[WRhine]

I couldn't believe it. (I hadn't bought a gun for awhile.) I said to the dealer (long before 9/11), "you mean to tell me a noncitizen can buy a firearm?" He said, "Sure, why not?" (He is of foreign origin.)

You bet. I'll never forget one time looking over some hand guns with a local gun dealer when I noticed an hispanic couple next to me also looking at guns to buy. Both seemed to be illegals and this guy's wife was translating what the sales guy was saying about the guns he was thinking about buying. I remember thinking at the time "how can an illegal alien buy a gun in this country"? This was about 8 years ago.

[hoosierskypilot]

"..how can an illegal alien buy a gun in this country.."

Absolutely! You would be amazed at how often this happens in California. I know gun dealers are motivated by profit, but someone needs to exercise some common sense.

I peruse the inventory of local guns stores, and am disgusted at the numbers of aliens shopping for guns. And not just so called "Saturday night specials", either. They're looking at Sigs, HKs, Glocks and the like.

[El Gato]

I remember thinking at the time "how can an illegal alien buy a gun in this country"? This was about 8 years ago.

How's an illegal, as opposed to a legal alien, going to pass the background check? I suspect they were legal. You don't have to speak English to be a legal resident. 8 years ago is just before the backcheck went into effect, IIRC. The courts have ruled that the group "the people" consists of more than just citizens, it inlcludes legal residents, and for some purposes (due process for instance), but not this one, even illegals.