Letter: 'Gun loophole' only a sound bite(NY)

timesunion.com ^ | 6 December, 2011 | LEN DARCY

[marktwain]

The Dec. 6 editorial, "The gun show dilemma," concerning legislation proposed by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, seems to be short on facts.

A study conducted by the National Institute of Justice has reported that less than 2 percent of criminals interviewed said they had obtained their weapons at a gun show. The Bureau of Justice statistics for the year of 2001 reported that less than 1 percent of criminals obtained their weapons at a gun show.

There is no "gun show loophole." This legislation is only a prerequisite to restriction of private sales of personal firearms.

It is obvious, with all the factual information out there that substantiates that the areas with the most crime have more restrictive gun laws and the areas with lesser amounts have less restrictive gun laws, that new gun legislation is not and has never been the answer.

Jared Loughner, the alleged shooter of 19 and killer of six went through the same check that Senator Gillibrand is espousing.

There is no "gun show loophole." There is only a political sound bite.

[marktwain]

To the "progressives" the entire Constitution is a "loophole".

[MachIV]

While this is a short soundbite, it’s still a profound witness to the contempt progressives have towards everything America has historically stood for.

[TYVets]

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is a (D).

[Atlas Sneezed]

This letter doesn’t make the case as clearly as it could:

In most states, gun buyers buying from a licensed gun dealer must undergo a background check, whether or not the sale takes place at a gun show or anywhere else. No loophole.

And if the buyer is buying from an individual who is not a gun dealer, they do not need to undergo a background check whether or not the sale takes place at a gun show or anywhere else. No loophole.

Those pushing for this regulation know it has nothing to do with gunshows, and everything to do with the right to privately sell guns.