Legislation to expand background checks on gun purchases – a.k.a. the further deterioration of Americans’ Second Amendment liberties – is on the verge of ignominious defeat in the United States Senate.
And that’s a good thing …
“The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution provides American citizens with an unqualified, unambiguous right to keep and bear arms – one that the federal government (or any government, for that matter) is explicitly enjoined from infringing upon,” we wrote earlier this year in a column urging civil disobedience of any new gun laws passed in the wake of the 2012 Newtown tragedy.
Fortunately efforts to pass such laws appear doomed to fail – and not just along party lines, either.
Democratic Senators who deserve credit for not caving on this issue include Max Baucus (Montana), Mary Landrieu (Louisiana), Mark Pryor (Arkansas) and Mark Begich (Alaska). Not surprisingly, all four of these Senators live in states which provided convincing double-digit victories to failed GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney in 2012 – but still, we’re glad they voted the right way.
The defeat of the gun bill – which many “progressives” were already leery of given its failure to include an assault weapons ban or limits on magazine capacity – is a victory for freedom.
Now if only we could get our leaders to show the same level of support for the free market …
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64 comments
Are you saying mentally ill and felons should be allowed to purchase firearms? It is not common sense you do not have. You do not even have “walking around sense”. You are increasingly making yourself irrelevant.
Felons cannot purchase or possess firearms. Please get your facts straight. Also, try and think of a viable way to prevent mentally ill citizens from obtaining guns. Who should decide who is mentally ill? You want the federal government deciding who possesses the mental capacity to own a firearm? The only viable direction I have seen regarding this argument is those who have been declared mentally ill by a COURT OF LAW.
You are increasingly making yourself irrelevant.
The mentally ill and felons would make up at least 80% of the gun owners in South Carolina. So what the big deal?
You’re an idiot.
Are you saying mentally ill and felons should be allowed to purchase firearms? It is not common sense you do not have. You do not even have “walking around sense”. You are increasingly making yourself irrelevant.
Felons cannot purchase or possess firearms. Please get your facts straight. Also, try and think of a viable way to prevent mentally ill citizens from obtaining guns. Who should decide who is mentally ill? You want the federal government deciding who possesses the mental capacity to own a firearm? The only viable direction I have seen regarding this argument is those who have been declared mentally ill by a COURT OF LAW.
You are increasingly making yourself irrelevant.
The mentally ill and felons would make up at least 80% of the gun owners in South Carolina. So what the big deal?
You’re an idiot.
87% of Americans support such measures. A true “victory for freedom.” And stupidity. And dysfunction. And a political system incapable of doing anything. But the best part: another nail in the coffin of the Whig Party of the 21st century.
Hell, let’s get rid of all restrictions on weapons. M209 grenade launchers – yes! RPGS – why not? We have an unqualified right to own anything we want. Fuck it. How about squad assault weapons for mom?
Guns to felons, the criminally insane, the Black Panthers, you name it, get those fuckers whatever they want so we can all live in one vast armed camp before the zombie/race/muslim war begins.
And before responding with the typical response, keep in mind I’m a gun owner and they’d have to pry my gun from my “cold dead hands” before I’d give them up. But come on. Grow up you paranoid loons.
I would feel safer in a society where EVERYONE could legally own a gun than in one where no one but cops and military can. The reason; those guys you listed who are supposed to scare us into wanting more gun laws ALREADY have them. They have had guns and access to more guns for as long as guns have been around. You will not stop them from getting guns with laws, which they do not care about.
The good guys, law-abiding, or whatever you wish to call them are the ONLY ones impeded in obtaining, carrying, or owning, guns, by gun laws. If EVERYONE could carry legally, AT LEAST the good guys would have parity with the bad guys.
Really? One big armed camp where “EVERYONE” including felons and mentally deranged can own guns? Sweet. And given you can drive to Wally World and purchase all the guns you want, I think you can get all the “parity” you want. I seriously wonder what kind of dystopic fantasy world you people live in. You want a gun, go get one.
We probably live in a more realistic “dystopic fantasy world” than those of you who really believe that this bill would have made one damn person (other than criminals) safer.
“I’m a gun owner” seems to be the new “I have friends who are black.”
The “they’re coming for my guns” is the new “black hawk helicopters” and “One World Gov’t.” of the conspiracy cranks on the right.
87% of Americans supported this small measure. That leaves you in the 13% of Americans that are cranks, malcontents or just plan stupid. Pick.
