Yesterday, I published a new blog at the Huffington Post that looks at a disturbing new trend in American politics: the fact that it is now easier to buy a gun in many states than it is to vote.
With legislatures across the country moving to implement "Voter ID" laws, Americans in more than 30 states now have to present some form of identification before voting. And yet, in virtually all those states, residents can buy firearms through private sales, where they are not required by law to show any ID or undergo a background check.
Meanwhile, emboldened by these developments, some pro-gun activists are beginning to "Open Carry" their guns to political gatherings once again. This includes a young man in Michigan who recently brought a loaded handgun into an elementary school to vote in the GOP presidential primary.
What type of message are these pro-gunners trying to send? What guidance does our Constitution provide on these important issues? And most importantly, what does it say about America " When Buying a Gun Becomes Easier Than Voting"?
Read my new blog to find out.
Josh Horwitz
Executive Director
To be clear, he published a new blog post on a content aggregation site. He does no have a new blog. How out of touch is this guy?
ReplyDeleteWhat does that petty-ass bullshit of a complaint have to do with anything?
DeleteGeneral cluelessness.
DeleteI take issue with your assertion that Horror's message is important. The only thing important with regard to him is our efforts to block his proposals.
Delete"... the fact that it is now easier to buy a gun in many states than it is to vote."
ReplyDeleteReally? I don't recall having to go through a background check every time I vote.
You're pretending to not get it. You CAN buy a gun without a background check if you live in certain states. That makes it easier than voting. Does that make sense to you?
DeleteDoes it make sense? Yes. I'm not obliged to show ID when I buy a book, either. Rights are rights. I don't have to show ID when I buy food at a farmers market. Rights are rights. In case you're about to say it, I shouldn't have to show ID when I buy alcohol.
DeleteWhen are you going to understand that rights are rights?
You can also vote in Chicago without being alive.
DeleteFWM- You from Chi-Town too?
DeleteNope, it's still harder to buy a firearm than it is to vote, in most states. Then again, dead people still vote in most elections...
Deletehttp://tinyurl.com/7pm8jwy
Background checks don't do anything to deter criminals, who often buy guns from illegal sources. That means the burden of the system to prevent those crimes falls on those who do not commit the crimes. Makes perfect sense, if you want to ignore reality.
The anti-gun lobby is just as much anti-rights.
I'm afraid you're ignoring reality, the reality that the original source for the guns is always some lawful gun owner. Why is it so hard for you guys to hold onto your property. The reason is since there are no home storage rules to speak of, many of you are completely irresponsible about that. Theft increases. Since there's no licensing and registration to speak of, straw purchasing goes on all the time in every city in every FFL shop.
DeleteProper cun control laws, aimed at lawful citizens, would have a major impact on the criminals. You guys, the lawful and the criminal gun owners, are related like siamese twins.
the reality that the original source for the guns is always some lawful gun owner.
DeleteAccording to the ATF, corrupt FFL's introduce nearly 1/2 of all diverted firearms from the legal market to the illegal market accounting for 40,365 of a total of 84,128. Essentially, these firearms are registered to the FFL, but that doesn't stop them. Straw buyers accounted for 25,741 trafficked firearms. Residential firearm theft accounted for 3,306 of the firearms. (ATF FOLLOWING THE GUN [2000])
Assuming for a moment that national registration wasn't against the law (or against congressional intent), what do you do about the 300M firearms already held by lawful gun owners? Only 74% of the population voluntarily participated in the US Census, how many do you think would participate in a voluntary registration scheme? (US Census 2010)
Let's assume everything worked out to your favor and every legal gun owner has registered his guns, the criminals still have guns because they can't be required to register firearms, you know, the whole 5A thing.
Proper cun control laws, aimed at lawful citizens
Yeah, because holding criminals responsible doesn't work, punish the law abiding.
"Let's assume everything worked out to your favor and every legal gun owner has registered his guns"
DeleteNever, ever, in a million years is this going to happen. Look at the registry that Canada had. It was estimated that only 10% or so actually registered their guns. Even considering a registry is a waste of time in my opinion. Canada spent millions upon millions for their registry with results so miniscule that it was undeniably ineffective. Why repeat their mistake?
Don't expect any response to the three hundred million guns in America. Gun control people can't deal with that number. They also won't address the potential for guns to cross the southern border along with drugs and illegal immigrants.
DeleteBut they say that facts and good reasoning matter to them.
@anon @green Apparently you two aren't familiar with the new voting requirements. BATFE&V (bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, really big fires and voting)will start administering tests before you are allowed to vote. You'll have to fill out form 4474 three days prior to being able to vote and of course, submit to a background check. If you've ever held a security clearance with the government, you may get delayed for a week before you can exercise your right to vote. Of course, BATFE&V is very sorry if you miss the voting deadline.
ReplyDeleteI do have to wonder why Josh Horror thinks that anyone cares what he has to say. He's been running his mouth for years, to less and less effect.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if that's true, Greg.
ReplyDeleteThe high water mark of gun control was in the 90s. What we've been doing since then is cleaning up after the flood.
DeleteMike- You're comparing apples to steak. I own 3 firearms. All were purchased at a licensed Gun Shop. I had to provide my I.D., Foid card, and submit to the backround check. This Gun Shop follows State and Federal mandates. When I go too the local polling place to vote, I have to show I.D. as well. The polling place also follows local and Federal mandates. Now I've never purchased a firearm through a private owner, so I don't know what the regulations are. But, if I was allowed to vote for the President of the United States from my buddy Jake's house, I gaurantee, I.D. would not be required. I hope you understand my point. Sorry for the length.
ReplyDeleteNow I've never purchased a firearm through a private owner, so I don't know what the regulations are.
DeleteIIR, In Chicago, you'd have to record the buyers information from his FOID card and state issued ID on a Bill of Sale. You'd both have to sign Bill of Sale. Both, buyer and seller is required to have a copy of Bill of Sale and the seller would have to retain a copy for 10 years. Of course, transporting your new piece of private property is a whole other issue. If memory serves me, it would have to be locked in a box, separate from any ammunition, outside of the passenger compartment of buyer's vehicle and buyer can only travel directly from point of purchase to buyer's home. Or is that D.C.? I don't think 'directly' has been legally defined, so if buyer has to pull off of roadway to get fuel, he may be subject to a felony conviction. Or is that once you cast your vote? I forget. both have such similar regulations.
Bill- Thanks for the info. Actually, in Illinois, you may transport your weapon anywhere. You do not need to have in in a locked box though. To be honest with you, a lot of Illinois policeman think the gun laws in this state are ridiculous. Quite a few friends who are CPD actually advocate conceal/carry. When I go to the range, My gun is in the case with ammo next to it, in the trunk. You would have to be acting like a real a##hole for the police to arrest a "Legal" gun owner in this state. Thanks again.
ReplyDelete