requires background checks on ammunition sales, and has made many parts of the city a "gun-free zone" despite warnings from the Supreme Court that doing so is a violation of the Second Amendment.
Thompson's death is indeed senseless and tragic, but neither Everytown nor Moms Demand Action have offered any idea that would have prevented the attack from happening.
And where were the police? Another example of (a) NYC's nutty gun control laws don't work and (b) when seconds count police are minutes away.
— Mark W. Smith/#2A Scholar (@fourboxesdiner) December 4, 2024
Great success for New York's gun laws, which disarm law abiding people and leave victims dead on the curb.
— Barry Gadbois (@BarryGadbois) December 4, 2024
How do you plan to stop an assassin? They have time to plan weapon, location, date & time, review police movements. All the lawful can do is react. Broke all of NYC's gun laws, not to mention the big one that we all agree on: Don't Murder.
— Merritt N (@GryffinRogers) December 4, 2024
I have no idea if Brian Thompson was licensed to carry a firearm in his home state of Minnesota, but his widow told NBC News that he had recently told her he had received threats from "some people." It stands to reason that Thompson might have wanted to carry a firearm for self-defense, but even if he did possess a Minnesota carry license he wouldn't have been able to lawfully carry a pistol in Manhattan, since New York City doesn't recognize any permits not issued by the NYPD.
New York City's vaunted gun laws couldn't prevent Thompson's tragic death, but they might very well have prevented him from being able to defend himself. Everytown's shameless attempt to exploit a family's grief and devastation is utterly repugnant and morally bankrupt, and it even goes against the group's messaging playbook, which suggests that when anti-gun activists are commenting on a high-profile shooting they "offer condolences paired with a plan for addressing the problem of gun violence." Neither Everytown nor Moms Demand Action have a plan for addressing a targeted assassination like the one that claimed Thompson's life, but they can't let the opportunity to use his death to further their disarmament agenda pass by.
