2aguy
Diamond Member
- Jul 19, 2014
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And this blogger points out exactly why anti gunners want universal background checks that will do nothing to stop criminals and mass shooters from getting guns...
Universal Background Checks, And A Question
Since all firearm sales by licensed dealers are already legally required to go through an FBI background check, these new UBC laws are designed to encompass personal transfers…not just sales…of firearms between two law-abiding individuals. Most of these proposals include provisions which not only make it illegal for private citizens to sell firearms to each other, but also make it illegal to loan or gift firearms to each other unless a background check is performed on the recipient
Those of us who shoot regularly understand the burden that would impose. No more loaning a new shooter a gun for their concealed carry class. No more letting your buddy try out your new rifle at the range. No more giving your daughter a .22 for Christmas. At least not without first going to a federally licensed firearms dealer and conducting a background check first.
Not so fast there, Dad. Do a background check? Image courtesy of Oleg Volk.
But when I point out these sorts of problems created by proposed UBC laws, a common response I get is, “Well, that’s unenforceable. I wouldn’t worry about that.” And it is true that the enforcement problem created by criminalizing these personal transfers would be immense. More on that in a moment. But to get there, we have to ask this question:
Why would we want an unenforceable law? Why create laws which criminalize currently legal conduct, if we either cannot or will not enforce it? What would such a law accomplish?
It is true, of course. How could law enforcement possibly track and prosecute instances of personal sales, loans, and gifts of firearms? Without some sort ofrecord of who owns what guns, it would be all but impossible.
And there you have it. As with all gun control laws, proponents of the UBC view these laws as a “good first step.” They know that the law itself will accomplish little, other than to set the stage for future moves towards gun registration. So when one of them questions your opposition to UBCs, and points out the unenforceabilty of personal transfer provisions, ask them the question. Why do you want an unenforceable law?
Universal Background Checks, And A Question
Since all firearm sales by licensed dealers are already legally required to go through an FBI background check, these new UBC laws are designed to encompass personal transfers…not just sales…of firearms between two law-abiding individuals. Most of these proposals include provisions which not only make it illegal for private citizens to sell firearms to each other, but also make it illegal to loan or gift firearms to each other unless a background check is performed on the recipient
Those of us who shoot regularly understand the burden that would impose. No more loaning a new shooter a gun for their concealed carry class. No more letting your buddy try out your new rifle at the range. No more giving your daughter a .22 for Christmas. At least not without first going to a federally licensed firearms dealer and conducting a background check first.
Not so fast there, Dad. Do a background check? Image courtesy of Oleg Volk.
But when I point out these sorts of problems created by proposed UBC laws, a common response I get is, “Well, that’s unenforceable. I wouldn’t worry about that.” And it is true that the enforcement problem created by criminalizing these personal transfers would be immense. More on that in a moment. But to get there, we have to ask this question:
Why would we want an unenforceable law? Why create laws which criminalize currently legal conduct, if we either cannot or will not enforce it? What would such a law accomplish?
It is true, of course. How could law enforcement possibly track and prosecute instances of personal sales, loans, and gifts of firearms? Without some sort ofrecord of who owns what guns, it would be all but impossible.
And there you have it. As with all gun control laws, proponents of the UBC view these laws as a “good first step.” They know that the law itself will accomplish little, other than to set the stage for future moves towards gun registration. So when one of them questions your opposition to UBCs, and points out the unenforceabilty of personal transfer provisions, ask them the question. Why do you want an unenforceable law?