We’ve heard about what the Democrats want in terms of new gun control laws ad nauseum. And to be honest, I’m not that impressed. In fact the proposals – whether in Congress or individual states – show a fundamental lack of understanding of these things called “facts” and “studies” and that old document knows as the Constitution. But for those who understand and support the Second Amendment, what, if anything, is on their wish list of gun control legislation? Well, here’s my list of changes that can work and might have a snowball’s chance in hell of passing . . .
1. Legalize Marijuana
I worked for a while as a contractor for DHS doing risk analysis for terrorism and transnational crime which includes drug importation. And based on my experience, I can’t see a single damned reason why marijuana needs to be criminalized. In fact, based on my experience the legalization of marijuana would reduce crime and drug-related violence. After all, a large majority of “gun violence” is drug-related and going after the underlying cause of that makes more sense than going after the implements used to facilitate those crimes. And, if legalized, the Linux techs at my day job would be able to light up without fear of prosecution.
2. Improved Background Checks
Didn’t expect that one, did you?
I’ve always said that my personal belief is that fundamental rights are fundamental and not to be infringed . . . right up until you’ve proven that you can’t be trusted with those rights. And part of that belief is that background checks should be an effective means to filter out violent felons and others who have proven that they can’t be trusted with firearms.
By “improved” I mean increased funding for the NICS system to allow it to process more applications more quickly. And making sure the current information requested by the FBI from the states is actually being included in the database.
Part of that improvement is also removing some of the more laughable restrictions. Like habitual illegal drug use, since just because you use illegal drugs doesn’t automatically make you a violent criminal. In fact I’m pretty sure most people on drugs are incapable of maintaining a patent airway much less stabbing me, a concept I base on my years as an EMT.
Another part of improving the NICS system is giving people a clear and simple mechanism for the complete restoration of their firearms rights and getting off the list permanently. If an impartial judge or panel of some sort says you’re not a threat, you should have all rights and privileges immediately restored. Even domestic violence charges or restraining orders should be able to be expunged as far as NICS is concerned — I know way too many people that have had some terrible divorces who now can’t own guns because of trumped up charges that their ex-wives made up to get their money. In short, no matter what its been said you have done, it shouldn’t be permanent.
While improved background checks are something I would support, mandatory background checks for face to face sales are NOT. The commerce clause of the constitution doesn’t extend that far, so I object on a Constitutional basis. But even further than that, I have serious issues with how such a thing would be implemented.
Would you require going through an FFL, which would be a backdoor registry? What about a phone system – how do you keep anyone and everyone from abusing it and running a NCIS check on your mailman? Right now, it just seems wide open for abuse and not possible to implement in a way that wouldn’t stretch the constitution to the breaking point.
3. Tighter Penalties for Straw Purchasers
Hand in hand with background checks is making it a more serious offense to buy a gun for someone you know is a criminal and unable to purchase a gun on their own. According to a recent DOJ memo, something like 45%+ of guns used in crime are straw purchases, so cutting off that flow with higher (and federal) penalties is something I can get behind.
If you knowingly provide a gun to a criminal, you should not only be charged as an accomplice but also charged with every crime they commit — in the same way that any death as a result of the commission of a felony is considered murder (even if it’s your partner who was shot by a homeowner), the people that supply the guns should be held accountable.
4. Enforce of Existing Laws
It’s hard to support any new gun control laws when existing laws aren’t even being enforced. Straw purchasing doesn’t carry as terrible a punishment as it should. And while drug possession is treated as if you just stabbed the president’s dog, illegal gun possession by a prohibited person doesn’t seem to warrant the same response.
The criminal code of the United States is already confusing enough. It doesn’t make sense to add still more confusing laws that only impact law abiding citizens before enforcing those we already have.
5. Silencers should only require a NICS check, not NFA registration
Silencers are virtually never used in the commission of a crime, legal silencers even more rarely. Suppressors are safety devices that should be available in every gun store and offered as an accessory to every firearm. This is one of the things that England actually managed to get right, and I’m surprised that the same people that idolize their firearms policies over here don’t latch onto this one as well.
I’m actually of the opinion that the entire National Firearms Act needs to be scaled back, but one thing at a time. I like being able to play the violin. I like my perfect pitch just the way it is. And gun ranges aren’t helping any right now.
6. NFA Branch at ATF should keep all its revenue . . . and hire more people
Right now, that $200 you send along with the ATF NFA paperwork doesn’t go to the ATF — it goes to the general fund pool. And then the ATF has to beg Congress for funding. At this point the 6 – 9 month wait for NFA items is a bigger roadblock for people than the $200 sin tax on the items themselves, which makes no sense. If you send in money that’s ostensibly to fund the system, it should actually go to fund the system.
