Firing Back: Illinois Attorney General Calls for Release of FOID Card List
Among gun owners there has been a long standing debate that one worry over gun registration would be that the government or other officials could use it to keep tabs on who has a gun and who doesn’t. The worst fear is that this list could even be used to seize guns from law-abiding citizens.
Are these fears warranted? Consider this fact, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan determined that Illinois State Police must disclose the names of people authorized to own guns in the state, reports The Chicago Tribune. Currently it is the state police who determine who gets a Firearm Owners Identification card.
Isn’t owning a gun a right guaranteed by the Constitution? Yes, many licenses and ownership of businesses, property and other assets is made public record. But wouldn’t this potentially endanger those with and without guns? Couldn’t criminals target those with large, and potentially expensive, gun collections – or worse prey on those NOT listed as owning a gun?
And couldn’t this turn law-abiding citizens into criminals out of the above fear? State Senator Kirk Dillard reportedly told the paper that some people might not their names to be made public and might not comply with the laws. This makes for a dangerous situation where otherwise law-abiding citizens break the law, and could thus lose their guns.
But maybe that is exactly what Lisa Madigan has in mind all along.
Firing Back: National Gun Day Show Recap – What Loophole?
This past weekend saw one of the largest gun shows in the world take place in Louisville, Kentucky. Known as the National Gun Day Show – or just as often The Great Eastern – visitors were greeted to more than 2100 tables with dealers from around the country in attendance. This event of course coincides with Show of Shows – or SOS – the largest military collectibles show in the world with more than 1600 tables.
What is interesting, and usually not noted in the media, is the attention to safety. Every gun going into the show, or set up on tables was required to be zip tied so that the gun could not be cocked and thus fired. Of course it was stressed that all the firearms were unloaded as well. As expected there were no problems with accidents.
But more interesting was the fact that the large dealers actually set aside table space for instant background checks, and out of state handgun sales required that items be sent to a dealer or shop holder with an FFL (Federal Firearms License). There were private sales between individuals that didn’t require the background check – but it was hardly the nefarious “gun show loophole” that is often spoken of by anti-gun zealots.
During this reporters attendance at the show questions were asked, “Can you legally own this firearm,” and I personally saw one dealer actually say, “I really can’t sell you this gun,” to a pair of youths that we’ll just say stood out. For the most part the shows were attended by collectors, those with an interest and respect in firearms, as well as those with an interest in sport shooting and hunting.
What the National Gun Day Show was not was a black markets arms fair for gang bangers, gangsters and criminals. It was an event for law-abiding citizens who know and respect the law. I can hardly wait for next year’s shows.
Firing Back: What Makes a Gun an Assault Weapon?
Last week it was reported by LongIslandPress.com that “four gun shop owners and five of their employees have been accused of illegally selling assault weapons to civilians.”
The story doesn’t state what types of guns were sold during the reported 10-month investigation, but Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice was quoted as saying, “make no mistake, these are combat-specific weapons and not intended for hunting.”
The article later offers this closer:
“Under state law, only police officers, peace officers, and authorized military personnel are legally permitted to possess assault weapons.”
This brings us back to our Media Misinformation: Assault Weapons. So when exactly is an firearm an “assault weapon.” Ms. Rice suggests that these guns are “combat-specific,” but are these merely the commercial versions, which as it happens are banned in New York City and the surrounding counties. The ban actually relates to the large capacity magazines as well, not the guns themselves.
In other words, we’re not saying that the gun shops did break the law. They may have broken the county laws, but the paper maybe incorrect in quoting “state law,” as the counties near New York City have different laws than those in other parts of the state.
We also don’t like that Ms. Rice seems to suggest she knows what the intended purpose of these firearms too. There are many guns that are also not intended for hunting, but that doesn’t make every non-hunting rifle an assault weapon. Finally, we think the folks at LongIslandPress.com should check their facts on “New York State” gun laws.
Firing Back: Bloomberg Blames Congress – Where Does New York City End?
