Posted on 04/22/2009 7:13:31 PM PDT by neverdem
Several high-ranking senators led by Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) on Tuesday relaunched their push to require gun sellers to conduct background checks on purchases of all types of guns at state gun shows.
On the heels of the 10-year anniversary of the Columbine shootings the lawmakers pushed to close the gun show “loophole” that exists in more than 30 states.
These states do not require personal gun sellers, who are authorized to hawk their own firearms at gun shows, to conduct a background check on buyers of the guns. This allows people with criminal histories to easily obtain weapons like those used in the Columbine killings, according to lawmakers.
Measures similar to Lautenberg’s bill have passed the Senate twice before but have failed to pass the House because of pressure from gun lobbying organizations like the National Rifle Association, said Lautenberg, who was joined Tuesday by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).
“There is no rational reason to oppose closing the loophole,” said Lautenberg, the bill’s sponsor. “The reason it’s still not closed issimple: the continuing power of the special interest gun lobby in Washington.”
The NRA strongly opposes requiring background checks on the personal sale of firearms, saying that such mandates could extend into gun deals that take place in the homes of Americans, which would infringe on the gun rights spelled out in the Second Amendment.
The NRA has also said that guns used in crimes, like those used in the killings at Virginia Tech nearly two years ago, are not usually purchased at gun shows.
Lautenberg called on his colleagues to support the bill, which he plans to introduce this week, but said he wasn’t thinking about whether or not it stands a better chance of passing this year.
But gun control advocates with the Brady Campaign heralded President Obama as a strong ally to getting the measure passed and signed into law this year.
“For the last eight years we haven’t had anyone in the White House who supported this,” said Paul Helmke, the group’s president. “The president supports it, Sen. (John) McCain (R-Ariz.) has supported it. It makes sense — we already do background checks for other gun sales; we ought to get this done.”
Attorney General Eric Holder, also faced with an increasing debate on reinstating a ban on assault weapons, has not actively addressed the gun show “loopholes.”
“These are issues that we'll have to discuss,” Holder said on CBS two weeks ago. “The president will be the one who will ultimately set policy: things that are politically salable and things that will ultimately be effective.”
Lautenberg on Tuesday also said that by tightening requirements of personal gun sellers at gun shows, law enforcement officials could more closely track firearms and possibly curb the number of weapons used by drug cartels in Mexico.
“Thirty percent of the guns that go to Mexico are bought at gun shows,” he said. “We don’t know whether they’re bought from unlicensed dealers, but logic would say let’s have some idea who it is that bought those guns and what their intentions might be.”
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) has repeatedly said at congressional hearings on the increasing violence along the U.S.-Mexico border that he supports imposing the mandatory background checks at gun shows as a way to blunt the border violence.
“I think there are also legislative steps that we can take to strengthen this fight,” he said at a hearing last month. “If Congress, for instance, closed the gun show loophole that allows purchasers to circumvent background checks that occur at … gun stores, our government's work would be a lot easier and more effective.”
But Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told Lieberman that she could not wait for Congress to take action.
“Anecdotally a number (of the guns used in Mexico drug violence) have been purchased at (U.S.) gun shows,” she said. “The issue for me … is that we need to act now and as you know that sort of a statute would take a while to wind its way through. I (have) to play the hand of cards I have, and the hand of cards I have allows me to do southbound seizures.”
Obama will NOT “triangulate” -— sure he will do some phony baloney “$100,000,000.00 ‘budget cuts’” (0.007% of his actual HUGE spending!)
However, Obama has reversed Clinton's “Welfare Reform” -—
Obama will not favor capital gains tax cuts -—
These things DID help Clinton get a few independent votes!
So Obama will tick off everyone who was mad at Clinton, plus a few people that Clinton actually “triangulated”!
Or, alternatively, he's just brain dead.
Didn't he entrust his family fortune to Bernie Madoff? Guy like that shouldn't have public office.
“Anecdotally a number (of the guns used in Mexico drug violence) have been purchased at (U.S.) gun shows,” she said. “The issue for me … is that we need to act now and as you know that sort of a statute would take a while to wind its way through. I (have) to play the hand of cards I have, and the hand of cards I have allows me to do southbound seizures.”
Well, stupid, tell the damn Mexican border guards to do their damn job and not allow those guns into their country, just like your Dept. should be doing it’s damn job and securing our borders.
NOTE: The 2nd Amendment is SELF-incorporated to all government entities at every level. It is MORE ABSOLUTE than the 1st Amendment, or any of the others, because the wording forbids not only CONGRESS, but ANYONE from infringing on it. The 1st says “Congress shall make no law...”. The 2nd say “shall NOT be infringed!” Period! End of debate!
Why don’t they be honest and STOP referring to it as a “gun show loophole”. It really has nothing to do with gun shows. Licensed dealers already to background checks at gun shows. The politicians want to regulate private sales between individuals, at or away from gunshows.
There’s no way to enforce such a law without registration. That’s what this is REALLY all about.
Aw, c’mon!
Let’s have some good ol’ anti-gun laws!
Something to really re-define the Dimocrat Party!
Let’s put an end to that Dimocrat majority once and for all!
The big lie again. The whole idea of background checks is an utter, complete failure. We cannot prevent criminals from obtaining firearms by restricting the ability of noncriminals to buy arms. We *can* penalize criminals who use guns in crimes, we *can* forbid violent criminals from owning guns, though it is debatable how much good it can do.
But, the idea that we can prevent criminals from getting guns by restricting their sale to ordinary citizens (such as by background checks) is a failed policy.
Its only real purpose is registration so as to set up confiscation.
I’m with you. Let’s bring this to a vote now! 2010 is just around the corner!
R’s will sweep both houses away from the rat’s again.
How are those gun laws working out for you in Joisey Frank?
I spent several hours in NJ, flying back and forth from the UK.
It took 15 guys with shovels, tar, and a big ol’ truck to fill ONE pot hole on a side road at the airport.
And, of course, I missed my flight home because of some....union..whatever...
I wish they would try this. Let’s get it over with so they get trashed in the 2010 elections cause it is the only thing that is going to slow down the Obama Express.
Obama knows it too. See his remarks about not pushing forward the assault weapons re-introduction?
The tide is starting to turn and this is one of many issues that will cost the DNC massive political capital. Immigration reform is another that they would love to do but they don’t have the votes.
Our only chance of avoiding complete disaster is to get a congress that will stop the bleeding. I am not optimistic right now but if they continue this stupidity maybe middle America will wake up!
Bingo
Dont give them any ideas!
But the seller will be condcuting a straw purchase and his name will still be linked to that gun and if it turns up in a crime he will be responsible for selling that gun.
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