Nobody is saying they’re coming to get guns. They’re saying they want to pass laws to ban them, then they will come to get them. You are aware that there are politicians, including Barry, who have been promoting banning guns, right?
As for public opinion, it is less important to me when it comes to laws that might help lessen crime than what people with actual knowledge on the subject say. Cops, for example, oppose banning private transfers because they know such laws won’t have an impact on criminals. You may be OK with passing feel-good, pointless laws as a “gun owner,” but many do not.
I thought it was 90%?
87% of Americans support such measures. A true “victory for freedom.” And stupidity. And dysfunction. And a political system incapable of doing anything. But the best part: another nail in the coffin of the Whig Party of the 21st century.
Hell, let’s get rid of all restrictions on weapons. M209 grenade launchers – yes! RPGS – why not? We have an unqualified right to own anything we want. Fuck it. How about squad assault weapons for mom?
Guns to felons, the criminally insane, the Black Panthers, you name it, get those fuckers whatever they want so we can all live in one vast armed camp before the zombie/race/muslim war begins.
And before responding with the typical response, keep in mind I’m a gun owner and they’d have to pry my gun from my “cold dead hands” before I’d give them up. But come on. Grow up you paranoid loons.
I would feel safer in a society where EVERYONE could legally own a gun than in one where no one but cops and military can. The reason; those guys you listed who are supposed to scare us into wanting more gun laws ALREADY have them. They have had guns and access to more guns for as long as guns have been around. You will not stop them from getting guns with laws, which they do not care about.
The good guys, law-abiding, or whatever you wish to call them are the ONLY ones impeded in obtaining, carrying, or owning, guns, by gun laws. If EVERYONE could carry legally, AT LEAST the good guys would have parity with the bad guys.
Really? One big armed camp where “EVERYONE” including felons and mentally deranged can own guns? Sweet. And given you can drive to Wally World and purchase all the guns you want, I think you can get all the “parity” you want. I seriously wonder what kind of dystopic fantasy world you people live in. You want a gun, go get one.
We probably live in a more realistic “dystopic fantasy world” than those of you who really believe that this bill would have made one damn person (other than criminals) safer.
“I’m a gun owner” seems to be the new “I have friends who are black.”
The “they’re coming for my guns” is the new “black hawk helicopters” and “One World Gov’t.” of the conspiracy cranks on the right.
87% of Americans supported this small measure. That leaves you in the 13% of Americans that are cranks, malcontents or just plan stupid. Pick.
Nobody is saying they’re coming to get guns. They’re saying they want to pass laws to ban them, then they will come to get them. You are aware that there are politicians, including Barry, who have been promoting banning guns, right?
As for public opinion, it is less important to me when it comes to laws that might help lessen crime than what people with actual knowledge on the subject say. Cops, for example, oppose banning private transfers because they know such laws won’t have an impact on criminals. You may be OK with passing feel-good, pointless laws as a “gun owner,” but many do not.
I thought it was 90%?
Felons can’t buy firearms? Well, there’s a loophole, which this bill tries to remedy, that allows weapons to be sold without background checks. 40% of weapons are sold without background checks. That’s big caveat, don’t you think?
As for the mentally ill, that’s clearly more complicated. So I guess that makes it impossible? You people are ridiculous. Yeah, let’s start with people who have been declared mentally ill. I don’t think they’ll deny you a shotgun if you took zoloft after you’re girlfriend dumped you in 1995.
Even the Washington Post doesn’t buy the 40% lie from Barry.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/obamas-continued-use-of-the-claim-that-40-percent-of-gun-sales-lack-background-checks/2013/04/01/002e06ce-9b0f-11e2-a941-a19bce7af755_blog.html
As for mental health reform, I pulled this from a letter to Congress posted on NRA’s website:
“Rather than focus its efforts on restricting the rights of America’s 100 million law-abiding gun owners, there are things Congress can do to fix our broken mental health system; increase prosecutions of violent criminals; and make our schools safer. During consideration of S. 649, should one or more amendments be offered that adequately address these important issues while protecting the fundamental rights of law-abiding gun owners, the NRA will offer our enthusiastic support and consider those votes in our future candidate evaluations as well.”
Sounds like NRA wants to address the mental health issue more than Barry and his anti-gun droogies. They could have done something substantive that might have made a difference, but anti-gunners never want to let a tragedy go to waste, and will always react by going after guns, rather than solutions.
Yeah, a letter to Congress on NRA’S website – solid evidence, bro. Go cower in your bedroom. They’re coming for your guns.
