Tag: gun control

Criminal background checks, Commonsense and the Senate

Criminal background checks, Commonsense and the Senate

Posted on by Jack

“I don’t consider criminal background checks to be gun control, I consider them to be common sense.”


These are the words of Senator Pat Tommey before the Senate decided not to require background checks at gun shows.

It has been almost month now since most Republican Senators and some Democrats opposed this commonsense measure despite overwhelming public support and I’m glad to see that Mayors Against Illegal Guns is running ads to remind voters about this.

Gun background checks do not stop terrorists

Gun background checks do not stop terrorists

Posted on by Jack

I have previously written about gun background checks and why more gun purchases should be subject to these checks. And one of the arguments against them is that they are not perfect.

Which is certainly true. But in my opinion we need to work on both improving the background check system and eliminating the large exemptions from background checks for internet sales and gun shows.

According to several articles I’ve seen and NPR is quote below you can pass the background if your name is on the national terrorism watch list.

Under current laws, if a background check reveals that your name is on the national terrorism watch list, you’re still free to walk out of a gun dealership with a firearm in your hands — as long as you don’t have a criminal or mental health record.

Data from the Government Accountability Office show that between 2004 and 2010, people on terrorism watch lists tried to buy guns and explosives more than 1,400 times. They succeeded in more than 90 percent of those cases, or 1,321 times.

Why do we make it easy for the bad guys?

But the NPR story does go on to give several reasons why this is so. And many of them make sense and might be good reasons. Some seem somewhat less than convincing to me. But shouldn’t this at least raise a red flag somewhere in the system. Maybe it does. I don’t know.

For those who would like more information on the background check system here is the FBI Fact sheet on National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and a recent Washington Post Fact Check on a recent statement suggesting that background checks are not very useful.

Sensible gun laws lose

Sensible gun laws lose

Posted on by Jack

Sensible gun laws lose to politics.

A proposed amendment sponsored by Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) would have closed some of the loopholes in the background checks for gun purchases. Specifically, it addressed sales at gun shows and sales over the internet which are now exempt from background checks.

In the words of Senator Toomey:

“I don’t consider criminal background checks to be gun control, I consider them to be common sense.”

The National Rifle Association (NRA) opposed this legislation. In my opinion, if we have background checks to prevent criminals from buying guns, it makes no sense to have these exemptions which enable criminals to easily avoid these checks.

Almost all Republicans voted against this commonsense measure but Republican Senators John McCain (Ariz.), Susan Collins (Maine), Pat Toomey (Pa.) and Mark Kirk (Ill.) voted in favor. These courageous Senators defied both their party and the NRA. Their courage should be applauded.

Last week I was amazed that 13 Senators would oppose this commonsense measure. Now we know the numbers is larger than that.

I don’t think they did so to make life easier for the bad guys, but that is what they did.

My question about gun control was answered

My question about gun control was answered

Posted on by Jack

A recent article from The Christian Science Monitor answers a question I posed just this morning.

Most Americans favor background checks for all gun sales, which would close a major loophole in current law. But 13 Republican senators say they’ll filibuster any additional gun restrictions.

In Gun background check loopholes, I had said “It is hard to understand why anyone would oppose the commonsense step of having the same rules for gun purchase regardless of the venue.” So my question was who would oppose this?

The Christian Science Monitor article cited before provides at least 13 answers.

When gun control comes up in the US Senate this week or next, 13 Republican senators promise to filibuster any strengthening of gun safety laws.

“We will oppose the motion to proceed on any legislation that will serve as a vehicle for any additional gun restrictions,” they wrote to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Leading the filibuster effort is Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. He has been joined by Senators Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah, Marco Rubio of Florida, Jim Moran and Pat Roberts of Kansas, Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Mike Enzi of Wyoming, Jim Risch and Mike Crapo of Idaho, and Dan Coats of Indiana.

Gun background check loopholes

Gun background check loopholes

Posted on by Jack

It has now been almost 4 months since the Newtown massacre and the Congress has been debating measures to limit access to guns without inhibiting lawful guns activity for much of that time.. Some states have already enacted measures but federal efforts are not moving very quickly.

We already have a background check system in place but there are large loopholes. There are fairly simple ways someone who could not pass even the most rudimentary background check can buy a gun without being subject to any sort of check. Say someone convicted of multiple crimes while using a gun wanted another gun, the criminal could just buy the gun privately at a gun show or from a private party online.

It is hard to understand why anyone would oppose the commonsense step of having the same rules for gun purchase regardless of the venue.

CeaseFirePA or Cease Fire PA stop the gun violence in Pennsylvania

CeaseFirePA or Cease Fire PA stop the gun violence in Pennsylvania

Posted on by Jack

Recently I’ve had several posts about gun violence and possible solutions. See Let your government know what you think about gun control, Americans for Responsible Solutions: start a dialog to address gun violence, and Crazy Idea: the NRA stimulus that might save the economy.

Since I am in Pennsylvania, I would like to point out there is a state-wide group concerned with gun violence. The group is CeaseFirePA. Please check out their website for more information on this group.

Let your government know what you think about gun control

Let your government know what you think about gun control

Posted on by Jack

Today I have contacted my Senators and Representative. As a nation and society we are facing a huge problem and we need to discuss it and arrive a a reasonable and responsible solution. Or at least take a few steps in that direction. So contact your federal elected officials. Let your government know what you think about gun control.

They all have websites now and you can contact them through those sites. You could also call or send a letter but the important thing is to let them know what you think.

This is my letter:

Dear xxx,

I believe guns have become a huge problem in our society. There are too many gun deaths and too many mass shootings. I realize this is a complex issue. Today President Obama mentioned a few common sense solutions that should help.

I believe that Congress should ban semiautomatic weapons, particularly assault rifles. It could be argued that only a small portion of gun related deaths are due to semiautomatic weapons. But these mass shootings are horrible. And I know of few, if any, uses for these weapons beside murder. We do have a right to bear arms but if we can restrict automatic weapons, why not these.

I believe we should eliminate loopholes in our background checks. Background checks help to prevent criminals and the mentally ill from getting weapons legally. Why are there gun sales not subject to background checks. How does this interfere with our right to bear arms.

Similar arguments could be made for banning high capacity magazine for these weapons.

I think there should be serious discussions of these issues and hope congress can overcome pressure from the gun lobby in evaluating these problems.

Don’t forget to send yours. You can add a comment here if you want to share your opinions with other readers.