Close gun-show loophole

Editorial from The Salt Lake Tribune - Wayne

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Close gun-show loophole

Criminals should not be able to walk into a gun show and buy firearms. But they do.

The federal Brady law requires a background check of gun purchasers, but there is a hole in the law that Congress annually refuses to patch. The law requires federally licensed gun dealers to check the backgrounds of would-be buyers, but the law does not apply the same requirement to unlicensed sellers. This loophole is particularly worrisome at gun shows, where investigations by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms have reported that criminals are able to buy guns.

Despite congressional paralysis, the Utah Legislature could close the gun-show gap with a state law. But it, too, has failed repeatedly to act. Bills drafted by former Rep. Dave Jones and by Rep. Scott Daniels, both Salt Lake City Democrats, never have gotten far in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Daniels' 2003 bill did not survive the black hole of the Rules Committee.

This is no surprise in a legislative body that this year gave people with permits to carry concealed weapons an explicit invitation to bring guns into schools. Senseless, but not surprising.

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http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Sep/09242003/opinion/95203.asp

especially this government is insane!

freedom comes with risk, i can live with that.

How the bills would define "gun show".

are you REALLY thinking that is a problem?

If two guys take a break from a poker game in a private home and one sells a gun to the other without a background check, does that qualify as the "gun show loophole" or is it just a private transfer of personal property?

Where is the line to be drawn?

Is an individual holding a garage sale who also happens to have two old guns to sell conducting a gun show? Or five guns? How about a church rummage sale with four people who happen to have personal guns they want to get rid of? Or a military person who has to get rid of three of his rifles because he's getting transferred to California where they are considered assault weapons and cannot be imported?

Surrrrrrre......

Appeal to Ridicule is always easier than making an effort to deal with a question you are not prepared to answer.

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/appeal-to-ridicule.html

shows what a pantload the RKBA position is.

Why is it that we all oppose giving the government more power when it comes to the Patriot Act because we fear that power will be abused--and rightfully so--but when it comes to guns some people here seem to think that this Administration can be trusted with ever more power and ever larger databases of names.

...but when it comes to guns some people here seem to think that this Administration can be trusted with ever more power and ever larger databases of names.

I think there's a little bit of a difference between the Utah Sstate Legislature (the subject of this editorial) and the Bush Misadministration.

from the person's own residence."

See H.B 190 "GUN SHOW BACKGROUND CHECK"

The opinion of an anti-RKBA hack does not make it true.

lawfully defending their families and property and for sporting purposes. We also support common sense measures to reduce gun violence and enhance public safety, enforcement of gun laws, and education on the safe use and storage of firearms." Source: 2002 PLATFORM OF THE UTAH STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY