John McCain on the (so called) "Gun Show Loophole"

Straight from the horses mouth. This is from a few years ago, but is still relevant, seeing as he is now the Republican Presidential Candidate. I see little difference between Obama, Clinton & McCain.

The latest statistics place criminal purchase of guns at gun shows at around .07%. [sarcasm mode on]Wow, that's a real problem![sarcasm mode off]

In addition it's not even a loophole. Here is the dictionary definition of what a loophole is:

loop·hole /ˈlupˌhoʊl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[loop-hohl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, -holed, -hol·ing. –noun

1.	a small or narrow opening, as in a wall, for looking through, for admitting light and air, or, particularly in a fortification, for the discharge of missiles against an enemy outside.

2.	an opening or aperture.

3.	a means of escape or evasion; a means or opportunity of evading a rule, law, etc.: There are a number of loopholes in the tax laws whereby corporations can save money.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to furnish with loopholes.

So a loophole is a means of evading the law. In most states there is no law that prevents a citizen from selling one of their guns to another citizen.

So what are the anti's calling a loophole? What it is, is the ability of one private citizen to sell their own personal property to another private citizen without getting the government involved. It can happen anywhere, not just gun shows. Are they going to go after the "newspaper loophole" next? How about the "driveway" or "garage loophole"?

The whole thing is silly. The law will be about as effective as the Brady background checks have been. That is to say, an utter and abysmal failure. To any thinking person, the fallacy is clear. Paul Helmke can talk out of his ass all he wants, but it doesn't change the facts.

I went up to Olympia last year as part of our successful effort to stop the same type of bill in WA that had been passed in OR, with John McCains help, so obviously I feel strongly about this.

"I'm John McCain with some straight talk. Convicted felons have been able to buy and sell thousands of guns at gun shows because of a loophole in the law. Many were later used in crimes. That's wrong.

Here in Colorado, Amendment 22 will close this dangerous loophole by requiring criminal background checks by unlicensed dealers at gun shows.

I believe law-abiding citizens have the right to own guns. But with rights come responsibilities. Close the loophole. Vote Yes on Amendment 22."

—Senator John McCain

...and...

'"John McCain Urges Voters to Close the "Gun Show Loophole"

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) is featured in two television spots in support of Colorado and Oregon ballot initiatives to close the "Gun Show Loophole."

The thirty-second ads, appearing in both states, are the first spots in a $1 million campaign sponsored by Americans for Gun Safety (AGS), a new non-partisan group that is supporting the two citizen-led referendums.

Currently, Colorado and Oregon laws allow unlicensed dealers to sell firearms at gun shows without performing the criminal background checks that are required for all sales by federally licensed dealers.

The ballot initiatives (Amendment 22 in Colorado and Measure 5 in Oregon) would mandate the same criminal background checks by unlicensed dealers at gun shows. Guns used in the Columbine shooting and the Granada Hills shooting were purchased from unlicensed dealers at gun shows—without background checks.

"Despite the tragic lessons we have learned, it is still far too easy for a convicted felon to buy firearms at a gun show. That is wrong," said Senator McCain in a recent press release. "This is not about what's conservative and what's liberal, what's Republican and what's Democrat. It's about what's right and what's wrong. And quite simply, closing this loophole is the right thing to do."

"I believe law-abiding citizens have the right to own guns, and I have steadfastly fought for those rights for many years. But with rights come responsibilities. I strongly support the Colorado and Oregon ballot initiatives that help close this dangerous loophole," said the Senator.

"These ballot initiatives have made Colorado and Oregon 'ground zero' for the gun safety debate," said AGS President Jonathan Cowan. "Americans for Gun Safety is pleased to join with a true American hero, Senator McCain, and the people of Colorado and Oregon in supporting these common-sense solutions that will help keep guns out of the hands of kids and criminals."'

John McCain can bite me. I will never vote for him.

source material

Here We Go Again

Lautenberg off his meds again introduces gun show bill

WASHINGTON - People wouldn’t be able to buy firearms at gun shows unless they first undergo background checks under legislation Sen. Frank Lautenberg introduced today.

The New Jersey Democrat introduced a similar bill in 1999. The Senate approved it by one vote. But the measure subsequently died.

The current bill to close the “gun show loophole” is co-sponsored by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and eight other Democratic senators, including former presidential candidate John Kerry of Massachusetts, have also signed on.

