I was dubious about the mayor's claims that Newark has improved when he came out with them last year. But, even if that's exaggerated hype and misrepresentative of what's really going on in Newark, what Booker is asking for concerning background checks is right on the money.
What's your opinion? Is the country about ready to do something about this sloppy background check system? Why do pro-gun folks oppose this again?America’s gun laws are designed to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals, the mentally ill, drug abusers, and other dangerous people. But the background check system these laws depend on is broken, making it far too easy for guns to end up in the wrong hands.
In my city of Newark, we’ve shown how a dedicated police force and an engaged community can reduce gun crime and make it harder for dangerous people to get guns. But we need our leaders in Washington to step up and help us get the job done.
That’s why I'm asking you to join 550 mayors from across the country in calling on Congress and President Obama to fix our broken background check system.
Sign the petition to Fix Gun Checks and tell your elected officials where you stand.
The Tucson killer bought a gun despite a history of drug abuse and mental health issues. That is tragically reminiscent of Virginia Tech, where the shooter passed a background check even after a judge declared him mentally ill.
In fact, we’ve seen this kind of failure again and again. Dangerous people have slipped through the cracks in our gun laws ever since Congress passed the first Gun Control Act back in 1968, after the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy.
It’s time for Congress to fix gun background checks and stem this tide of violence by taking two critical steps:
* Get all the names of people who should be prohibited from buying guns into the background check system.
* Require a background check for every gun sale in America.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
450 mayors is inflated numbers. However there's some 19,000 plus mayors across the Nation. Even if they have 450 mayors legitimately signed up, it's such a woefull minority as to be insignificant.
ReplyDeleteThey are blaming hardware for social problems. Solve the core issues and the social problems will take care of themselves.
P, Why would you say the 450 is inflated? Do you always denigrate those who disagree with you?
ReplyDeleteGiven the pro-gun attitudes that are so prevalent in the country, I think the 450 out of 19,000 is pretty good. These are courageous men who aren't afraid to stand up to the bully tactics of you gun owners.
About blaming the hardware, that's a mischaracterization. We preach proper gun control IN ADDITION to the attempts to solve the core issues and social problems.