Then again, the NFA is most definitely unconstitutional and should be abolished, but thanks to a crappy case before the Supreme Court it has passed scrutiny. So it’s a terrible fact of life right now.
7. The ATF should be rolled into the FBI
There’s an awful lot of redundancy in the U.S. government. It can do with a bit of streamlining and the ATF is one of those areas. Since the FBI is the federal organization in charge of fighting crime in the United States, it makes sense to concentrate those efforts into a single entity that can do that as efficiently and cheaply as possible. Aren’t we looking for ways to save money these days?
8. National Concealed Carry
I’m not opposed to concealed carry permits. Tyler keeps trying to get me on the side of constitutional carry, and while I understand the argument, I disagree. If the right to “keep” arms can be subject to background checks then the right to “bear” them can be subject to no more or less scrutiny.
When you’re on your own property I don’t care if you have a permit or not, but when you venture out into public, I believe that the need for public safety is high enough to warrant some verification. Verification, not hoop jumping. What I’m opposed to are onerous requirements and “may issue” states.
A simple background check is all that should be required to get a permit anywhere in the nation that’s good for use everywhere in the nation, like how Pennsylvania does it right now. It should be the same standard across the nation, with full reciprocity and national preemption. My right to bear arms shouldn’t depend on how nice the local attorney general is feeling.
These are some concrete, er, common sense proposals that would keep more guns out of the hands of criminals as well as reducing violent crime while not infringing on the civil rights of citizens. In the opinion of this Democrat, at least.
The CONservative Faux News (..cough…NOT news..propaganda..cough) is anti-gun, because of their beloved Murdoch being anti-gun. It’s not a news channel, it’s the Murdoch agenda channel.
Yeah, but thank God we can count on MSNBC, CNN and the mainstream press to defend our Second Amendment right to… *snort*… BWAHAHAHAAAA!! Oh man, I couldn’t even TYPE that crap with a straight face!
But seriously, none of the news networks are on our side; never have been, never will be. It’s all just varying degrees of antagonism against us gun owners.
Grabbers love to tout gun control as public safety measures, but making suppressors accessible would do more to make guns safer than any of the unconstitutional laws they support.
But of course these assholes have no experience with firearms and get most of their gun “knowledge” from movies and a biased news media.
I don’t object to legalizing certain drugs, however the addicts I know have money issues not supply issues. Maybe in larger Urban areas (Chicago) and where the cartels are big, it might help. Although I thought they prefer stronger stuff than marijuana.
Refusing power is the mark of the defeated.
It would be nice to see the legal age to buy a handgun from an FFL lowered to 18 as well as the right to apply for a carry permit.
They are reaching deep to try and do something logic be damned.
In fact I’m pretty sure most people on drugs are incapable of maintaining a patent airway much less stabbing me, a concept I base on my years as an EMT
If the above were true, they would cease to be anyones’ problem after 6 minutes.
But usually that crowd is more interested in converting our guns into their drugs.
So I would enhance the penalty for theft of a firearm to the point they would take my TV and leave my guns, tho the paranoids would still want the guns
“In fact I’m pretty sure most people on drugs are incapable of maintaining a patent airway much less stabbing me, a concept I base on my years as an EMT.”
No offense but please lose that mentality. I dont mean to insult you and I know you did say “most” but people in our proffesion can not afford to think like that, ever. Be safe brother.
Thankfully the vast and overwhelming OD calls we get are parents freaking out because their kids are stoned off their ass on pot. The actual OD calls are usually some kind of opiate (yay depressed CNS!) and its tons of fun to watch the narcan hit them like a ton of bricks. I have yet to have one of them try to stab me, but that’s why we roll with a PD escort when we do OD calls.
I’m down. Throw in a free t-shirt with every NICS background check and I’ll run for Senate just to vote for the Foghorn plan.
I have said this before.
If they want some sort of national gun license, then we as law abiding gun owners would take a free or affordable class, get our license, like a FOID card, be able to carry concealed anywhere. Go into any gun shop in the nation and walk out with a gun. Period!
Of course this destroys all of the commerce laws they have in place regulating our RIGHT to own certain types of firearms or accessories. It also kills all the local and state laws put in place to keep law abiding citizens from owning certain things. Personally I think it is a compromise I can live with.
Eliminate the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Gun Control Act of 1968. I also see no reason for background checks on suppressors. They’re useless without a firearm, and those are already covered. Otherwise, looks good to me.
Can you roll short barrel rifles and shotguns in with suppressors? Personally, I’ve wondered if we win a few more victories in the Supreme Court could be try and McDonald the NFA, at least for SBSs and SBRs. The logic over legal barrel length is as arbitrary as limited magazine capacity.
