Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Virginia Background Checks

The Washington Post reports that in Virginia background checks for gun purchases can take several hours or longer.

Background checks for firearm purchases in Virginia are taking longer because of state police staff cuts and strong demand for guns.

Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller says the agency's Virginia Firearms Transaction Center has lost 11 employees since May 2009.

Meanwhile, demand is rising. Between 2000 and 2009, firearms transactions in Virginia increased from 182,170 to 287,462.

During peak periods, Geller says background checks can now take to four to six hours to complete. Some that require research into out-of-state records take overnight.

Virginia Citizens Defense League President Philip Van Cleave says the delays are costing dealers money and putting at risk people who need firearms for protection.


Now, I realize no one likes to be inconvenienced, and that goes especially for gun buyers, but don't you think it's a bit much to say this is "putting at risk people who need firearms for protection?" I mean, if the urgency is so great, they could just pop into the local gun show or arrange for a private sale through a newspaper ad or over the internet. Then there's no waiting and as an additional bonus, they wouldn't even have to have a clean record.

What's you opinion? Please leave a comment.

5 comments:

  1. Mikeb: don't you think it's a bit much to say this is "putting at risk people who need firearms for protection?"

    Yes, perhaps it's a bit much. But most of the gun control advocates pushing for gun show legislation also favor a 3-day (or more) minimum waiting period for gun purchases. That just might put at risk people who need firearms for protection, and explains some of the opposition to the gun show legislation.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't think the waiting periods and the background checks come as a package deal. Of course people who favor one would favor the other, but that can't explain the resistance.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mikeb: "I don't think the waiting periods and the background checks come as a package deal."

    You're right -- they don't. The gun show bills would never pass that way -- hence the incremental approach.

    Mikeb: "Of course people who favor one would favor the other"

    What are we to make of those who say "C'mon, a few hours delay is only a minor inconvenience" -- but who really intend to make it 3 days to a week as soon as they are able?

    Mikeb: "but that can't explain the resistance"

    It doesn't explain all the resistance, but it explains some of the resistance by moderate gunowners who might otherwise support it -- and without whose support the bills won't pass.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Waiting periods are useless. There are many locales now that have them and there is absolutely no sign that having them has lowered the instances of domestic homicides. Yet another example of gun control claims that ultimately proved untrue.

    ReplyDelete
  5. But waiting periods are "common sense". Even if they don't accomplish anything, you have to have them because they are "common sense".

    ReplyDelete