It has been three months since the killings in Tucson, Arizona. President Obama recently spoke about gun control issues. In an article written in the Arizona Daily Star, President Obama asked both gun control supporters and gun rights advocates to discuss reasonable and sensible gun legislation. He was specifically interested in dealing with the gaps of the National Instant Criminal Background Check system. The system presently has significant gaps that allow dangerous or mentally unstable individuals to purchase guns.
The Crazed Tucson Shooter
The shooter in Tucson was a man who had been rejected as unfit by the United States Army. He was to not stable enough to attend college. Both his neighbors and friends thought he was inclined to commit violent acts. However, under the current gun control laws in the United States, he had no difficulty walking into a store and purchasing a firearm.
Crazies Can Obtain Guns
President Obama, in his article, pointed out that many states do not maintain the appropriate records regarding disqualifying individuals who have been involuntary committed or who have criminal records. These records are supposed to be submitted to the federal background system. The system is supposed to have an “accurate and comprehensive listing of individuals who should be precluded from purchasing firearms.” The significant loopholes in the system allow dangerous, mentally unstable individuals to avoid background checks and purchase guns. There also is a huge exception to the federal firearms background check system which allows anyone at a gun show to purchase any type of weapon he or she wants. The purpose of this exception is not to protect the American public. It is to line the pockets of the gun sellers!
The article by President Obama does not make specific proposals. It seeks to simply to open up a dialog. Unfortunately, the National Rifle Association declined President Obama’s invitation to enter into a reasonable discussion of gun control measures. Their position is anyone should be entitled to purchase any firearm they please. Hopefully the Obama Administration and Congress will be successful in establishing reasonable measures to control firearms from coming into the hands of unstable individuals or criminals.
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