Well, I sat down at read the blue book I got in the mail, just to see how bad the language is on Amendment 22, the so-called "gunshow loophole" amendment.
Here's the summary:
1. requires background checks if any part of a gun purchase takes place at a gun show with the exception of antiques, C&R's;
2. requires a designated licensed gun dealer to obtain background checks, and to keep records of purchases as he or she would when selling, renting, or exchanging at retail;
3. defines a gun show as any event or function where 25 or more guns are offered or exhibited for sale, transfer, or exchange, or at least three gun owners exhibit, sell, offer for sale, transfer, or exchange guns; and
4. creates misdemeanor penalties punishable by jail, fines, or both.
So, let's hypothetically say I have 25 guns (Damn, I'm still short!), and I invite you over for dinner. Afterwards, I say, "Joe, you can buy any gun I have."
Whammo! Under this proposed amendment, my house is now a "gun show" because I "offered or exhibited for sale" 25 or more guns.
Let's take another scenario. Bob, Joe, and I are the only ones shooting at the local shooting range. Bob owes me about $500 from when I helped him finance a hip-replacement for his dad. He's shooting his SIG P239. I'm shooting my FAL, and Joe's shooting his HK P7. Bob offers to give me his P239 to pay up the debt, and Joe offers to trade his P7 for my FAL. Guess what? - We have now created a gun-show!
An even more scary implication is the language, "if any part of a gun purchase takes place at a gun show." Since they don't define that phrase specifically, what does it mean? Does it mean if I turn down Bob's offer now, but trade him something a month later? If I meet you at a gun-show, and we don't talk about any transactions, but I come over a month later and buy something from you?
I trying to convince everyone I come into contact with to vote against this, but according to the press, about 70% of the people are for it. Realistically, it will probably go through.
Will it completely outlaw private sales? Not as I read it. I think it will still be possible to make a legal private purchase without getting a background check by merely making damn sure the situations in which transactions are proposed or carried out have no relation to their defintion of "gun show", namely:
1. less than 25 guns "exhibited for sale, transfer, etc"; and
2. never have more than two people "offering .. for sale, exchange, etc" at the same place, at once.
"The law is an ass."
-z
[This message has been edited by smithz (edited October 06, 2000).]
edits for html -> ubb fixup.
[This message has been edited by smithz (edited October 06, 2000).]
Here's the summary:
1. requires background checks if any part of a gun purchase takes place at a gun show with the exception of antiques, C&R's;
2. requires a designated licensed gun dealer to obtain background checks, and to keep records of purchases as he or she would when selling, renting, or exchanging at retail;
3. defines a gun show as any event or function where 25 or more guns are offered or exhibited for sale, transfer, or exchange, or at least three gun owners exhibit, sell, offer for sale, transfer, or exchange guns; and
4. creates misdemeanor penalties punishable by jail, fines, or both.
So, let's hypothetically say I have 25 guns (Damn, I'm still short!), and I invite you over for dinner. Afterwards, I say, "Joe, you can buy any gun I have."
Whammo! Under this proposed amendment, my house is now a "gun show" because I "offered or exhibited for sale" 25 or more guns.
Let's take another scenario. