Seventeen years ago, pressured by its neighbors to stem the flow of guns into the Northeast, Virginia enacted a bipartisan bill that limited the purchase of handguns to one every 30 days. Virtually overnight, experts say, the "Iron Pipeline" slowed and the number of guns used in crimes in New Jersey and traced to Virginia fell sharply.
But now a Virginia legislator wants to turn his state back into one of New Jersey’s leading arsenals. A bill proposed by L. Scott Lingamfelter, a Republican, has cleared the House of Delegates, with mostly Republican support, and is headed for the state Senate, which is controlled by Democrats. There the bill’s chances are uncertain, but if it passes, Gov. Bob McDonnell intends to sign it. Virginia’s gun-running days could be back again.
Lingamfelter, a retired Army colonel, insists Virginians’ Second Amendment rights are being restricted. The current law "rations constitutional rights," he says; "It hasn’t reduced crime. It has reduced commerce."
Lingamfelter says the National Instant Check System, which wasn’t around in 1993, can keep felons from purchasing guns. Maybe, but many of the guns that end up in New Jersey are purchased by "straw buyers" — people with valid Virginia drivers licenses who act as purchasing agents for a fee.
New Jersey officials — from U.S. senators to police chiefs — are wondering what Virginia lawmakers are thinking. In a gun-trafficking study of 2008, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that, even with the reduced flow, Virginia still ranked third among outside states providing guns used in New Jersey crimes.
Repealing Virginia’s firearm law will mean hundreds more guns on New Jersey streets each year, many married to a violent, criminal intent. To argue that the law is an onerous burden on law-abiding gun buyers is silly. Virginians can buy 12 guns a year. How many do they need?
When the "experts" say the number of guns used in New Jersey crime which were traced back to Virginia fell sharply 17 years ago with the one-gun-a-month law, I believe them. What do you think? Even if the word "sharply" is an exaggeration, the numbers had to have declined.
When L. Scott Lingamfelter says the law needs to go because it infringes the 2nd Amendment rights of Virginians, don't you think this is one of those "common sense" restrictions gun rights advocates should accept in the name of the Common Good?
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
"When the 'experts' say the number of guns used in New Jersey crime which were traced back to Virginia fell sharply 17 years ago with the one-gun-a-month law, I believe them. What do you think? Even if the word 'sharply' is an exaggeration, the numbers had to have declined."
ReplyDeleteGee, just late last year those same "experts" claimed that Virginia was one of the biggest sources of the "iron pipeline". But wait, this law was in effect saving them all from the scourge of guns. So which is it? Does this law stem the flow or not? Last year it didn't seem to.
Remember how your "experts" were whining about the Times Square shooter and how his gun that they instantly traced (which couldn't really happen because your "experts" say Tiahrt won't let law enforcement trace guns) to a woman in Virginia. Then, Virginia was the "number one source" of guns to New York beating out all of the other states that don't have a rationing scheme in place. Your "experts" frequently contradict themselves, often even in the same report. You go ahead and believe your "experts".
"When L. Scott Lingamfelter says the law needs to go because it infringes the 2nd Amendment rights of Virginians, don't you think this is one of those "common sense" restrictions gun rights advocates should accept in the name of the Common Good?"
Just because New Jersey or New York can't control their criminals, why should any law abiding citizen in Virginia or anywhere else be inconvenienced in the slightest?
If you are a 2nd class citizen in New Jersey, you cannot possess hollow point bullets. As far as I know, they are the only state to have such a restriction. Should that mean that I should not possess them either or be restricted in any way from acquiring them just because New Jersey enacted a silly law?
FWM, Don't miss this part. "even with the reduced flow, Virginia still ranked third among outside states providing guns used in New Jersey crimes."
ReplyDeleteAs you say, it didn't work very well before, it'll be worse now.
MikeB,
ReplyDeleteIn reality it probably won't make a difference. A straw purchase is a criminal act whether you do it once a month or twice.
Mikeb says:
ReplyDelete. . . don't you think this is one of those "common sense" restrictions gun rights advocates should accept in the name of the Common Good?
Nope--no such thing.
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ReplyDeleteRuffRidr, For a moment there I thought you were saying Weer'd wrote an "excellent essay." I found it more than a little surprising that you thought that.
ReplyDeleteThe Carl Sagan piece, though, is great.
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ReplyDelete“Virginians can buy 12 guns a year. How many do they need?”
ReplyDeleteYep, there it is again: 12 a year/One a month… same diff. Again, I’ll ask the question; why not make the law 12 a year? Same net flow; almost no affect on legitimate buyers.
MikeB: “When the "experts" say the number of guns used in New Jersey crime which were traced back to Virginia fell sharply 17 years ago with the one-gun-a-month law, I believe them. What do you think?”
ALL violent crime fell sharply 17 years ago. It could only go down from the early 90s.
-TS