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Gun 'loophole' challenged again
Congress will consider closing gun show loopholeDate published: 4/24/2009 BY CHELYEN DAVIS Virginia lawmakers have resisted pressure from the governor, from gun-control advocates and from Virginia Tech victims' families to require private sellers at gun shows to run background checks on buyers. Now a federal bill could take it out of Virginia's hands. Rep. Frank Lautenberg, D-New Jersey, has introduced a bill to close the so-called "gun show loophole." The "loophole" is that federally licensed gun dealers are required to run instant background checks on people buying guns, but those who are selling guns privately and are not dealers do not have to run such checks. The background checks are intended to ensure that criminals, convicted felons, those who have been found by a judge to be mentally ill and a danger to themselves or others, and some others, are not able to purchase firearms. In a press conference this week to announce the bill, Lautenberg was joined by some relatives of victims of the shooting at Virginia Tech two years ago. He also announced the bill a day after the 10th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. "There is no rational reason to oppose closing the loophole," Lautenberg said in a release. "The reason it's still not closed is simple: the continuing power of the special interest gun lobby in Washington." Opponents of similar bills in Virginia have argued that requiring private sellers at gun shows to do background checks is a burden, and that it's a slippery slope from there to monitoring all private firearms transactions, even those not at public gun shows. Rachel Parsons, spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association, said the NRA opposes Lautenberg's bill, which she called "extremely overreaching. "It's not about background checks. It's about shutting down gun shows," Parsons said. In Virginia, the issue rose to prominence after the shootings at Virginia Tech. Although the shooter, Seung-Hui Cho, did not buy his guns at a gun show, families of victims adopted the issue, arguing that the loophole potentially allows those who should not have guns to buy them easily. But bills to require the checks by private sellers at gun shows have failed in the General Assembly, despite the backing of Gov. Tim Kaine. The issue resurfaced in Virginia last week, when New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg funded a TV ad aimed at Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell.
Date published: 4/24/2009
Can't be trusted
(posted by
ali66
, Apr. 25, 2009 12:01 am)
Frank Lautenberg is an elitist and couldn't care less about your or my self defense or rights only his own. I lived in NJ for many years and this guy is as socialist as they come. He has a hidden agenda and I wouldn't be surprised if he were trying to shut down gun shows. About ten years ago he sponsored a bill to disallow people who raised their voices to any of their family members to own firearms. This guy would like to see everyone totally defenseless except for himself because after all he’s more i
Why Don't They Use OUR Model
(posted by
73mike73
, Apr. 24, 2009 4:17 pm)
I suggest the model below. Don't be surprised when pitching this to politicians, if they ignore this model in favor of a government restriction.
I attend gun shows as often as I can, so I have an iron in the fire here. My take: look at the Washington Arms Collectors organization. EVERY member is subject to a state police background check, by WAC before being accepted, as well as constantly during membership. Non-members are NOT allowed to buy, sell or carry a firearm at their shows, PERIOD. No exceptions!
What about the Grocery Store Loophole
(posted by
dvlmn073
, Apr. 24, 2009 3:41 pm)
Turns out a private citizen can sell another private citizen a gun in the parking lot of a grocery store without running a background check...GASP!!! THIS LOOPHOLE MUST BE CLOSED! I want to organize a march on Richmond to close the Grocery Store loophole. Who's on board?
Responsible Gun Owners Should Not View it as a "Burden"
(posted by
Einstein
, Apr. 24, 2009 1:53 pm)
A "burden"?? A burden to ensure the individual to whom you are selling a firearm doesn't have a criminal warrant out for his arrest? Or was hospitalized for schizophrenia 6 months ago? Given the consequences facilitated by the current blind transaction process it is a responsible to do. Agree with Ditch on concern #1 -- provide the means to process a background check it I am required to do one. The "slippery slope" objection is pure paranoid swill coming from the zealots at the NRA.
Concerns II
(posted by
ditchdawg
, Apr. 24, 2009 12:06 pm)
Second, keep it to the gun shows. Don't even consider telling me what I can do at home or pass along to my children/grandchildren. Also, an ardent gun owner, there is never an acceptable middle ground on the political fronts. It always seems to be all or nothing. Still, and it POs me, is gun shows had nothing to do with the Va Tech tragedy.
And last, Bloomy needs to stay out of Va.
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