'Gun show loophole' laws--a ridiculous new twist (Washington state)

St. Louis Gun Right Examiner ^ | January 25, 2010 | Kurt Hofmann

[Still Thinking]

I have made no secret of my disdain for the fabricated concept of the so-called "gun show loophole," but a pair of Washington state lawmakers have managed to come up with a new approach to this "problem" (fewer than 1% of guns used in crimes purchased at gun shows) that has to win the prize for "Most Incomprehensibly Foolish Proposed Gun Show Restriction."

Unlike other attempts to close the "loophole," HB 2477 (pdf file) would not require private sellers (as opposed to licensed dealers) to perform a criminal background check on prospective buyers, or to go through a licensed dealer to perform the check for them. Sounds like a less restrictive law, then, doesn't it?

What HB 2477 would do instead is, if a private seller sells a gun without a background check, not knowing that the purchaser is a "prohibited person," and thus incapable of passing the NICS check, the seller will be on the hook for whatever crime is ever commtted with that gun, by anyone.

In other words, even if the "prohibited person" to whom the original seller sold the gun at the gun show sold the gun himself--even with a background check--if that gun is ever criminally used to kill or injure someone, the original seller is held strictly liable.

[Still Thinking]

The Campaign to Eradicate Your Rights continues apace. Semper Vigiles.

[kbennkc]

I can see a parade of witnesses composed of FFL dealers who will say more of their backgound checks were put on the hold for 3 days without a yea or nay , than were denied for cause .

[rockrr]

I humbly apologize in advance for the idiotic antics of our Washington State Leftists...;’}

[DakotaRed]

Don’t apologize for them, parade them openly for the world to see what loons they are.

[Concho]

Tar and feather them then parade them openly for the world to see. Timidness is getting us no where

[Gilbo_3]

seems the ONLY way that this could even work is if the registration database is fully updated and functional...

not that this has been specifically outlawed or anything, nor that its just plain criminalization of an existing Right to prosecute someone twice or more removed from a 'crime' such as firearm possession...

Wash really needs some tar, feathers, and ROPE...

[Gilbo_3]

and rope...great minds and all...

[Still Thinking]

No rope. I have far worse in store for them. After the tar and feathers, we lock them in a room and show Howard Cosell tapes 24/7 on a wall size screen! In the Woody Allen movie Sleeper, future scientists don't know what to make of those tapes and assume they were used to torture political prisoners in the 20th century.

After they've seen all the Cosell tapes like 20 times we switch to infomercials for irritable bowel products and books and financial self-help CD's. You see, I'm an evil genius!

[Gilbo_3]

evil genius and cruel bastard...i love it...8^}...

[caver]

I’d make them listen to Yoko Ono songs till they voided themselves.

[Still Thinking]

Yes, or as we like to call her, Yoko “Who stepped on the cat?” Ono.

[21twelve]

To buy anything (maybe even just to enter) at the gun shows in Washington State you need to be a member of the Washington State Arms Collectors group (I think that’s what is’ called). In order to join, you send your information and they do the firearm purchasing background checks before giving you membership. So - everyone HAS done the background check before they even enter the show when you show them your membership badge and driver’s licence.