Based on the answer I got from the state senator, it just proves what an asinine boondoggle the initiative/referendum process is. We all know just how intelligent the voters are. Most of them will buy the “prevent criminals from obtaining guns and reduce domestic violence” lie with no regards or research into what the far reaching effects are to law abiding citizens. Because, after all, “it’s for your own safety”. No explanation on just how this would prevent anything.
Amen.
I practically lived on the various newspaper comments sections up in Washington, trying to get our point across: The people were being lied to and manipulated, i.e. There is no “loophole” (backed up with quotes from the 1968 GCA) and exposing it is a registration scheme in disguise (typical liberal trick).
Unfortunately, non-gun owners didn’t give a damn (and I doubt that they will in any other state). All they could see is how “reasonable” it was, ignoring the Form 4473 connection. That, or the “it would make us safer” meme.
Bloomberg and his fellow one per-centers will use the same successful arguments in Nevada, Oregon and other targeted states.
We had better start putting pressure on the NRA, GOA and other gun rights organizations to go pro-active on this “background check” business or gun registration will be implemented state by state. We are going to have to offer a background check initiative that checks the buyer ONLY, via a drivers license or some recognized photo ID.
Sitting at the keyboard and making defensive arguments against this background check scam is not going to work. There are too many Gruber-voters out there. We need our own competing version to cut the ground out from under the antis.
Most of us are familiar with that animated GIF that shows the spread of Shall Issue CCW states. If the pro-gun organizations don’t get off their duffs, we’ll see a similar one showing how quickly universal background checks spread. Start emailing/calling/badgering your politicians and gun organizations NOW.