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Hillary comes entirely out of the closet on the 2A
Posted by David Hardy · 5 October 2015 02:13 PM
Story here. The one thing lacking is just how any of these will affect mass shootings. But then I suppose a person can overlook that detail -- in this context, they are playing to a "base" that regards gun restrictions as a matter of religious dogma, existing beyond proof of truth or falsity.
Some of Clinton's gun control proposals, with my comments on each point:
*Universal federal background checks.
Clinton said she supports the 2013 US Senate bill expanding background checks on gun purchases, which most Republicans argue will not prevent determined individuals from getting their hands on guns. Polls have found that background checks enjoy broad support among most Americans.
The problem with this is that they talk about gun purchases (change of OWNERSHIP) but write the bills to apply to change of POSSESSION. this criminalizes common activities as loaning your friend a gun at the range, loaning a gun to a new hunter, and temporarily keeping a friend or relative's guns (My son is in the military over three years now and I am still keeping some of his guns for him). Previous bills proposed in Wisconsin would have made a criminal of a spouse if their SO went out of town more than 2 weeks.
*Close various loopholes.
Clinton's proposal cited several laws that allow individuals to purchase guns without undergoing existing background checks that look to ensure that gun purchasers do not have a history of court-documented mental illness. The proposal would end the "Charleston loophole" — referring to a shooting earlier this year in South Carolina — a quirk that allows gun sales to go through if a check is not completed within three days.
Most laws exempting background checks include people who have CCW licenses. They have already shown the state they are not prohibited from owning a firearm, and already own firearms. The 3 day limit is a check on the government. This prevents the government from making a DE-facto ban by refusing to conduct background checks.
*Repeal a law protecting gun manufacturers from lawsuits.
The law is fairly complicated, but gun manufacturers have certain special protections that prevent victims of gun violence from suing for negligence.
This was enacted in response to anti gun groups attempting to bankrupt gun manufacturers with baseless lawsuits, something that should apply to all products. This law does not stop lawsuits for defective products or willful disregard of the law.
*Expand inspections of gun dealers.
Gun dealers are among the most highly regulated shops in the country
*Criminalize purchasing guns on behalf of those barred from buying guns themselves.
This is already law.
*Block convicted domestic abusers from buying and possessing guns.
This is already law, The Lautenberg amendment was the first time ever that a right was taken away from a person for a misdemeanor offense.
*Improve laws blocking individuals suffering from mental illness from obtaining weapons.
This is possibly an area that she could find compromise — gun-rights groups like the National Rifle Association have presented improved gun-control databases as the solution to curbing mass shootings, though many Democrats say this alone does not go far enough.
There could be improvements on reporting who has been adjudicated as mentally ill. I don't want any shortcuts in due process. Taking away a right should be a last resort and subject to judicial review. putting subversives and others that didn't agree with the party line was a favorite tactic of the communist countries. Do they still teach history in middle school?