Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Lautenberg introduces bill to close the gun show loophole

Senator Lautenberg [D-NJ] has introduced a bill to close the gun show loophole because...
There is no rational reason to oppose closing the loophole. The reason it's still not closed is simple: the continuing power of the special-interest gun lobby in Washington. My legislation would require background checks for every gun purchased at every gun show across America and would keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them. Without this change in the law, anyone—from felons to fugitives—can buy a gun at a gun show, no questions asked. That needs to change."
This bill won't close a loophole. What it will do is end all private sales of firearms whether they take place at a gun show or in your home. Here's what the NRA had to say about the bill he introduced last year.

In reality, gun shows are large, public events held in convention centers and banquet halls. But S. 2577 defines “gun show” so broadly, that it would include a person’s home. Merely “offering” to “exchange” a firearm at an “event” could be banned. The National Matches at Camp Perry and your local gun club’s Sunday trap shoot would be defined as “events” subject to the bill’s provisions. Even talking about a gun at an “event” could be seen as an illegal “offer” to sell a gun. Even if you are not a dealer, but you display a gun at a gun show, and then months later sell the gun to someone you met at the show, you would be subject to the same requirements as if you completed the sale at the gun show. The restrictions and regulations S. 2577 would impose upon real gun shows, and upon gun owners’ personal activities the bill would preposterously define as “gun shows” and “events,” are unprecedented. Running afoul of S. 2577’s numerous, far-fetched provisions could send you to prison for years.
Contact your Senators and ask them to oppose this bill. While you're at it contact your Representatives and give them the same message because I'm sure we'll get a mirror of this crap introduced in the House by McCarthy.

UPDATE: Sebastian has more on it here.

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