States would be paid to comply.
Under the bill, states voluntarily participating in the system would have to file an audit with the U.S. attorney general of all the criminal cases, mental health adjudications and court-ordered drug treatments that had not been filed with the instant-check system.
The federal government would then pick up 90 percent of the cost for the states to get up to date within 180 days of the audit.
Once the attorney general determines that a state has cleared its backlog, the federal government would begin financing all the costs of keeping the system current. If a state's compliance lapses, the attorney general would be authorized to cut federal law enforcement grants, with more draconian aid cuts mandated if noncompliance stretches longer than a year.
The bill would authorize payments to the states of $250 million a year between 2008 and 2010, when the program would have to be reassessed and reauthorized by Congress.
Only one state, Vermont, does not participate in the instant-check system, and even with the threatened aid cuts, negotiators expressed confidence that no other state would drop out, given the funding that would be available and the stigma that would be attached to withdrawal.
"I can't imagine a scenario where a state would drop out, and say what? 'If you're adjudicated schizophrenic, you can buy your guns here'?" asked a Democratic aide involved directly in the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not cleared to speak to reporters.
Can you imagine a scenario where a state would say. 'You're an adjudicated gun nut, and you can't buy your guns here.'?
Yea. But I have a very vivid imagination. I can also imagine this:
(You go to a gun store to purchase a rifle, and...)
Gun Store Clerk: "According to the FBI back-ground check, you were convicted at the age of 19, of being a minor in possession of alcohol; specificially a partially-consumed six-pack of Budweiser beer. I'm sorry, but you are prohibited by Federal law from purchasing a firearm."
"You may, if you wish, 'petition' the state to have your name removed from the database. Of course, the state isn't required to approve your petition. Have a nice day."
“Court ordered drug treatments”.....
Get a ticket for impaired driving, judge says you have to go take a couple classes on not driving after you drink, THE RATS will take away your gun rights forever!!
The NRA has it’S head up it’s a$$!!