Where does a homeless man get a gun?

My heart is breaking over this horror in Ellicott City, MD. As the report becomes more specific, it just gets worse. Not knowing let me make up a story...now, I have none. The reality hits home. I totally agree with Linda. That gun made the difference between being argumentative with the church and acting out in a murderous rage, most likely over his own dilemma of being homeless and on charity.

Way to jump to conclusions. A " Dilemia of being homeless and on charity". Step down off that high horse as wait for the facts.

so much for helping people in need!

dont be naive about where anyone can get a gun! Anywhere!

Being homelss doesn't mean you have no resources - just no place to live. Some have a job and income, others receive monthly disability payments.

I am from Pittsfield, MA. Mary-Marguerite Kohn was our interim priest and I am so sad over this. She is a wonderful person, and my prayers go out to her and her family and all of her St. Peter's family.

Don't judge until you have walked in this man's shoes. I am sure there is more to this story. Having said that, this is a terrible tragedy for our area and I wonder what we could have done to prevent it. Just because many of us live in nice, safe homes we have to remember even in our pretty wealthy area, we are not immune to what is going on in this world. Obviously this man needed help. I wonder if he has family and I have to think how devastating this is to them also. They have lost a family member who did a horrible thing. How do you live with that? My prayers go out to everyone involved and to the community. This is when we should all stick together.

I find it interesting that the one comment I find find to be offensive was posted by "anon". Have the courage to take reponsibility for your words, so people will know who it is behind the blame and negativity.

Julia, I agree with you.. The comment really bothered me and that is what made me comment. Our world is changing and no community is immune to these tragedies anymore. It is very sad. I pray for everyone involved.

More than likely the man had the gun long before he was homeless. Whether he bought the gun or stole it is not of importance. The gun itself is not important. If he wanted to harm those people he could have just as easily used a knife, a board, a rock.... The fact that it was a gun has no bearing on the fact that the man attacked the women. Someone with that much rage would have carried this out with any means at hand. The only thing that the gun may have aided in was his suicide.

Bottom line is this is a sad situation. I pray for those that were attacked, just as I pray for the man that carried out the crimes.

Dave, I couldn't have said it better. you are so right. Everyone involved needs our praryers.

If you go to the church's' Facebook page, you can see praiseferious pics of their wonderful stocked food bank, and how it has been 'loaded up'. How ironic that they then turn away a homeless hungry man who lives in the woods behind them, and get shot for it. Episcopalians are misandric folks.

I think that you would be surprised the number of homeless that are in Howard County. They are not homeless by choice but by the economy. No one wants to be homeless. I know of 2 schools that have more than one homeless family. The Route 1 Day Shelter takes are of homeless in Howard County. They live everywhere in the wooded areas.

Let's not forget that a fair amount of homeless individuals have mental issues such a schizophrenia, paranoia, etc. It is quite conceivable that a person who turns on someone, who is assisting them on a daily basis, in such a vicious manner is mentally unstable; and, therefore unpredictable. I wish the media would have given more information regarding the extent and content of Mr. Jones' belligerance.

BigBlue56, we will as soon as we can find out. Thanks for commenting.

I knew Frank Jones for over twenty years he was a neighbor of mine, In my wildest of dreams would i ever think this man could have done such a horrible act. My heart and prayers go out to the family of the victims. I have to agree with dave this could have happened several different ways. This man loved to hunt and fish, he had a thriving landscaping business. I know things began to go downhill after he lost his home several years ago, maybe this was a downward spiral i don't know. The frank jones i knew would do any thing within his power to help someone, very kind, soft spoken man. So this being said there is always a story behind something so tragic. I just continue to pray for all of the families and people this has touched. Tony Noakes