How Did Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris Get Their Hands on All Those Guns? Shocking Details Revealed
The Shocking Arsenal of Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris
When Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris walked into Columbine High School on the fateful morning of April 20, 1999, they were carrying a disturbing array of weapons. According to the Violence Policy Center, they were armed with an “Intratec TEC-DC9 assault pistol, Hi-Point 9mm Carbine, Savage 67H pump-action shotgun, and a Savage 311-D 12-gauge shotgun.” In addition to these firearms, they also had a staggering 76 homemade incendiary devices in their possession as reported by CNN. It was later revealed through Harris’ journals that their sinister plan was to unleash a massacre on that tragic day.
The Legal Hurdle: Underage Gun Acquisition
At the time of the shooting, both Klebold and Harris were just 17 years old. In April 1999, Colorado gun laws stipulated that an individual had to be at least 18 years old to purchase a firearm. This raised the crucial question of how these two underage perpetrators managed to acquire such lethal weaponry. The answer lay in the form of their friend, Robyn Anderson, who played a crucial role in their sinister plans.
Where is Robyn Anderson Now?
Following the tragic events at Columbine High School, Robyn Anderson largely retreated from the public eye, with the exception of a single interview she gave to Good Morning America on June 4, 1999. During the interview, Anderson disclosed that in December 1998, Klebold and Harris entrusted her with money to purchase guns on their behalf. Since Anderson had recently turned 18, she was the only one among the trio who could legally buy firearms. They then ventured to the Tanner Gun Show in Adams County, exploiting the notorious gun show loophole that enabled Anderson to make the purchases without undergoing a background check.
Uncovering the Loophole: The Tanner Gun Show Incident
Testifying before the Colorado Legislature about her involvement, Anderson revealed that she was not subjected to any inquiries prior to buying the weapons. None of the vendors at the gun show requested any personal information from her, highlighting the flaws in the system that enabled individuals like Klebold and Harris to obtain firearms with ease. Anderson later confessed to Good Morning America that acquiring guns for the duo did not strike her as unusual due to their shared interest in firearms. However, suspicions arose when Anderson left the school premises with a friend to purchase the weapons, hinting at potential foreknowledge of the upcoming tragedy.
Consequences of Collaboration: Facing the Fallout
Despite her claims of ignorance regarding Klebold and Harris’ deadly intentions, Anderson inevitably faced repercussions for her involvement in the tragic events. She ultimately agreed to pay $300,000 to approximately three dozen families of the victims as reported by Deseret News, signifying a form of accountability for her role in the harrowing episode.
The Fourth Gun Saga: Mark Manes’ Involvement
On May 3, 1999, police apprehended 22-year-old Mark Manes, who was charged with providing a firearm to a minor in connection with the Columbine High School massacre. Manes sold Harris and Klebold a TEC-DC9 semi-automatic handgun, a weapon prohibited under Congress-enacted legislation in 1994, as documented by the Washington Post.
The Domino Effect: Consequences of Illegal Arms Dealing
As the Denver Post detailed, Manes crossed paths with Klebold and Harris through a mutual acquaintance at the Blackjack Pizza shop. After being introduced to them at a gun show in January 1999, Manes supplied the perpetrators with the forbidden TEC-DC9 for $500, part of which he shared with the intermediary, Philip Duran. Following legal proceedings, Manes was sentenced to six years in prison, while Duran received a 4 1/2-year sentence. Anderson, who had transacted with an unlicensed private vendor, evaded prison time. In a bid for restitution, Duran and Manes were jointly tasked with compensating the grieving families with a total sum of $1 million.
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