So this really does nothing, but gosh he feels so proud of himself! Smart investors know that this is a great investment. For the next year, the manufacturers are booming. They will continue to boom, until all this dies away.
It would be funny if they invest in green energy and all the teachers pensions die off. Then they sue the union for being stupid!
Not sure about the marijuana suggestion, since I haven’t put much thought into it, so I defer on that item.
Otherwise, I agree with all of your suggestions plus a necessary amendment to your national concealed carry suggestion would be uniform firearm laws for all 50 states. Without uniform firearm laws someone going through NY, CA MA etc. with a full double stack magazine, an “evil black rifle”, etcetera could get into big trouble.
Now that’s some funny shit right there.
This is probably the first time I have heard someone say all the things I agree with. I would stand behind this 100%. FOGHORN FOR PRESIDENT!
If it’s the AC-556 vs the Ranch Rifle, that’s a pretty big difference.
Thank you!
i go to the basement and count rounds. just look at them, you understand!
Mr. Leghorn,
Few would be so bold as to propose such publicly to this sort of crowd. Kudos.
Either he murdered her (very likely), or he broke Rule 4.
There is never a reason for a law to require LEO inspection of anything.
If there is a valid reason for the State to inspect ANYTHING, they can go get a warrant.
In this case, a simple administrative warrant would suffice. It would be enough hassle that the Sheriff would have to decide how to use his limited resources, which would reduce the hassles.
Not that I agree with the premise, but any new law requiring “inspections” should require a warrant.
Since I have a moderate amount of .22 and .38 ammunition I don’t mind plinking a box at least once a month. I too, have a pellet gun (Gamo Varmit Hunter) and love shooting it. The scope, laser and flashlight are way cool.
My perception is that the latest trend in scarce ammunition is because newcomers are buying it up as fast as they can. Many will end up selling it in a few years, after they decide they don’t want to be responsible for a weapon they’ve never used. At this point there should be a pretty good surplus. I don’t intend on even looking for additional ammo for a month or so.
I found the ad an issue because of how it interfered with my reading of the articles. I think it may be a viable revenue generator if it would appear on the right hand side of the screen. There is a stretch of area that has little if any text that is would not bother me to see the ad in. Keep the “x” available to remove it in case it is in the way of the bit of text that is there or don’t let it travel that high up.
Although nitpicking is a TTAG specialty :-), I’m not going to nitpick this proposal. It actually all makes sense. The one point I would add is this: while I agree that NICS checks for casual sales should not be required, they should nevertheless be permitted. In other words, open up the NICS system to private sellers.
I’ve never sold a gun to a stranger, and I won’t. Close friends and family, sure, but not strangers. The ethical and legal issues are too troublesome. However, I would sell to a stranger if I had personal access to the NICS system.
IIRC, individual (non-FFL) access was actually proposed prior to the Brady bill’s enactment, but didn’t make it into the final law.
yakuza gets to save on ammo costs.
What’s wrong with the AP? That’s like asking what went wrong with Fast & Furious. The answer is nothing. The purpose of F&F was to arm the Sinaloas. The purpose of the AP is diseminate propaganda, which it does just as well as the rest of the MSM.
You say it’s a news agency? Hahahahahahahaha. Oh, wait. You were serious about that?
No way Reeva Steencamp’s death was an accident. One round, an accident is a possibility; 4 rounds and a crushed skull to boot, uh-uh. I mean, WTF, y’all?
The bright side of the story is that if he’s guilty then he won’t be making a mockery of foot races anymore.
Clearly, that pretty girl did something which set that man off. He wanted his companion dead, no ifs and or buts to it.
Its a trip down a path id just as soon forget, but there was one occasion when I was sorely tempted to hurt my then girlfriend. We’d had a pregnancy scare and her first response to the matter was that we’d have the kid and make the best of things. I made it clear I valued her true opinion above social custom, at which point she came clean. She’s sneak off to a different state and have an abortion, and then lie to me about the entire thing . The enormity of her planned duplicity sent me to a place beyond anger. That was the day the relationship ended, though to this day that ex has no idea.
I do not under any circumstances condone domestic violence: and I’ve never laid a hand in anger toward a woman. But females of a sort can push a guy past his own limits- and one that pretty has to have some issues. I’ve been around enough truly hot girls to know they’re all basket cases.
You forgot limiting the police to the same restrictions as private citizens. Also, I think the verification part should require a little more than a simple background check. A short safety demonstration and range qualification should be required. All carry permit applicants should be required to load, unload, holster, draw and shoot to a national minimal standard, and reholster without committing safety violations. Classes covering carry laws, armed defense laws, and the legal liabilities involved in defensive shootings are a great thing and should be discussed as a possible requirement.
