Gun control?

[WB9YZU]

So the byline is "Gun control"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070613/ap_on_go_co/congress_gun_control

But wait! The NRA is spinning this as "not gun control", but an inprovement in the NICS reporting system. http://www.nra.org/

EH? I'm confus-ed

 

[98XJSport]

The article sound doesn't seem like it has anything to do with an increase in gun control, just an increase in enforcing states to report info to the NICs system? Maybe Im missing something. Of course it doesn't say how, who knows how they will bend it to thier own agendas.

 

[flatlandernomore]

I am vehemently opposed to gun control measures. But this if you read it carefully is an upgrade in the background check process that is much needed to keep those with mental problems from slipping through the cracks and purchasing weapons like the VA Tech shooter did. I support it, and in this day and age I don't say that very often about ANY bills this POS government puts forth.

RON PAUL for President in 2008!!
www.RONPAUL2008.com

 

[jeeperjohn]

It basically only keeps guns from being sold, by legitimate gun dealers, to those who are legally barred from owning guns. I personally am a huge proponent of the right to own and bear arms. I think we as a society should do everything we can to keep guns from being legally sold to known criminals or those who are proven to lack the mental ability to safely own firearms. This law in no way infringes upon the rights of those who are entitled to own firearms. The majority of "gun control" laws currently on the books do, in fact, infringe on our rights under the 2nd amendment and are therefore unconstitutional. The problem is that people have been scared into supporting such legislation by the elected officials who have enacted it.

 

[jeeperjohn]

and in this day and age I don't say that very often about ANY bills this POS government puts forth.
www.RONPAUL2008.com

Well said!

 

[ECKSJAY]

Well said!

Agreed.

 

[XJLafonda]

The NRA is right. They are not banning any more people from purchasing guns. That banning was established after Kennedy and Martin Luther King were killed. This act is merely enforcing the previous act by requiring states to send their state databases of those not allowed to buy weaponry, and those allowed to buy weaponry through the FBI. Since this only is only helping the government strengthen whats already been imposed, it's not controlling the current laws, as they were established years ago. This is merely stating that the government is making sure the states adhere to previously set guidlines. And that's why the NRA isn't seeing it as a Gun Control act...because it's not controlling who can or cannot legally by weapons at this time, but merely keeping a watchful eye on who can and cannot buy weapons at this time.

 

[87manche]

I believe that the NRA is supporting this bill because it will satisfy the demand for better controls, without actually creating more gun control laws.
it's better than a knee jerk gun control bill caused by the aftermath of the VT shootings.

 

[XJLafonda]

the NRA isn't losing anything from this bill...so I don't think they really give a rats.

 

[ECKSJAY]

the NRA isn't losing anything from this bill...so I don't think they really give a rats.

Yup, read the bottom of the article. There's actually a lot gained from this one.

 

[karstic]

The question is will the Federal gov't actually get off their ass on do something with the information.

The gun control proponents are always crying about how we need background checks to prevent criminals from buying guns, but how many criminals that have tried buying firearms and have been prevented from doing so been ARRESTED for trying to do so?

Isn't it a crime for a convicted felon to try and purchase a firearm?

 

[XJLafonda]

I don't think it's a crime for them to "try" and purchase a gun. I believe it's illegal to sell to somebody who was a convicted felon. Of course, I may be drastically wrong.

 

[karstic]

I don't think it's a crime for them to "try" and purchase a gun. I believe it's illegal to sell to somebody who was a convicted felon. Of course, I may be drastically wrong.

California Penal Code, other states may be different.

12021. (a) (1) Any person who has been convicted of a felony under
the laws of the United States, the State of California, or any other
state, government, or country or of an offense enumerated in
subdivision (a), (b), or (d) of Section 12001.6, or who is addicted
to the use of any narcotic drug, and who owns, purchases, receives,
or has in his or her possession or under his or her custody or
control any firearm is guilty of a felony.
(2) Any person who has two or more convictions for violating
paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 417 and who owns,
purchases, receives, or has in his or her possession or under his or
her custody or control any firearm is guilty of a felony.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any person who has been
convicted of a felony or of an offense enumerated in Section 12001.6,
when that conviction results from certification by the juvenile
court for prosecution as an adult in an adult court under Section 707
of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and who owns or has in his or
her possession or under his or her custody or control any firearm is
guilty of a felony.

Bold added by me.

 

[Matthew Currie]

Fixing current laws certainly seems like a better idea than passing a bunch of new, unenforceable ones that criminals can evade and law abiding citizens have to pay for. I have yet to see a gun control law substantially more effective than Vermont's, though.