In Feburary the US House of Representatives passed
H.R.8 - Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 with a vote of 240 to 190 in favor of the bill. As it stands right now in the early spring of 2019 gun sales that occur from a licensed firearms dealer to a private individual must go through a background check. These background checks by state vary depending on the states individual law.
This new gun control bill would impliment univeral gun background checks. Gun sales through an FFL would continue to require a gun purchaser to complete ATF Form 4473 and pay the background check fee before being allowed to buy a firearm.
The bill would also mandate a background check for gun sales that occur between private individuals and would close what progressives like to call the gun show loophole. Private sales could still occur under the Bipartisan Background Checks Act but the transaction would need to be facilited through an FFL and a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) or the states equivalent system completed.
With the Democrates currently controling the House its no surprise the bill made it through. And being a bipartisan bill it had support on the Right with nine Republican votes. Its now on its way to the Senate where it may not fare so well with the Republicans still holding power.
All this hype for what Progessives are calling common sense gun laws that ultimately wont work. While the media portrays the effectiveness of universal background checks the actual research doesnt always demonstrate
gun background checks make a difference.
After all criminals rarely purchase guns through legal means most often opting for straw purchasers and black market street dealers. They steal their weapons and obtain them through corrupt firearm dealers. They dont walk into gun stores and leave a trail. Criminals are smarter than that.
Whats more H.R.8 severely limits private gun sales which is most likely one of its goals (along with having a record of every gun sale in the country) hindering specific demographics of gun owners primarily those living in poor neighborhoods looking for a way to protect themselves. With the additional fees associated with background checks the poor become priced out of gun ownership and are at the mercy of those get their weapons through illegal means. And with additional legislation like Californias requirement of having a background check on ammo purchases and the cost of a bi-yearly permit the poor wont be able to afford to own guns.
Gun control legislation leads to gun control legislation. Infringements of rights tends to lead to more infringements of rights. The 2nd Ammendment states: A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed. It doesnt say after a background check and it doesnt say after paying a fee.
No it clearly and plainly states that the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed. Some would argue that this bill the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 does exactly that.
