Posted on 02/01/2008 9:53:24 AM PST by neverdem
Two Democrats seek to widen the scope of background checks. A similar measure failed in Virginia.
WASHINGTON — Gun-control advocates have been largely stymied in their efforts to get significant new firearms restrictions, but they still believe they can achieve one goal: closing a loophole that allows sales at gun shows without background checks on purchasers.
This week, two Senate Democrats introduced legislation to close that loophole in federal law, despite a recent failure in Virginia -- where a gunman killed 32 students and teachers at Virginia Tech in April -- to change a similar state law.
Accompanied by family members of some of the Virginia Tech victims, along with gun-control advocate Paul Helmke of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Democratic Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey and Jack Reed of Rhode Island unveiled their proposal at a news conference Wednesday.
"It defies common sense that a loophole in federal law lets unlicensed dealers sell firearms at gun shows without running a background check on the buyer," Lautenberg said. "Our legislation would require background checks for every gun purchased at every gun show across America. Without this change in the law, felons, fugitives and severely mentally ill people will continue to be able to buy guns -- no questions asked."
Under current law, only federally licensed gun dealers, such as those at sporting-goods retailers or gun shops, are required to conduct background checks. That doesn't cover informal situations, such as gun shows at an outdoor venue or in a facility rented for the weekend.
The senators pointed to the 1999 killings at...
--snip--
Weeks after the Columbine shooting, Lautenberg introduced a proposal to close the gun-show loophole in federal law. It passed the Senate on Vice President Al Gore's tiebreaking vote, but did not survive the House...
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Bill would order checks for buyers at gun shows (courtesy of Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg)
Here's another reason to vote against McCain in the primaries. He might be a poison pill in November, losing states he should have won like Gore lost Tennessee, Arkansas and West Virginia in 2000.
loophole my toe, soon even private sellers will have to get backgroun checks
Only a liberal would think we should have greater background checks when we exercise our constitutional rights, but that it’s a crime to ask if someone is in our nation illegally.
If this is SO EASY & widespread, why hasn't 20/20, Dateline, etc done an undercover video? You know..... showing how many guns they so easily purchased at the show?/rhetorical ping
Regardless what they do, this will fail because criminals are smarter than senators.
I thought that only licensed dealers were allowed to sell guns at gun shows and that an instant background check could also be performed on site and was required. Am I wrong?
Lautencadaver is an a$$hole .
They’ve all got their heads up their loopholes.
Just another duo of hack liberal politicians trying to take away more of your rights.
Lautenberg has become a one issue candidate.
Apaprently they wheel him out of cold storage only for gun issues now.
Why isn’t there a pro-gun senator up there proposing a law to forbid banning of firearms by legally licensed concealed carry permit holders on college campuses?
Libs are more pro-active than conservatives I guess.
It depends on the state that has the gun show. Private sellers don't have to do a NICS check in states which have no requirement like Virginia. Federal Firearms Licensed dealers must do a NICS check.
Yep, you are wrong. If person-to-person sales are legal in your state, (as is generally the case) then they can be made at gun shows. And in those cases, not check is required. The BATF will NOT accept a phoned-in background check from anybody who is not an FFL anyway, though. You see, FFL’s surrender some of their natural rights in return for the “privledges” of their license.
All firearms dealers are licensed in the US. There is no such thing as an un-licensed dealer. It is commie pinko speak for private firearms sales. This is is nothing more that an attempt to register private sales.
Buy em now. Not later. Preferably with the money kickback the liberals are doling out.
The clock is running. Permanent civilian disarmament goes into full effect next year, probably within the first 100 hours after Hillary is sworn in.
The GOP needs a brokered convention in 2008
I don't know about Romney either. Mr. brand new conservative was too convenient in his newly found conservatism. That's why I like this idea.
There is no such thing as a ‘gun show’ loophole, only the distinction between licensed dealers and private sellers. Private sellers can sell guns at gun shows and often do. Watch out for legislation that defines any transaction involving firearms as a ‘gun show’, thereby regulating ALL sales and defining private sales out of existence.
Let's get serious. A lot of code words are being used to confuse the public and provide "nice sounding" sound bites to the media.
What in the world is an unlicensed dealer? Is this someone who is making an occasional private sale of a firearm? If someone is an unlicensed dealer of firearms and buys them wholesale and sells them retail, send BAFT to lock them up, otherwise quite using clever semantics to try to create an illusion of criminality. If someone wants to earn a living buying and selling firearms, make them get an FFL and be regulated by BAFT. Enforce the existing laws.
Now for the next point...."Without this change in the law, felons, fugitives and severely mentally ill people will continue to be able to buy guns -- no questions asked.", If I understand this correctly they are saying that people who are felons, fugitives and severely mentally ill can legally purchase firearms. I don't think so. Are they saying that the laws against the purchasers who are felons, fugitives and severely mentally ill aren't strong enough to discourage them from violating existing laws? Are they saying that various agencies aren't enforcing these laws actively enough? Are they then relying upon the "seller" to augment the various police forces to enforce these laws? Are car salesmen required to do a background check to verify the traffic record and DUI record of potential purchasers of vehicles or is enforcement left to the police? Are liquor stores required to do sobriety and domestic violence background checks on their customers, or are those things left to the police? Are Internet providers required to do background checks on their prospective customers to find out if they have are into kiddie porn, like to download music illegally, or send illegal spam; prior to granting Internet service, or is that left to police agencies?
Plugging the entire Gun show Loophole is an interesting "red herring" that sounds good, that will be just another law that makes illegal things a tiny bit more illegal and not make a significant change in how criminals acquire weapons illegally. What it will do, is hurt a bunch of law-abiding citizens who like to collect firearms, go to shows where they purchase ammunition, reloading supplies, hunting accessories, firearms related books and military memorabilia and/or parts to customize their firearms.
Strange they didn't mention that the shooter didn't use the alleged "gun show loophole" to obtain his firearms, but passed the FBI background check through a licensed gun dealer.
And, they are not mutually exclusive groups.....
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