The suspect in Friday's Colorado shooting had bought two pistols, a semiautomatic rifle and a shotgun since May, avoiding federal reporting requirements and taking advantage of the state's failure to pass significant firearms legislation since the Columbine massacre 13 years ago.
The suspect, James Holmes, 24, didn't buy the guns from the same store within five days, which would have triggered a requirement for the seller to notify the U.S. Justice Department, according to a federal official who asked for anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to speak publicly. Holmes hadn't committed any offenses that would have raised an alarm during required background checks, the official said.
Authorities seized a Glock G22 and a Glock G23 -- both .40-caliber pistols, one Remington 870 Express Tactical 12-gauge shotgun and one Smith & Wesson M&P .223-caliber semiautomatic rifle, the federal official said.
In Colorado, there aren't specific regulations that would ban owning those guns, said Robert Brown, the agent in charge of background checks at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Colorado doesn't require gun registration and has no specific waiting period to buy a gun. Instead, purchases are approved as soon as U.S. authorities clear a list of 10 criteria, such as assuring the buyer isn't a fugitive or an illegal alien, and the state conducts its own checks, including for restraining orders and juvenile arrests.
Colorado allows residents to carry concealed weapons. But even with a permit, they cannot carry a firearm in schools or some government buildings and on private property where guns are prohibited by the owner.
The suspect, James Holmes, 24, didn't buy the guns from the same store within five days, which would have triggered a requirement for the seller to notify the U.S. Justice Department, according to a federal official who asked for anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to speak publicly. Holmes hadn't committed any offenses that would have raised an alarm during required background checks, the official said.
Authorities seized a Glock G22 and a Glock G23 -- both .40-caliber pistols, one Remington 870 Express Tactical 12-gauge shotgun and one Smith & Wesson M&P .223-caliber semiautomatic rifle, the federal official said.
In Colorado, there aren't specific regulations that would ban owning those guns, said Robert Brown, the agent in charge of background checks at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Colorado doesn't require gun registration and has no specific waiting period to buy a gun. Instead, purchases are approved as soon as U.S. authorities clear a list of 10 criteria, such as assuring the buyer isn't a fugitive or an illegal alien, and the state conducts its own checks, including for restraining orders and juvenile arrests.
Colorado allows residents to carry concealed weapons. But even with a permit, they cannot carry a firearm in schools or some government buildings and on private property where guns are prohibited by the owner.