- Joined
- Jan 16, 2011
- Messages
- 25,773
- Reaction score
- 21,434
- Location
- Fort Drum, New York
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Socialist
Gun regulation in the U.S. is already tough - if done legally. Yes there are exceptions ie., straw purchases which I don't like either and would like to see removed, but that's a states issue. And I also realize that there are those who think every gun is evil, and therefore all guns should be banned no matter the reason - so some people will always cry about how lax the gun laws are in the U.S. However, in my state, I have to go through a full background check, get a firearms purchasers card, get fingerprinted and get a signed document by my local law enforcement (State Troopers), submit that to the BATF, have them do a full check on me including mental capacity, then I get my card, which takes 30-90 days. If I want a pistol, I have to submit yet another form and I'm limited to 2 pistols per purchase. That takes another 30-90 days. Once I pay my fees and get THAT card, which is only valid for purchase for 30 days, I can go pick out my handgun, and then I have to wait 24 hours before I can pick it up. When I go to pick it up, my ID is checked an another BATF call is made to a hotline to verify I've passed and to validate my form. Then I can go home with my handgun.
I hear about these people going to gun shows and going home with 20 pistols and stuff, but I've yet to see it, and I've been to gun shows in PA and Virginia. I'm sure it happens, but the frequency may be overblown.
I believe you. I was merely stating that for Obama to make gun laws stricter in any material sense probably wouldn't be good politics. I definitely believe that the most effective gun control laws should be directed toward the prevention of straw purchases and a better tracking system that allows the ATF to trace crime guns, since currently law prevents them from computerizing that data and putting them into databases and instead they have to resort to manual paperwork.