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Man buys gun on day of murder
01/22/04
Rachel Dissell
Plain Dealer Reporter
Lorain
George Kallas didn't have any trouble getting a gun.
He strode calmly into a gun shop Tuesday on Ohio 57 and breezed through an instant background check, before returning a short time later because his ammunition was too large for his gun.
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Then he shot and killed his wife of 40 years, police say.
Barbara Kallas, 57, was in the parking lot of Lorain library's main branch, where she worked, when she was shot five times. Lorain County Coroner Paul Matus said a bullet pierced her heart.
In the days before, the couple had argued about her job as a library assistant. George Kallas thought it was an unsafe place and wanted her to quit, according to a police report.
Lorain police confiscated three rifles and a .38-caliber Special from Kallas the day of the fight but did not charge him for pushing down his wife. She didn't want them to, according to police. Instead, she said she would stay with a relative
In Ohio, there is no wait to buy a gun for a person who has no criminal record.
Before 1998, a buyer had to wait up to five days, but the requirement disappeared when the federal government enabled a gun dealer to sell in as little as 30 seconds.
Under the law, part of the 1993 Brady Act, states do have the right to institute a waiting period if they choose.
Lorain Lt. Jim Rohner, who heads the city’s detective bureau, said a person should have a “cooling off†period before buying a gun — even if it’s only a few days. “I think it’s crazy someone can go in and get a background check and have a gun in a matter of an hour,†he said. “What’s the hurry? When you’re buying a gun why do you need it right now?â€
But Mike Titlow, who owns the shop that sold Kallas the gun, said the system usually works. He said Kallas was professional and joked with employees in the store Tuesday.
If a person seeking a gun seems antsy or angry, Titlow said, his staff will question why they want a gun. “I wish we weren’t connected to this [death] in any way,†he said. “We feel awful.â€
Kallas pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of aggravated murder. He is being held on a $1 million bond. He did not speak in Lorain Municipal Court.
A few relatives sitting in the front row cried during the proceeding and gasped at the bond amount.
Marjorie Kallas, his sister-in-law, said the retired Ford worker was fine last summer, even happy, but had changed.
“I never would imagine in my wildest dreams he would have done something like this,†she said. Kallas’ attorney, Kenneth Lieux, said his client was in shock.
When the library reopened at 3 p.m. Wednesday, the shooting was a topic of chatter among kids from two nearby schools and library patrons. Lorain Middle School had counselors available to talk to children who saw the shooting or were frightened because of it.
The library staff was part of Kallas’ family, and her family made up part of the staff. Her son Jonathan worked with her as a library aide inLorain, and her daughter-in-law Denise worked at the North Ridgeville branch. Co-worker Debra Jackson said Barbara Kallas was gracious and outgoing.
“Even the grumpiest of people got nothing but smiles back from her. She was calm and patient with everyone.â€
Plain Dealer reporter Carl Matzelle and news researcher JoEllen Corrigan contributed to this story
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 800-767-2821
© 2004 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.
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Seems to me that even with a waiting period, if someone has the intent of killing but they "cool off" because they can't get the gun right then they'll just get that intent a few days or a week later after they have the gun or they'll just find a different way to kill.
Man buys gun on day of murder
01/22/04
Rachel Dissell
Plain Dealer Reporter
Lorain
George Kallas didn't have any trouble getting a gun.
He strode calmly into a gun shop Tuesday on Ohio 57 and breezed through an instant background check, before returning a short time later because his ammunition was too large for his gun.
Visit New Orleans
Then he shot and killed his wife of 40 years, police say.
Barbara Kallas, 57, was in the parking lot of Lorain library's main branch, where she worked, when she was shot five times. Lorain County Coroner Paul Matus said a bullet pierced her heart.
In the days before, the couple had argued about her job as a library assistant. George Kallas thought it was an unsafe place and wanted her to quit, according to a police report.
Lorain police confiscated three rifles and a .38-caliber Special from Kallas the day of the fight but did not charge him for pushing down his wife. She didn't want them to, according to police. Instead, she said she would stay with a relative
In Ohio, there is no wait to buy a gun for a person who has no criminal record.
Before 1998, a buyer had to wait up to five days, but the requirement disappeared when the federal government enabled a gun dealer to sell in as little as 30 seconds.
Under the law, part of the 1993 Brady Act, states do have the right to institute a waiting period if they choose.
Lorain Lt. Jim Rohner, who heads the city’s detective bureau, said a person should have a “cooling off†period before buying a gun — even if it’s only a few days. “I think it’s crazy someone can go in and get a background check and have a gun in a matter of an hour,†he said. “What’s the hurry? When you’re buying a gun why do you need it right now?â€
But Mike Titlow, who owns the shop that sold Kallas the gun, said the system usually works. He said Kallas was professional and joked with employees in the store Tuesday.
If a person seeking a gun seems antsy or angry, Titlow said, his staff will question why they want a gun. “I wish we weren’t connected to this [death] in any way,†he said. “We feel awful.â€
Kallas pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of aggravated murder. He is being held on a $1 million bond. He did not speak in Lorain Municipal Court.
A few relatives sitting in the front row cried during the proceeding and gasped at the bond amount.
Marjorie Kallas, his sister-in-law, said the retired Ford worker was fine last summer, even happy, but had changed.
“I never would imagine in my wildest dreams he would have done something like this,†she said. Kallas’ attorney, Kenneth Lieux, said his client was in shock.
When the library reopened at 3 p.m. Wednesday, the shooting was a topic of chatter among kids from two nearby schools and library patrons. Lorain Middle School had counselors available to talk to children who saw the shooting or were frightened because of it.
The library staff was part of Kallas’ family, and her family made up part of the staff. Her son Jonathan worked with her as a library aide inLorain, and her daughter-in-law Denise worked at the North Ridgeville branch. Co-worker Debra Jackson said Barbara Kallas was gracious and outgoing.
“Even the grumpiest of people got nothing but smiles back from her. She was calm and patient with everyone.â€
Plain Dealer reporter Carl Matzelle and news researcher JoEllen Corrigan contributed to this story
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 800-767-2821
© 2004 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.
______________
Seems to me that even with a waiting period, if someone has the intent of killing but they "cool off" because they can't get the gun right then they'll just get that intent a few days or a week later after they have the gun or they'll just find a different way to kill.
It really bothers me that owning a car and being able to drive is seen as a right, but owning a firearm for self protection isn't. 