And regurgitating what Barry and Joe says is evidence based argument? Right.
Evidence of what, sis? And what about your and Barry’s lie about 40%, sis? Or is the Washington Post now working for NRA? You sound kinda paranoid. But don’t worry. I’m sure your “guns” are safe (wink, wink).
40%, that’s hilarious. That’s called pull it out of your ass politics.
Felons can’t buy firearms? Well, there’s a loophole, which this bill tries to remedy, that allows weapons to be sold without background checks. 40% of weapons are sold without background checks. That’s big caveat, don’t you think?
As for the mentally ill, that’s clearly more complicated. So I guess that makes it impossible? You people are ridiculous. Yeah, let’s start with people who have been declared mentally ill. I don’t think they’ll deny you a shotgun if you took zoloft after you’re girlfriend dumped you in 1995.
Even the Washington Post doesn’t buy the 40% lie from Barry.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/obamas-continued-use-of-the-claim-that-40-percent-of-gun-sales-lack-background-checks/2013/04/01/002e06ce-9b0f-11e2-a941-a19bce7af755_blog.html
As for mental health reform, I pulled this from a letter to Congress posted on NRA’s website:
“Rather than focus its efforts on restricting the rights of America’s 100 million law-abiding gun owners, there are things Congress can do to fix our broken mental health system; increase prosecutions of violent criminals; and make our schools safer. During consideration of S. 649, should one or more amendments be offered that adequately address these important issues while protecting the fundamental rights of law-abiding gun owners, the NRA will offer our enthusiastic support and consider those votes in our future candidate evaluations as well.”
Sounds like NRA wants to address the mental health issue more than Barry and his anti-gun droogies. They could have done something substantive that might have made a difference, but anti-gunners never want to let a tragedy go to waste, and will always react by going after guns, rather than solutions.
Yeah, a letter to Congress on NRA’S website – solid evidence, bro. Go cower in your bedroom. They’re coming for your guns.
And regurgitating what Barry and Joe says is evidence based argument? Right.
Evidence of what, sis? And what about your and Barry’s lie about 40%, sis? Or is the Washington Post now working for NRA? You sound kinda paranoid. But don’t worry. I’m sure your “guns” are safe (wink, wink).
40%, that’s hilarious. That’s called pull it out of your ass politics.
The NRA lobbyist have everyone brainwashed……no one will ever take away anyone’s guns,but if they can convince you it’s going to happen ,they sell more guns……you drink the kool aid and they make $$$$$$$$$$$.
“We just have to be repetitive about this. It’s not enough to have a catchy ad on a Monday and then only do it every Monday. We have to do this every day of the week and just really brainwash people into thinking about guns in a vastly different way.” ~ Eric Holder
Who’s brainwashing here?
I think you’ve had a sip of Barry’s purple Kool-Aide. Read and watch this and then tell me “no one will ever take away anyone’s guns.” http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/345714/free-cj-grisham
Very sad indeed!
Lawless bastards.
The NRA lobbyist have everyone brainwashed……no one will ever take away anyone’s guns,but if they can convince you it’s going to happen ,they sell more guns……you drink the kool aid and they make $$$$$$$$$$$.
“We just have to be repetitive about this. It’s not enough to have a catchy ad on a Monday and then only do it every Monday. We have to do this every day of the week and just really brainwash people into thinking about guns in a vastly different way.” ~ Eric Holder
Who’s brainwashing here?
I think you’ve had a sip of Barry’s purple Kool-Aide. Read and watch this and then tell me “no one will ever take away anyone’s guns.” http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/345714/free-cj-grisham
Very sad indeed!
Lawless bastards.
Enforce the laws already on the books. Most states don’t report mental illness to ‘deny’ lists so what good is it to make it a DQ? Makes no difference, AG Holder doesn’t bother to prosecute background failures anyway. How can he deny anyone here when he sends them to Mexico with no tracking. But the big one, none of these laws would have stopped the 27 Sandy Hook murders and one suicide.
Not an NRA member, either.
Obama says the NRA lied. How about the lies about Obamacare that are STILL being told by him and his minions? Besides, felons don’t do background checks because they know they won’t pass so how would the law help?
Because 40% of guns are purchased without a background check and this would’ve closed that loophole. Keep up.
You must watch a lot of MSNBC. That’s cute.
That 40% claim is a lie. Keep up.
Actually, it would not, but what’s that got to do with anything anyway? Criminals are called criminals because they don’t follow the laws. Keep up.
