How did Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold get guns?
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold acquired guns when they were 17 years old. Where and how did they get their guns?Robyn Anderson purchased 3 of 4 firearms
Approximately four months before the shooting, Eric and Dylan went to the Tanner Gun Show and tried to buy a gun. A dealer told them to come back with someone 18 or older. The next day, both Eric and Dylan returned to the Tanner Gun Show with their friend, Robyn Anderson. Anderson purchased the 12 GA Savage-Stevens 311-D Double Barrel shotgun ($245), Hi-Point 995 Carbine rifle, and 12 GA Springfield-Savage pump action shotgun.All four guns used in the Columbine High School shooting were formerly purchased at Tanner Gun Shows. The TEC-DC9M was purchased from Larry Russel on August 2, 1998 for $491 at a Tanner Gun Show in 1998 by Mark Manes, who later sold the pistol to Dylan for $500 cash.
In March 1999, Manes invited Dylan over one night to secure their deal for the TEC-DC9M. After manes showed Dylan how to work the action, clean, and load the gun, he handed it over to Dylan for a $300 cash down payment. Before leaving, Dylan had a beer with Manes, Brian Distal, and Greg Marcilliott.
Dylan gave Phil Duran the final $200 (to give to Manes) behind Blackjack Pizza. This transaction was observed by Nate Dykeman. Dylan told Nate he just purchased a gun. Manes originally bought the TEC-DC9M with its barrel extender and a 30-round clip, apparently did not sell them with the gun.
Robyn Anderson's statement
On January 27, 2000, nearly a year after the shootings, Robyn Anderson made the following statement at the Colorado House Judiciary Committee in support of 9 new Colorado gun control bills:"Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had gone to the Tanner gun show on Saturday and they took me back with them on Sunday. I remember this as being in November or December of 1998. When Eric and Dylan had gone the previous day, a dealer told them that they needed to bring someone back who was 18. They were both 17 at the time. This was a private dealer - not a licensed dealer.
While we were walking around, Eric and Dylan kept asking sellers if they were private or licensed. They wanted to buy their guns from someone who was private - and not licensed - because there would be no paperwork or background check. At one point Eric was interested in a gun from a licensed dealer. The dealer asked me if I would fill out some paperwork and I said, 'No, I didn't feel comfortable with that.' I didn't want to put my name on something that I wasn't going to have control of.
They bought guns from three sellers. They were all private. They paid cash. There was no receipt. I was not asked any questions at all. There was no background check. All I had to do was show my driver's license to prove that I was 18. Dylan got a shotgun. Eric got a shotgun and a black rifle that he bought clips for. He was able to buy clips and ammunition without me having to show any I.D. The sellers didn't write down any information.
I would not have bought a gun for Eric and Dylan if I had had to give any personal information or submit to any kind of check at all. I think it was clear to the sellers that the guns were for Eric and Dylan. They were the ones asking all the questions and handling the guns. I had no idea what they were eventually going to do with the guns.
When I look back at it, I think I was kind of naive. I wish a law requiring background checks had been in effect at the time. I don't know if Eric and Dylan would have been able to get guns from another source, but I would not have helped them. It was too easy. I wish it had been more difficult. I wouldn't have helped them buy the guns if I had faced a background check."
Signed,
Robyn Anderson
