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Monday, July 27, 2009

Gun control? Fun control! Make mine pink.



OMG! It’s so cute! Especially when you can take it with you at gun shows. Which was a segment I caught on 60 Minutes last night. My proclivities on the issue already made known here previously (this country was founded on them, they’re not going anywhere soon), but not even the most ardent NRA member can support letting someone walk into a gun show and walk out with fully-automatic weapons and ammo to match—without an instant background check.

There is simply no argument that justifies it.

What I find the most interesting about the issue is that Columbine survivors can ultimately affect Wal-Mart’s decision to carry ammunition, yet Virginia can leave this show loophole open. One set of laws please. Thanks, bye.

Leslie Stahl in the segment though points out how surprising it is that gun sales are up.

That would be fear actually, not surprise. If you watch two minutes in or so, you see the rational up close and personal. Because we’re in times like these, it’s okay to round up the argument to the nearest scare tactic and assume the worst: Economic collapse means your neighbors are coming for your food.

Better stock up. Now.

I can’t control that mindset, but, how about this for an idea: If the police can run instant checks on people during routine traffic stops, and, since police are often hired to work overtime for things like utility company street work, why not have them work gunshows to conduct all the background checks? They’ll have better access to important info. Anyone with a criminal background is instantly flagged. The gun show retailers would all have to pay a fee to offset the nominal costs. Win-win!

That is, until Obama takes all the guns.* Well, most of them.

*Second fear tactic.

1 comment:

Kara said...

I couldn't agree more. I absolutely believe Americans have the right to own guns. That doesn't mean I'm willing to give some crazy man with a few felonies a gun. Background checks at gun shows should be a legal requirement.