Posted on 05/14/2008 7:49:36 AM PDT by freespirited
A top official of the National Rifle Association said Republican John McCain has been a reliable ally of gun owners despite divisions with the powerful lobbying group on some issues.
"We've had our disagreements, everybody knows it," NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday. "I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on those. We're not foolish enough to ignore the vast areas of agreement in which John McCain has been a friend to gun owners." ...
The likely Republican presidential nominee has voted against a ban on assault-type weapons, but has broken with the NRA in favoring a requirement for background checks at gun shows. McCain also has voted to shield gun-makers and dealers from civil suits....
But his harshest words were directed at the Democratic candidates. LaPierre accused Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama of "mouthing pro-Second amendment words and pandering to gun owners" on the campaign trail.
"They try to say one thing in the heartland of the country and they vote another way back in Washington," he said. "And I just think the public sees through it."
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Upside down world right now.
I think all of us do. But why put the onus on the seller? It's the "illegal" and/or "felon" that are breaking the law when buying a gun.
And I think very, very few of us would sell to a guy that:
1.Can't speak English
2.Looks like a 'banger
You are assuming, incorrectly, that everyone who buys a car goes for a test drive first. Bottom line....there's no reason for the seller to be responsible for the buyer...is there???
And yes....you can have a bad driving record and still have a license.
No one has noted that in general this should be a state rather than a federal issue. The only federal role should revolve around protecting rights.
Actually sellers are responsible for their actions. If someone knowingly sells a firearm to a felon, they'll be held civilly liable, and in many (most?) state have violated the law themselves. In Illinois, which has some of the most restrictive laws, a private seller is essentially held to the same standards as a dealer, except for the check. The seller and buyer must have a FOID and a record including the serial number must be created and retained. There's no need for additional laws, particularly at the federal level.
We cannot allow fundamental rights to be regulated such that we go from being governed to being ruled. The best government is the one that has a healthy fear of its subjects. The worst government is the one that subjects are fearful of, and are helpless to do anything about.
Sorry if this seams paranoid, but the only way to achieve tyranny is by incremental (reasonable) regulation of "the right of the people to keep and bear arms" that is so important to restraining an ever increasingly unrestrained government.
I have been quite secure under Bush, but I am very concerned about where we could go in an Obama administration. He is the reason rights must be deemed fundamental. That way they can't be disregarded when the public elects a nut to the WH.
No, I don't think he will win. But the very possibility of it is enough to make me resist government regulation in this area.
The question should not be "why we are against background checks?", but what good will it do to implement them? Also, what harm can come from regulating such an important right? Why limit the right when the benefits are negligible to nonexistent? All big picture stuff. Freedom and the Republic as we know it is just too important to take a chance with. I would rather deal with the occasional nuts that invariably come out in society than deal with being treated like a nut for wanting to have the means to protect my family from such a nut.
I'm not sure if you are looking for a comment back or not. Are you stating how the law is handled or how you think it should be handled? Do you agree with background checks on individual (non-FFL) sales?
It's true that sellers are responsible for their actions, but should they be responsible for the actions of others? I would say absolutely not. And of course selling a firearm to a known felon should be a crime, but if they are not known to be a felon, the seller should be free and clear.
Fantastic articulation! +1!
Essentially thats how its handled now, which is why additional legislation isnt needed, particularly on a federal level. The vast majority of sales at shows are by dealers, thus undergo checks already. There is no gun show loophole. And to my knowledge there is no problem associated with legitimate private sales. And without further legislation sellers knowingly selling to someone barred from gun ownership is already liable if the gun is used in a crime. Most legislation in this area isnt about remedying a problem, none exists, rather about putting another layer of regulation on gunowners. Regarding private sales, if theyre private, I dont see any need for a check, and for the dealer masquerading under the private sale exemption, hes already violating the law.
OK. We’re pointing in the same general direction.
Thanks for the compliment. A Judge this morning told me "based on your compelling argument I will find . . ." in my favor. Of course he was being sarcastic. He and everyone else in the courtroom (including me) snickered as he said it because I had no opponent present, and therefore did not spend much effort in blathering on and on in a motion for summary judgment. I kind of yawned through a very brief and unenergetic "argument", but hey, isn't winning enough?
I guess that is how I feel about McCain these days. I will vote for him because I can't complain about the other person if I don't.
Glad that we’re on the same side!
Exactly!
Criminals are always going find ways to get guns.
as bad as Mc Cain is imagine what H will be like!
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