Most of us should know the facts on the "Universal Background Checks" by now, but I see more comments lately about wanting to compromise and accept a UBC under certain conditions. It cannot be overstated how important keeping transfers of firearms out of the government's tight grasp is for our liberties and security. A few points below either as a reminder or something some people might overlook.
(Note: Some of this taken from this article here: https://reason.com/2015/10/08/4-reasons-universal-background-checks-ar )
Here are some major problems with requiring background checks for private gun transfers as a policy, as opposed to a political stunt:
1. Expanding the background check requirement makes no sense as a response to mass shootings (even though that is how it has been presented), because the perpetrators of these crimes, typically either have actually passed background checks or could do so because they do not have disqualifying criminal or psychiatric records.
2. Expanding the background check requirement makes little sense as a response to more common forms of gun violence, since criminals with felony records can always obtain weapons on the black market, through buyers with clean records, making their own, or by theft.
3. Removed. (See AlexanderA's reply that I agree with).
4. Expanding the background check requirement is not the same as actually compelling people to perform background checks for private gun transfers. Many gun owners will balk at the inconvenience and expense of finding and paying a licensed dealer who is willing to facilitate a transaction. In Oregon, which expanded its background-check requirement in 2015, some local law enforcement officials have publicly stated they do not plan to enforce the new rule, either because they do not have the resources or because they view it as an unconstitutional intrusion. The Oregonian notes that "there is no centralized registry of guns in Oregon…that could be used to track a gun found in a criminal's possession." The federal government has no such registry either, so how can it possibly hope to track transfers and make sure background checks are performed? Even with hefty criminal penalties, widespread noncompliance is a certainty.
Consider: Does the theoretical prospect of a 10-year prison sentence deter gun owners from smoking pot or pot smokers from owning guns?
5. Universal Background Checks apply to temporary transfers as well. Loaning a buddy multiple handguns to go to the range to let his wife try different options before her next purchase will require a multiple handgun sale form in both directions and lots of FFL fees.
6. UBC bills usually don't recognize non-traditional families as family members meaning an illegal transfer of a firearm is likely to occur countless times without parties even being aware.
7. Many towns have only one (if any) FFL that is quite a drive away and will require multiple trips and a hefty transfer fee (some having stated that if UBC becomes law their transfer fees will increase to $125 per firearm). And if you work during the times that those FFL's are open what are you to do then? Drive an hour away (twice) so you can lend your cousin your granddad's old .22 rifle to go plinking with?
8. Last but not least, Universal Background Checks only work with registration (something that is supposed to be already illegal in the 1986 FOPA). And what comes after registration? Confiscation.
Remember folks, the #1 cause of unnatural death in history is Democide, death by one's own government.
Sorry for the long post, thanks to those who take the time to read it. We need to dig our heels in and push this garbage back once more. Together.
(Note: Some of this taken from this article here: https://reason.com/2015/10/08/4-reasons-universal-background-checks-ar )
Here are some major problems with requiring background checks for private gun transfers as a policy, as opposed to a political stunt:
1. Expanding the background check requirement makes no sense as a response to mass shootings (even though that is how it has been presented), because the perpetrators of these crimes, typically either have actually passed background checks or could do so because they do not have disqualifying criminal or psychiatric records.
2. Expanding the background check requirement makes little sense as a response to more common forms of gun violence, since criminals with felony records can always obtain weapons on the black market, through buyers with clean records, making their own, or by theft.
3. Removed. (See AlexanderA's reply that I agree with).
4. Expanding the background check requirement is not the same as actually compelling people to perform background checks for private gun transfers. Many gun owners will balk at the inconvenience and expense of finding and paying a licensed dealer who is willing to facilitate a transaction. In Oregon, which expanded its background-check requirement in 2015, some local law enforcement officials have publicly stated they do not plan to enforce the new rule, either because they do not have the resources or because they view it as an unconstitutional intrusion. The Oregonian notes that "there is no centralized registry of guns in Oregon…that could be used to track a gun found in a criminal's possession." The federal government has no such registry either, so how can it possibly hope to track transfers and make sure background checks are performed? Even with hefty criminal penalties, widespread noncompliance is a certainty.
Consider: Does the theoretical prospect of a 10-year prison sentence deter gun owners from smoking pot or pot smokers from owning guns?
5. Universal Background Checks apply to temporary transfers as well. Loaning a buddy multiple handguns to go to the range to let his wife try different options before her next purchase will require a multiple handgun sale form in both directions and lots of FFL fees.
6. UBC bills usually don't recognize non-traditional families as family members meaning an illegal transfer of a firearm is likely to occur countless times without parties even being aware.
7. Many towns have only one (if any) FFL that is quite a drive away and will require multiple trips and a hefty transfer fee (some having stated that if UBC becomes law their transfer fees will increase to $125 per firearm). And if you work during the times that those FFL's are open what are you to do then? Drive an hour away (twice) so you can lend your cousin your granddad's old .22 rifle to go plinking with?
8. Last but not least, Universal Background Checks only work with registration (something that is supposed to be already illegal in the 1986 FOPA). And what comes after registration? Confiscation.
Remember folks, the #1 cause of unnatural death in history is Democide, death by one's own government.
Sorry for the long post, thanks to those who take the time to read it. We need to dig our heels in and push this garbage back once more. Together.
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