Posted on 11/23/2015 6:49:40 PM PST by markomalley
A group of 24 Senate Democrats urged the president Monday to dodge Congress and act on his own to make new rules on gun control, after Congress has failed to move any gun bills.
The senators, led by Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy of Connecticut, requested the White House take an immediate step to change the law that now allows sellers who do not have a federal license to sell guns to individuals at shows, online and elsewhere without conducting background checks.
The letter said Democrats would keep trying to pass a gun bill, but said Obama should explore options on his own in the meantime.
"We ask you, concurrently, to investigate and pursue all available options under your executive authority to reduce gun violence," they wrote. "Specifically, your administration could take an immediate step that would have an important impact on limiting gun violence. We urge you to address an aspect of the high-volume gun seller loophole that allows guns to be sold without a background check by eliminating the ambiguity surrounding the term 'engaged in the business' as it pertains to federally licensed firearms dealers."
"It would help ensure that those clearly holding themselves out as gun dealers are held to the same standard as the thousands of responsible gun dealers already licensed with [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] ATF across the country," the senators wrote.
The regulatory definition of "engaged in the business" would be tweaked to include all gun sellers, not just ATF-licensed individuals. Current law requires only licensed gun dealers to carry out background checks during gun sales.
In the House, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) sent a similar letter to the White House, with support from 114 of his colleagues.
From the article: “...change the law that now allows sellers who do not have a federal license to sell guns to individuals at shows, online and elsewhere without conducting background checks.”
Is there actually such a law on the books, or are they complaining that there is not a law forbidding all sales without background checks? Not the same thing.
I think we have to be ready for civil disobedience. If Congress lets Obama try to kill the 2nd Amendment with an Executive order then time to ignore the blatantly unconstitutional action. If enough people are ready for it, I believe the entire gun-owning citizenry would agree.
Of course I also thought the governors would show some backbone if O pushed the refugee thing.
A majority of governors have shown some backbone in defying Obama on the refugees. I believe the count is over half by now. I know Florida ‘s gov. has formally protested.
Yeah but did Abbott do anything when O said they’re coming anyway? To be honest, I haven’t been able to follow so closely last few days so maybe he did.
and the author did respond to my email...and also sent me that site to visit...
Not often do they respond to emails, I was quiet surprised.and I Thanked her as well...
also thank you. the typical Democrats that yell the loudest all the time...I see Sherrod Brown was listed, Ohio Senator from Lorain County...I knew of him, he was friends with the one time Mayor of North Ridgeville OH. I lived in North Ridgeville OH for 32 years..and was a prescient committee person for a number of years... Sen. Brown deserves to be replaced...worthless as all the rest of them...JMO
wow...
She did reply to my email...guess I could have held my breath for a bit!!!
and Saved by Grace listed the 22 Senators...I thank her as well...
American Voters Demand Removal of Senate Dems.
This is an extraordinary change in our system of government, and it seems like it’s happened overnight.
Because of the rules on ending debate, one individual US Senator was (and is) the most powerful parliamentarian on the planet. Even with the huge Democratic majorities under FDR after 1936 and LBJ after 1964, the Democrat leaders in the Senate fought with the President and defended the power and prerogative of their offices.
Now? Now, these poltroons are BEGGING Caesar to rule without them. To rule over them.
It’s amazing. And, before you all chime in about “demonrats” and all that other crap, the GOP is just as bad, if not worse - worse because they were elected to oppose Caesar, which they promised to do, and now they are lying down for him just like their “friends across the aisle”.
In the state of Washington, in order to buy a gun at a gun show you have to be a member of the organization that puts on the shows. To be a member you have to pass a background check. So there was no “gun show loophole” in our system.
Of course last year our dumb voters passed the new law requiring the fee and background for any gun “transfers”. A transfer now includes letting my adult son shoot my gun at the range, letting my wife borrow my gun to put in her purse, giving it to a gunsmith to let him look at it, etc.
Of course nobody worries about it. Except the gunsmiths.
Private sales are legal, and no requirement for background check. That said, private sellers are aware and required Drivers License and/or carry permit (preferably) to place the buyer under scrutiny, like an e-verify. Some even do an e-verify, like an employer would.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.