Congratulations Colorado. This is just the first nail in your ‘democratic’ coffin.
How many more rights will you give up?
Somehow I’m willing to bet this video won’t be used by antis….it doesn’t show the right demographic abusing guns.
Homey didn’t enjoy being publically humiliated by the smaller gent. I’m sure he has a concealed license.
Videos of “fights” are as old as Youtube itself… besides videos of pop music, cats, small children accidentally nailing dad in the crotch with a ball, there’s lots of videos of people fighting.
That being said, you’d think after all these fights have been posted, people would learn some basic stances and how to throw a decent punch. Watching 2 drunken idiots stumble around awkwardly in the street was painful to watch.
I’m sure they are both either:
Honor Roll Students
or
In the Choir of their respected Churches.
At least that’s what they always say on the news here.
When drug rights activists stand up and say that banning an inanimate object, and legislating what substances people can put in their own body is lunacy, and actually mean it, then I’ll care.
But as of now, they’re only giving lip service to liberty, and the same states that are legalizing marijuana are trying to ban guns. They don’t care about liberty. They want us all high on the Soma of the day so we don’t notice how much the government is overstepping it’s bounds.
What kids do on a Saturday night in gun banned Chicago.
A factory folder Ruger Mini-14 is still on my wishlist of rifles to own someday, if for no other reason than it gives me happy, nostalgic memories of watching A-Team episodes with my Dad.
I see that in Japan, the Samuri class has been destroyed, but the vast majority of the population still consider themselves to be serfs.
Interesting, but sad.
Don’t forget gun stuff! It can’t all be politics. You’ve been doing OK the last couple weeks after a pretty depressing couple months, so keep it up!
Ditto Matt. Plus all the gun stuff doesn’t have to be about AR’s. Pellet guns, crossbows, muzzle loaders, there’s a whole world of topics out there that would appeal to the varied crowd we have here.
I too originally began visiting because of the reviews and have stayed for the community. There are some great comments on this site and I have learned quite a bit from some of the fine folks who frequent TTAG (I am talking to you Dypeptic Gunsmith. I got your gun lube recipe saved.)
Thanks for being here.
Hmmm…
I fail to notice an ammunition shortage. While there are indeed long lines at the gun counter and people are taking numbers in the hope of snapping up the last Glock or Bushmaster, and the ammunition shelves are largely bare, I pay no attention.
My arms are Russian, and old. They are neither flashy nor particularly pretty, but neither is a Carhart jacket. Also like a Carhart, They just work, are indestructible and I’ll wear out a hundred years before they do.
They also use ammunition that most other weapons don’t, and therefor isn’t being snapped up by the bushel. I buy new to stay sharp, and keep ’em loaded with milsurp SPAM when they’re at home standing watch.
Y’know, I’ve never been subject to peer pressure and snide comments at the range about my “Ruskie junk” typically don’t bother me.
However, as I watch folks making like ants in their self-induced ammunition fammine, I cannot help but feel a tidge smug.
Russ Bixby, curmudgeon of the plains
The day I need a hundred rounds to bag dinner, I’ll move to dynamiting fish in a barrel.
When they call me “cracker” I don’t get upset. Like the Andy Griffith commercial used to go “Everything tastes better on a Ritz” (Yeah, I know, don’t correct me)
At least they haven’t lost their sense of humor. Randy
Can you make a citizen’s arrest on a politician who willfully attacks the Constitution?
I appreciate you efforts and your site. You’ve opened my eyes to a wider world.
I don’t trust McCain or his judgment as far as I can throw either. He has proven himself easily compromised and don’t get me started on illegal aliens!
But he’s a proud parent of a soldier, so he must love this country and defend it’s constitution. [/sarc]
Sounds like he is posturing to jump the fence again.
Wow, legless “disabled” man still dangerous enough to chase her down and kill her!
Politicians don’t give a damn about us little people. Regardless of what letter is beside their name.
Looks a lot like the “conservative” presidential candidate democrats chose for us 5 yeas ago, before this last douchebag-fake conservative-unelectable presidential candidate were told to vote for last November.
Gosh, who do you think they’ll let us vote for next time?
I watch Ax men just to see what Shelby is up to. How about that crazy dude Richard who comes out of the swamp and picks fight with Shelby. He shot a combound bow at him last season. It nearly hit him in the face. WTF?
“Nick tried to tackle his mom…”
Momma gonna knock you out…
Would the NRA or SAF sponsor a Gallup pole with real questions please? This lunacy has got to stop!
I’m gone to say to my little brother, that he should also visit this web site on regular basis to obtain updated from latest news.