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Closing the loophole
Those who argue against closing the gun-show loophole are firing blanks
Date published: 1/22/2008
SEUNG-HUI CHO didn't get the guns he used to kill 33 Virginia Tech students and faculty, including himself, from a gun show. But legislation to close the loophole in Virginia law that allows certain purchases at gun shows without a background check is justified if we are to prevent a recurrence of the madness and sadness of April 16.
Gov. Tim Kaine proposed the change, which was recommended by the Virginia Tech Review Panel that studied the campus massacre. Legislation to close the loophole was filed in both General Assembly chambers.
On Friday, the Republican-led House Militia, Police and Public Safety committee killed its version in a 13-9 party-line vote. The legislation was added to the docket late Thursday in an apparent effort to head off supporters' organizational efforts. Be aware that GOP panel members have received thousands of dollars in contributions from gun-rights advocates.
Yesterday, the legislation's supporters, which include relatives and friends of the Tech shooting victims, had the opportunity to show their backing before the Democrat-led Senate Courts of Justice Committee, which has scheduled a vote for tomorrow.
The legislation has been greeted with a firestorm of criticism from gun-rights advocates across the commonwealth and the country. Their outrage is predictable, but their fears groundless. The Second Amendment states that "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." The infringement of that right, however, is not at issue here. The idea is to keep guns out of the wrong hands, and all should stand united in favor of it.
"Guns don't kill people; people kill people," gun-rights advocates say, but that's the point of the legislation: Keep guns away from people who might use them to kill people. It won't be 100 percent successful. Neither is the law against robbing banks. The point is, if you rob a bank, the law provides a punishment. That serves as a deterrent to others.
Common sense suggests the need to extend background checks (already used in stores) to gun shows. This shouldn't be a problem: If a gun buyer has nothing to hide, why would he or she object?
Between 1994 and 2005, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System blocked 1.4 million sales to prohibited purchasers. Virginia State Police say background checks by licensed dealers stopped 2,668 improper gun sales in Virginia in 2005 alone.
Tech shooter Cho's history of mental illness was not accessible in the background checks he underwent. To seal up that crack, Gov. Kaine issued an executive order denying gun sales to anyone ordered by a court to obtain mental health treatment.
Now the gun-show loophole must be closed. A responsible society seeks out the causes of tragedies such as the Virginia Tech shootings and strives to prevent them. Gun-rights advocates may invoke the Second Amendment, but in the case of this common sense legislation, that dog won't hunt. Those who oppose the legislation are shooting themselves in the foot--and putting the rest of us at risk.
Date published: 1/22/2008
Most recent reader comments:
Yes, I have Hazcat
(posted by
Al
, Jan. 30, 2008 3:07 pm)
The one I went to in Ohio was huge. They probably vary in size depending on location and demand, like everything else. I never went to another one because I was so turned off by all the nazi propaganda and aryan nation crap they had for sale. I know they aren't ALL like that, but as I don't have the need I felt I might as well avoid them.
AL - ever been to a gunshow?
(posted by
Hazcat
, Jan. 30, 2008 8:02 am)
I go to about 5 a year and have for over 35 years in 10 different states. There are more private guns for sale in the local papers OR at a yard sale than at any Gunshow I have ever been to. Usually two or three guys walking around with old hunting rifles and asking way too much for them. Get over it, gunshows are not the problem. Lax enforcement, light sentences and laws against law abiding citizens are.
Hazcat
(posted by
Al
, Jan. 28, 2008 10:02 am)
It's the different between a huge Bazar style flea market and a yard sale. A criminal, arms dealer or terrorist can buy a lot more, with more variety much more easily at a gunshow, which is a public venue than they can going door to door buying individually from people.
Al you're wrong
(posted by
Hazcat
, Jan. 28, 2008 7:27 am)
If you want to compare items they must be similar. You keep saying 'gunshow vs dealer' and you are wrong. Gunshows are simply a place or event. The proper question is private citizen vs dealer. There is no such thing as the "gunshow loophole". If you want to call private sales a loophole and have them declared illegal, good luck but that IS what you're talking about, not gunshows.
Al's post...
(posted by
Al
, Jan. 26, 2008 4:03 pm)
All of that information actually IS in the original ATF “reports.” It had simply been summarized by the Treasury Dept and The Committee on Homeland Security into a more easily shared format. Since that wasn’t enough for you, I gave you the link to the ATF website and even instructed you on how to search for the original reports. Feel free to read them yourself. The information is public and anyone can access it. There’s no deception here. You can decide to disagree with the reports if you like but don’t try to act like they don’t exist or that I somehow deceived you. I can’t see any way to make this information more easily accessible than I already have. You’re going to have to do the actual reading yourself.
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