Don't gun shows circumvent having to use a straw purchase if you're not

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29. I will do my best to explain what I understand as the truth

US Bill of Rights 5A -

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

It is the premise of the Founders that rights are innate in humans. You can argue that to be true or false but it is a foundational principle the Founders articulated in organizing the government. Governmental powers and authority derive from the just consent of the governed people. The people have certain liberties to act, organize, socialize and accumulate wealth as they see fit. Everyone has these rights and liberties until due process has taken place. If you beat a family member or other person, your freedom to repeat that will be seriously limited. (IMHO assaulting someone smaller, weaker and less able than yourself should get locked up or at the very least ankle monitored probation for life.) I strongly support anyone's access to weapons be as restricted as possible if they are by due process determined to be a danger to themselves or others. Convicted criminals are a demonstrated danger and should not be able to buy a firearm.

** We all start out equal but those who choose violent crime can't and should not be able to buy a gun. **

The law says gun sales by FFLs require a BG check. In most states private citizens have no access to the NICS. I favor a federally funded program giving NICS access to all persons transferring ownership of a gun at a local law enforcement office. A LEO identifies the buyer, runs the check and gives a yes/no on the transfer. It would be there for everyone to use. Individual states could make it mandatory but the feds could develop and finance the infrastructure needed for everyone to take advantage of it.

It's fine to say whatever a Congressperson wants to say but if you want to make a federal law about an intrastate gun transfer you will need to do a few things. First, you will need to find funding to add federal law enforcement in every county nationwide to enforce that law. Second, these agents will need training, support, supervision and logistics to do their job.

The real and effective way to make any gun laws work is to get individual states to accept, enact and support those laws.

Obama made a bunch of incredible progress on several issues. However, getting hundreds of Senators and Representatives from places thousands of miles away from each other to all agree on something requires months of negotiation and an incredible degree of leadership. Our whole background check system is less than 3 decades old. It needs improvement, refining and expansion. It will cost a lot.

My underlined italics above are what I see as progress toward a better system. I believe most people are basically good. Empowering private sellers to access the BG system is a start.

I welcome your comments and any discussion. Have a great night and thanks for discussing this.