The part that I will agree with is that I do wish there was a readily available way to check a private citizen for a face to face. Whether at a gun show or whatever. I understand the fear that such checks will somehow start to make a list of who owns what. That's why I agree that such a check should basically just be a yes or not. Allowed to buy guns or prohibited. Sure, there would be lots of issues. They would have to be worked out over time. I personally have never sold a gun "face to face without a check" and my inability to utilize some type of instant check is part of the reason. The smart phone thing sounds interesting. Scan the bar code on the guy's drivers license and get back a yes or no in 30 seconds. No data on the type of gun being sold or even who is doing the selling. Just a way that I can ensure I'm not selling to a prohibited person.
And yeah, I can see how such a thing basically has to be voluntary just because otherwise how do they enforce it? If the anti's would engage their brains, they would see that even such a voluntary thing would fulfill many of their background check goals. Because the average concerned citizen would realize that doing such a quick check helps to protect them against being prosecuted or sued in some fashion "down the road." If it was quick and easy and didn't track sales, a lot of people would start using it. I use the ATF FFL quick check whenever I'm shipping a gun. It costs me nothing to check and I'm not worried that somehow I'm creating a list of guns that I'm selling.
I absolutely understand the skeptics of such a plan. If it was introduced tomorrow, I would be skeptical myself. Most of us lean libertarian and we are automatically suspicious that any such plan would somehow be modified or abused over time. But IMO... that would be the time to battle, not over whether or not simple voluntary checks could be implemented.
I see this problem right here in rural Craig County. Mental health budgets got cut WAY back over the last couple of decades. Mental hospitals had no recourse except to release many of the long term patients. They wander the streets in small towns. And people with mental problems that should be admitted and treated are just given some drugs and pushed back out the door. I have to agree that it is a good idea to ensure these people don't end up with a gun in their hands.
Gregg
And yeah, I can see how such a thing basically has to be voluntary just because otherwise how do they enforce it? If the anti's would engage their brains, they would see that even such a voluntary thing would fulfill many of their background check goals. Because the average concerned citizen would realize that doing such a quick check helps to protect them against being prosecuted or sued in some fashion "down the road." If it was quick and easy and didn't track sales, a lot of people would start using it. I use the ATF FFL quick check whenever I'm shipping a gun. It costs me nothing to check and I'm not worried that somehow I'm creating a list of guns that I'm selling.
I absolutely understand the skeptics of such a plan. If it was introduced tomorrow, I would be skeptical myself. Most of us lean libertarian and we are automatically suspicious that any such plan would somehow be modified or abused over time. But IMO... that would be the time to battle, not over whether or not simple voluntary checks could be implemented.
I see this problem right here in rural Craig County. Mental health budgets got cut WAY back over the last couple of decades. Mental hospitals had no recourse except to release many of the long term patients. They wander the streets in small towns. And people with mental problems that should be admitted and treated are just given some drugs and pushed back out the door. I have to agree that it is a good idea to ensure these people don't end up with a gun in their hands.
Gregg