The bill was discussed at a Capitol Hill news conference attended by law enforcement officials, survivors of Virginia Tech shooting victims, and advocates such as Paul Helmke of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

“It defies common sense that a loophole in federal law lets unlicensed dealers sell firearms at gun shows without running a background check on the buyer. Our legislation would require background checks for every gun purchased at every gun show across America,” Lautenberg said in a statement.

A 1993 federal law requires people seeking to buy firearms at gun shops and other licensed businesses such as pawnshops to undergo background checks. But a loophole allows them to buy guns from unlicensed dealers at gun shows, Lautenberg’s office said.

Supporters say that loophole allows convicted felons, fugitives, domestic abusers, and others who would fail the background checks to still purchase firearms.

All Points Bulletin!

Be on the look out for the following:



Thanks to Blogonomicon!
Direct .PDF download.

More on Washington D.C.'s Appeal

D.C. to Appeal Handgun Case to High Court

By David Nakamura
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 16, 2007; 2:44 PM

D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty announced today that the city will appeal to the Supreme Court to uphold a long-time ban on handguns that was overturned by a lower court in March.

"The handgun ban has saved many lives and will continue to do so if it remains in effect," Fenty said at a morning news conference.

(If this is so, then how come Washington D.C. is the murder capitol of the USA? -Yuri)

In a 2-1 decision, a panel of judges for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit found three months ago that the city's prohibition against residents keeping handguns in their homes is unconstitutional. In May, the full appeals court declined a petition from the city to reconsider the panel's decision.

There is no guarantee that the Supreme Court will even hear the city's appeal. The high court has not ruled on a Second Amendment case since 1930, D.C. Attorney General Linda Singer said. She said she consulted numerous legal experts before recommending to Fenty (D) two weeks ago to appeal the case.

While many have said that the city should fight the appeals court ruling, some cautioned that a defeat in the Supreme Court could carry severe ramifications across the country for other cities whose gun control laws could overturned.

"We're right on the law," said Singer, adding that the city's ban on most handguns will remain in effect during the appeals process.

"Wherever I go, the response from the residents is, 'Mayor Fenty, you've got to fight this all the way to the Supreme Court,' " Fenty said.

The city's three-decade-old gun ban was challenged by six D.C. residents who said they wanted to keep guns in their homes for self-defense. The District's law bars all handguns unless they were registered before 1976; it was passed that year to try to curb gun violence, but it has come under attack since then in Congress and in the courts.

Alan Gura, an attorney who represented the plaintiffs in the case that overturned the gun-ban, predicted the high court would affirm the lower court's decision.

"We're very pleased the case will go to the Supreme Court," Gura said. "We believe it will hear the case and will affirm that the Bill of Rights does protect the individual."

A central question the D.C. case poses is whether the Second Amendment protects an individual's rights to bear arms. Experts say that gun-rights advocates have never had a better chance for a major Second Amendment victory, because a significant number of justices on the Supreme Court have indicated a preference for the individual-rights interpretation.

Singer said she expects to receive legal assistance from several high-profile Constitution experts, as well as other cities. She said she will ask for a 30-day extension on the deadline to file her appeal with the Supreme Court, pushing that date to Sept. 5.

"If the U.S. Supreme Court decides to hear this case, it could produce the most significant Second Amendment ruling in our history," Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said in a statement. "If the U.S. Supreme Court follows the words of the U.S. Constitution and the Court's own precedents, it should reverse the Appeals Court ruling and allow the District's law to stand."

Paul Helmke Gets Served

Any questions?

The Phantom Menace

In an article found here, Bloomberg blasts the FOP as a "Fringe Organization" and tries to promote his illegal stings in other states. Below is a graphic from the story I found rather ironic.

Whether through just plain ignorance or genuine stupidity, they chose to illustrate "The Gun Menace" with a Beretta Tomcat chambered in .32 ACP. Now the Tomcat is one of the least threatening pocket pistols in existence, just slightly more threatening than anything in .25 ACP or .22LR. And it only holds seven rounds in the magazine, eight if you load one in the snout via the flip up barrel. Yeah, I'd hate to get shot with anything, and any gun is better than no gun, but a .32 ACP round has a better chance of pissing the Bad Guy off than stopping him. As with any bullet though, it's all about shot placement, but bigger is better.

-Yuri