Where does New York City end? Isn’t the border on the Hudson River? Apparently, the honorable Mayor Michael Bloomberg seems to think he knows what is best for the rest of the country. Not only did he send a team out to Arizona gun shows, post videos (heavily edited mind you) online and even draft a post for the Huffington Post, but he is even blaming Congress for gun sale loophole.
In an article for the good old Huff and Puff, Bloomberg’s actions were described:
“Citing findings from a recent investigation of Arizona gun-show sales, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg offered a harsh indictment Monday of Congress’ failure to close gun-control loopholes that allow individuals to buy weapons from private sellers without a background check.”
“Gun control loopholes” – could that be a new statement we hear? We’re also seeing “gun sale loopholes.” In other words, Bloomberg isn’t looking to just close the nefarious “gun show loophole,” but we think he’ll aim at all private sales of firearms – something that could prove difficult.
But what is so bothersome is that Bloomberg is over reaching his authority. He’s mayor of a city, albeit the nation’s largest, and that’s it. He’s not in Congress and he doesn’t even represent the people of the State of New York, just the people of the City of New York. And yet, he’d like to change the laws not only for the 20 million in the New York area but for the 350 million throughout the country. So where does he think New York ends? More importantly, where does he think his power ends?
Firing Back: Bloomberg, Gun Shows and Media Lies and Misinformation
It seems the news this week is that Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City was concerned with a gun show in Arizona. Maybe a look at a map should show that Arizona is a long ways from the Big Apple. But as Bloomberg is also head of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, we shouldn’t be too surprised.
The Associated Press noted this in its coverage:
“Officials say a New York City undercover investigation at an Arizona gun show found that private sellers didn’t always require background checks of buyers.”
Well, there is a bold statement. The truth is that private sellers of guns in most states are NOT required to do background checks. This isn’t limited to gun shows. While some cities and even some states require purchase permits or gun registration, many states don’t require background checks on gun sales. But yet AP didn’t bother to report this fact, or even make it clear. Instead, the story implies that someone may have broken the law at the gun show – and yet no laws were broken.
The New York Times quoted John Feinblatt, advisor to Bloomberg:
“The background check system failed in Arizona, it failed in Virginia and it fails in states around the country.”
That point is again debatable as private sales aren’t required to be reported. So again, some handy misinformation on the facts from Mayors Against Illegal Guns. However, the Times did clarify this point:
“Private, unlicensed sellers are not required to run federal background checks, but it is a violation of federal law to sell guns to people if sellers suspect they are felons or mentally ill or are otherwise prohibited from buying.”
The New York Daily News on the other hand, had a biased headline: “Arizona gun dealers still selling semiautomatic weapons to buyers without brackground checks.” In the story, the paper claries a few points – but with a bit of misinformation:
“Gun shows are exempt from background checks, but vendors can’t legally sell to anyone they think is prohibited from buying them.”
This implies the “gun show loophole,” but actually the article never notes that it is actually private sales that are exempt from background checks.
This story won’t die anytime soon. In fact, we think unfortunately it is just getting started.
Detroit Free Press Columnist Says Gun Debate Over
Detroit Free Press columnist Rochelle Riley recently wrote that the time for gun control debate is over. She says it is now time for a serious national discussion about who can buy and keep a firearm. I’m not sure what Riley means by discussion. I suppose she thinks we all now agree with her position because of recent illegal shooting that have taken prominence in the news.
Riley says it is time to stop using the 2nd Amendment as an excuse to be dangerous. I disagree. The 2nd Amendment isn’t an excuse, it is a Right that many people of the world don’t have. I have a Right to own a firearm for protection, for recreation or for whatever reason I want. Firearm ownership doesn’t make someone dangerous, actions make someone dangerous. For example, most of us use our automobiles for transport. But on occasion, someone will intentionally use their vehicle to kill someone. At other times, vehicles accidently kill. By Riley’s logic, we need to have a national conversation about automobile control to keep vehicle out of the hands of someone who is dangerous. Read more
Firing Back: Iraq to Ban Toy Guns
One very surprising facet of life in the Middle East is that children – boys and girls – play with toy guns practically everywhere. It isn’t an uncommon sight to see children with surprisingly realistic replicas of AK-47s and similar small arms.
