EDITORIAL: 'We want them registered'--Democrats are going after guns

The Washington Times ^ | April 13, 2009 | Editorial

[Scanian]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, announced last week that she wants to register guns. Her next move will be to try to confiscate them.

The speaker picked a television show with a viewership of 4.6 million to float the Democrats' coming gun-control push. Questioned on ABC's "Good Morning America" about the prospect of new gun-control laws now that "it's a Democratic president, a Democratic House," she responded, "We don't want to take their guns away. We want them registered."

Politicians and bureaucrats routinely claim that registration helps solve crimes. If a registered gun is used in a crime and left at the crime scene, registration supposedly lets the police trace the gun back to the criminal. Though this turn of events might work on fictional TV crime shows, it virtually never occurs in real life. Criminals' guns are rarely left at crime scenes. When guns are left behind, it usually is because a crook has been seriously injured or killed and the police are poised to catch him anyway.

The few guns left at crime scenes rarely - if ever - are registered to the perpetrator. If they are registered at all, it is to someone else, whose piece was stolen. Despite what Mrs. Pelosi might think, those who use guns to commit major crimes such as robbing and killing are unlikely to respect her request to file paperwork so the government can catalog the tools of their trade.

Numerous examples disprove gun-control propaganda. Hawaii has had licensing and registration of guns for about 50 years.

[bgill]

I say she starts by registering gangsta guns first.

[glide625]

I can think of and imagine a far simpler solution.

[napscoordinator]

I stand corrected. I am one of those ignorant public because I have never been to a gun show...I purchase mine from the stores.

[thethirddegree]

Turn them in or you'll be an instant felon.

Is this true? I thought that the ban applied to sales after the ban, not confiscating weapons owned before the ban.

[DBrow]

Ah, the Gun Show Loophole!

In some states (but definitely not all) a private sale from one person to another is not regulated nor are records kept. So if someone wants to sell a shotgun that person may simply hand you the gun and collect your cash. The venue is not important, but it is sometimes convenient to do it at a gun show where a buyer is easy to find. This is the Gun Show Loophole, private sales between individuals without the assistance of government.

Some states regulate such private sales, with some sort of ID and information transfer, and some don’t, so check where you are before you buy a gun from a private individual, especially at a gun show.

You used to be able to find guns for sale in the big classified ad book here, but they voluntarily dropped it years ago. I don’t know what rules Craigslist has, but you can’t advertise firearms on Ebay.

[MrB]

That’s the left for you - always give the benefit of the doubt and the law to the criminal.

[RightField]

not with a private sale ... hint, hint

[Marauder]

Questioned on ABC's "Good Morning America" about the prospect of new gun-control laws now that "it's a Democratic president, a Democratic House," she responded, "We don't want to take their guns away. We want them registered."

Oldest trick in the book. To use a shooting analogy, they've acquired the target (confiscation), and registration is cocking the hammer.

We have 45 months of this to contend with - more if this person with a questionable birthright proceeds toward the same goals as Hugo Chavez - so we really must get creative with our methods of concealment, especially given the status of modern metal detection technology.

Even if this doesn't get through, there'll be another run at it sooner or later, more like sooner. The Speaker and her fellow Bolsheviks can't wait to try this communism thing again.

[central_va]

I am a believer in “firm gun control”, always use both hands.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Exactly.

Closing the mythical “loophole” won’t cut down on unregistered guns, it will create a greater demand for the black market of unregistered guns.

This is all about whittling away at the Second Amendment, putting up the appearance of so much bureaucratic red tape (there’s already enough) that people just assume it’s too much of a hassle.

[classified]

Thanks! If you buy a gun at a gun store then is there information taken from the new owner identity, etc.? Would this be basically a registration of the gun that was sold?

[Villiany_Inc]

At a gun show, I don’t think you have to give your information.

State/local rules apply at gun shows. (Despite the so-called scary "Gun Show Loophole".)

Here in Indiana - you still have to fill out your 4473 and have a NICS check if you buy from a dealer...even at a gun show.
If you buy from a private individual (be it at a gun show or in your garage) you do not have to fill out paperwork or have a NICS check.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

If guns aren’t already registered, what is all that paperwork I’m always working on when I buy guns?

[tet68]

A concise and hard hitting article.
well done, Washington Times.

[umgud]

Here in CA we have registration of handguns and certain AW’s (their definition).

[omega4179]

Of course you do.-the brady bill

[lentulusgracchus]

I keep telling my husband we need to go and buy a gun for me, my daughter and him.

Private sale only. If you buy from/through an FFL, i.e. a licensed dealer, you will be required to fill out a "yellow sheet". Supposedly these go for NIC checks only and the information is thereafter retained in the FFL's files only; but as a practical matter ATF has been illegally capturing this data for years and building an illegal registry, something expressly forbidden by Congress.

That's why the 'Rats keep ranting about "the gun-show loophole". They mean the private sales, often made at gun shows, that don't require a "yellow sheet" form to be filed.

Do it soon and, as they say, "B.L.O.A.T." -- "buy lots of ammo today."

You might give some thought to calibers that are easier to get because less popular. One I saw recommended recently in a gun magazine is the Czech CZ-series in 7.62mm (.30 cal.) Tokarev, a very competent caliber and gun, for which ammo is both abundantly available and affordable.

[Puppage]

Is this true? I thought that the ban applied to sales after the ban, not confiscating weapons owned before the ban

From what I've read, owners were required to turn them in. Perhaps a CA FReeper can confirm.

[SJSAMPLE]

They went after the ATF forms 4473, which is the record of sale.
As required to be kept by the dealer, they are a de-facto registration.
And, if the dealer goes out of business, the ATF gets their hands on them permanantly.

[Big_Harry]

"At a gun show, I don’t think you have to give your information. "

The same rule apply at gun shows as apply at the local gun dealer's. The only folks that do not have to wait on a background check are those that have either a concealed carry permit(prior check) or have a background check done prior to the show in anticipation of making a purchase.

You can believe that all of the shows are being monitored closely so smile every time you look up!