Center for American Progress Makes Gun Control Suggestions

The Washington Post

With President Obama readying an overhaul of the nation’s gun laws, a liberal think tank with singular influence throughout his administration is pushing for a sweeping agenda of strict new restrictions on and federal oversight of gun and ammunition sales.

The Center for American Progress is recommending 13 new gun policies to the White House — some of them executive actions that would not require the approval of Congress — in what amounts to the progressive community’s wish list.
 
CAP’s top recommendation is to require criminal background checks for all gun sales, closing loopholes that currently enable an estimated 40 percent of sales to occur without any questions asked. The organization also wants to add convicted stalkers and suspected terrorists to the list of those barred from purchasing firearms.

That's not really news, everyone considers that the first main improvement that's needed. This is news though about the ATF.

One of CAP’s suggestions to toughen federal regulation of gun sales is to make the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which is currently an agency within the Department of Justice, a unit of the FBI. CAP says absorbing the ATF into the FBI would better empower the ATF to combat gun crime and illegal trafficking.

“It is a beleaguered agency lacking leadership and resources,” said Winnie Stachelberg, senior vice president of CAP. “It needs to be a well-functioning federal law enforcement agency, and we need to figure out ways to ensure that happens.”

The more this discussion develops the clearer it becomes that the gun-rights movement is the criminals best friend. In their self-centered pursuit of expanding and never restricting gun rights, they are playing right into the hands of criminals who thrive on gun availability.

Fortunately, the whole country has awoken from its lethargy.

A Modest Proposal to Curb Gun Violence without Violating Gun Rights

Policymic

All guns start out life being registered to the manufacturer. As the weapons are sold to a merchant, that registration is transferred to that merchant, and so on down the line. So far, not much different from the current system, but here's where it changes. If any weapon is used in a criminal act, the most recent registrant is responsible as an accessory to that crime.

What? Wait a minute; do I mean to say that you are responsible for the safe operation of that gun even after it is no longer in my possession? Yes. Gun ownership is an extraordinary right and with extraordinary rights come extraordinary responsibilities. If you choose exercise your right to own a gun, one of your responsibilities is to keep it out of the hands of irresponsible people. You can shed this responsibility by selling your weapon to another person who will then register it in his or her own name. And yes, registration requires a background check similar to the one you endured when you bought the gun in the first place.

What about theft? In the event your gun is stolen, you will have to prove that you took all reasonable precautions against that theft. Was it in a gun safe or was it in your car's glove compartment? If it was on your person, you had better have been wounded in the exchange. After all, you've got a gun. I have little problem with making it a crime to not only steal a gun, but to have it stolen from you under some circumstances as well.

The purpose of this type of approach is to impress upon would be gun owners that they are responsible for their actions even if they attempt to rid themselves of that responsibility. You take on the responsibility until you pass it on legally.

I couldn't agree more, in fact I've suggested as much myself. What's your opinion?

Please leave a comment.

Stray Bullets are a Big Problem in Florida due to Pro-Gun Legislation

Local news reports

Bullets whizzed into Gerry and Barbara Benedict's backyard, disrupting a quiet Sunday afternoon and scaring them silly.
The stray bullets that landed near their pool last year came from a private shooting range adjacent to their property at the Country Club of Mount Dora. The couple complained to local-government officials, who were powerless to do anything since the state stripped local governments of the ability to pass their own specific gun regulations.

Now, in the name of public safety, Lake County officials are putting the onus on legislators to tweak the 2011 law that gave the state sole authority over gun laws. Prompted by the Benedicts' situation, Lake is seeking "statutory changes" to deal with dangerous discharges of firearms.

Can you imagine a state which has laws like that? This is one of the reasons Florida wears the crown.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Shooting in Indiana Bar

Local news reports

 

IMPD investigates early morning bar shooting

No one knows what really happened. It was probably a lawful gun owner with a concealed carry permit exercising his constitutionally-protected god-given basic-human right to drink while carrying.

Only kidding.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

James Yeager and his Lawyer

TPM


Well, I suppose you could call that a retraction. What did you think about his hedging several times with the phrase "it's not the time yet?"

Please leave a comment.

The Most Enormous War Machine the World has ever Known

And this is what the gun-rights fanatics like Shapiro will fight against with their assault weapons and large capacity magazines.

Stars, Stripes and Suicides