The National Regulation-Resisters Association

[SecularMotion]

Sometimes common sense isn’t a common trait.

Wayne LaPierre, the National Rifle Association’s executive vice president, is a shining example of this. He continues to voice resistance to even the most basic kinds of changes in existing gun policy, changes that almost all Americans support, changes that would have little impact on the rights and ability of sane, law-abiding citizens to purchase legal weapons.

First, some background. The White House released its plan to reduce gun violence two weeks ago, a month after the horrific school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

The plan covered closing loopholes in the background check system, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, as well as improving school safety and mental health services.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/31/opinion/blow-the-national-regulation-resisters-association.html?hp#hp

[gejohnston]

1. Wayne was correct about one thing

"We don’t even prosecute anybody right now that goes through the system we have. So, we’re going to make all those law-abiding people go through the system and then we aren’t going to prosecute any of the bad guys if they do catch one. ”

putting false information on a 4473 is a felony under the GCA, not passing a NICS check is evidence of that felony. How many of these cases go to federal court?

[Glaug-Eldare]

2. Double-digits, I believe.

I expect some of them are honest mistakes in reading, administrative foul-ups, or other nolle prosequi events, but ATF's been denied the funds and leadership to pursue them at all. When I say "enforce existing laws," I mean it. NRA doesn't seem to.

[gejohnston]

3. true, but

they don't seem to do that great of a job when they have it either.

[spin]

4. I expect to see a compromise on the gun control issue. ...

and both sides of the debate will start from the strongest position and bargain.

The gun control side will start by insisting that we need another Assault Weapons Ban. The pro-gun rights side will state that we need better enforcement of existing laws.

In the end I predict we will see a requirement for an NICS background check for all sales of firearms and possibly a limit on magazine capacity. The NICS background check may see significant improvement and financing in order to better identify those who should not be able to buy firearms. We may also see increased penalties for the straw purchase and/or smuggling of firearms. Some effort will be made to improve our mental heath care system.

Unfortunately all this talk of another assault weapons ban is causing the sale of all types of firearms to skyrocket. Gun owners are also stocking up on ammo and reloading components. Many who are buying firearms today have no real reason to own one and may fail to store them properly. Some owners will have little knowledge of gun safety and will be unwilling to take a class. Tragedies will result.