Enforce the laws already on the books. Most states don’t report mental illness to ‘deny’ lists so what good is it to make it a DQ? Makes no difference, AG Holder doesn’t bother to prosecute background failures anyway. How can he deny anyone here when he sends them to Mexico with no tracking. But the big one, none of these laws would have stopped the 27 Sandy Hook murders and one suicide.
Not an NRA member, either.
Obama says the NRA lied. How about the lies about Obamacare that are STILL being told by him and his minions? Besides, felons don’t do background checks because they know they won’t pass so how would the law help?
Because 40% of guns are purchased without a background check and this would’ve closed that loophole. Keep up.
You must watch a lot of MSNBC. That’s cute.
That 40% claim is a lie. Keep up.
Actually, it would not, but what’s that got to do with anything anyway? Criminals are called criminals because they don’t follow the laws. Keep up.
People, calm down. Jesus. Read this post, it is an incredibly good write-up of background checks.
http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1ck2ra/senate_rejects_gun_background_checks/c9hdq40
No background check in the world will stop a crazy or a thug from stealing a legally purchased gun to cause mayhem. This isn’t some magical push-button solution to gun violence and massacres. The recent bombing in Boston is proof positive that guns aren’t needed for that kind of shit anyways.
People, calm down. Jesus. Read this post, it is an incredibly good write-up of background checks.
http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1ck2ra/senate_rejects_gun_background_checks/c9hdq40
No background check in the world will stop a crazy or a thug from stealing a legally purchased gun to cause mayhem. This isn’t some magical push-button solution to gun violence and massacres. The recent bombing in Boston is proof positive that guns aren’t needed for that kind of shit anyways.
Obama boldfaced lies about the ease with which you can purchase a firearm online or at a gun show. He twists the facts to fit his narrative. Sure, you can go on Armslist (the Craigslist of the gun community) and link up with another private party and purchase a gun without a background check. he want’s you to believe that every gun purchased over the internet is sans background check. It’s not. Try going to any FFL online dealer and try to purchase a gun without submitting to a background check, it doesn’t happen that way. No matter what Barry says. Furthermore, gun shows are not the open season on dangerous people purchasing guns that our “leaders” will have you believe. Sure, private parties can rent tables (in some areas) and sell guns without a background check, something which I think needs to be changed by promoters of these events. However, the majority of people selling guns at gun shows are dealers with FFLs, required by law to administer background checks for each and every purchase. Maybe if Obama and his crack team of gun experts weren’t so deceptive, they would get what they want. Also, as for this 90% of Americans support enhanced background check rhetoric, if I go to the right place and poll the right people I can get 90% of them to agree to anything I want them to. It’s not difficult to wrap your head around the notion that polls are typically performed by special interests and can produce whatever figures that special interest would like them to produce. Or, they can just make numbers up. Which is absolutely what they’ve done here.
Jay, it’s not fair of you to argue facts with them. It only confuses them and makes them angrier. :-D
Yes, who needs facts when you can spout off anything that comes to mind and be validated by a large part of the population that thinks to disagree with Obama is to be a racist.
Obama boldfaced lies about the ease with which you can purchase a firearm online or at a gun show. He twists the facts to fit his narrative. Sure, you can go on Armslist (the Craigslist of the gun community) and link up with another private party and purchase a gun without a background check. he want’s you to believe that every gun purchased over the internet is sans background check. It’s not. Try going to any FFL online dealer and try to purchase a gun without submitting to a background check, it doesn’t happen that way. No matter what Barry says. Furthermore, gun shows are not the open season on dangerous people purchasing guns that our “leaders” will have you believe. Sure, private parties can rent tables (in some areas) and sell guns without a background check, something which I think needs to be changed by promoters of these events. However, the majority of people selling guns at gun shows are dealers with FFLs, required by law to administer background checks for each and every purchase. Maybe if Obama and his crack team of gun experts weren’t so deceptive, they would get what they want. Also, as for this 90% of Americans support enhanced background check rhetoric, if I go to the right place and poll the right people I can get 90% of them to agree to anything I want them to. It’s not difficult to wrap your head around the notion that polls are typically performed by special interests and can produce whatever figures that special interest would like them to produce. Or, they can just make numbers up. Which is absolutely what they’ve done here.
Jay, it’s not fair of you to argue facts with them. It only confuses them and makes them angrier. :-D
Yes, who needs facts when you can spout off anything that comes to mind and be validated by a large part of the population that thinks to disagree with Obama is to be a racist.