There was a time when children – mostly boys – played with toy guns in America. Those times have changed as “toy guns” have been viewed with concern in our overly protective society. Of course the traditional toy guns have been replaced by paintball guns and Airsoft Guns – so clearly some kids, including teenage boys and girls, are still interested in playing war. But there are those – such as the Peace Grannies – who consider all “war toys” wrong.
Apparently, those groups think that if we lay down our toy arms that will lead to everyone laying down real arms. We of course don’t agree. Playing “army” is just a part of growing up we feel, but not everyone sees it that way.
This is why it was so jarring when this reporter visited Egypt and saw dozens of kids playing together, all “armed” with toy AK-47s. It resembled a training exercise for a future war, while our youth today play Xbox 360 instead. If war comes, let us hope it is a push button war.
But the times could be changing too. And this gives us hope.
What is very interesting is that this week The New York Times has reported that the Ministry of Health is campaigning to ban the sale of toy guns in Iraq. Technically the ministry is looking to ban cheap air pistols that fire small plastic BBs, but it is an interesting turn of events for a land where it isn’t uncommon to see insurgents wielding real AK-47s next to toy AK-47s.
Firing Back: NRA is Really a Secret Cabal Says The Cap Times
This week The Cap Times (Your Progressive Voice) ran a story titled “NRA-led gun lobby wields powerful influence over ATF, U.S. politics.” That headline alone suggests that the NRA is a secret, sinister – dare we say insidious group secretly controlling the world (cue sound of evil laughter). The only thing is that we’re not laughing.
The story, which we do recommend everyone read, is the usual biased take on the National Rifle Association. It tries to present this as a group with too much power – yet only at the end notes that membership has tripled since 1978, which should suggest that many people actually care about this issue.
Yet the point of this article is that the NRA helped George W. Bush win the White House in 2000 over Vice President Al Gore. Again, it would seem that maybe guns are an issue – but the spin of this “story” is that the NRA somehow plays dirty or uses “money” to campaign.
And here is the interesting part. The story actually notes that the NRA has become more political, and even draws the conclusion that it was in response to the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the shifting role of the ATF.
So the question we have is simple: what is so wrong with the NRA being political? Consider that progressive groups such as Move.org, and even anti-gun groups such as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence are extremely political. Is it simply that so-called progressives don’t like the power. Maybe they’re just envious. That has to be it!
Firing Back: NRA Wants Child To Kill Each Other
Does the headline above make any sense? It does if you believe the liberal media hype that is being spewed in editorials such as the one for Scripps Howard News Service in an editorial written by Dan K. Thomasson. In response to the National Rifle Association’s attempts to overturn a Texas law that restricts the carrying of a concealed weapon to those 21-years or older, he writes:
“If the NRA has its way, that area of violence in our urban sprawl will get much larger with innocent children the victims of gang and individual crime.”
Thomasson also notes incidents of gang related crimes in Washington, D.C. Last time we checked Washington, D.C. was thousands of miles from Texas. So why does an incident where teenage gang members – who had guns illegally – attacked other teens should have any bearing on the law in Texas? Read more
Firing Back: To Game or Not to Game
One of my “beats” as a writer and reporter has been to cover the electronic entertainment industry, or as it is more commonly known video games. One game that came out of nowhere in the late 1990s was Deer Hunter. Given the variety of strategy, simulation and shooter games the idea of a hunting game seemed odd. But it was extremely popular, in part because it didn’t demand the most robust computer to play it. It was also a simple enough game that offered a compelling experience.
The genre took off, with numerous follow-ups and many notable brands – such as Cabellas – joined in. Hunting season was open and it wasn’t just limited to deer season. But then like every other oversaturated gaming genre, the hunting games faded away.
The truth is that first person shooters really became far engrossing, and instead of just science fiction type games and their ilk, there was a wave of World War II, and now modern day military simulations. No doubt these took away from the audience. But the hunting games weren’t driven into extinction. Read more
