Max Beep, the ATF can raise the serial numbers through a chemical process if the depth the filer used was not deep enough. I inherited a weapon long ago and the serial number was filed off, the ATF was able to "raise" all but two of the numbers.
The other side to this coin is that only a really really dumb perp would buy a gun with the serial number already filed off, if they get caught, they don't want to pay time for something they didn't do.
I do want to say something about the killer. I keep hearing how everyone knew he had problems and there were plenty of people in authoratative positions who were concerned but did little to nothing. The kid was also bi-polar and I have some experience with family (not related by blood) who are bi-polar to different degrees. One is a cousin who I would never turn my back on and thank god was lucid enough to know he needed to get into a hospital pronto and did so. He sees and hears things, he is very paranoid which makes him on-edge and very afraid. A person like that could easily become "defensive" and if he has a weapon, the obvious is going to happen. These people are extremely unfortunate critters and misunderstood. They need to be under observation at all times for the rest of their lives, someone needs to be kept up to speed if they leave home for school or the army (army will discharge such a person immediately once discovered).
Bi-Polar have periods where they can be as normal as anyone and many times the meds do work. But honest Doctors admit that the brain is still unchartered area and the meds are still in a trial period, and each drug and it's dosage have different results with both different and the same individual. My cousin has had his dosage and medications changed a dozen times that I know of in the last two three years. Some medication and sometimes the dosage actually worsen the situation.
The last thing one needs to understand is that Bi-Polarization is not always easily recognized and that it has literally hundreds of levels. It is a chemical imbalance and is not a mental disease in itself, though it can lead to it. Statistically, you know more than one person in your life who is Bi-Polar and hides it well.
My Ex hid it from me for years.
So I prefer calling Cho, a mixed-up kid, and yes, if I was there I would have shot him too, sometimes one is left with no choice and I would never try to reason with someone who is Bi-Polar, has a gun and is using it.
LOL
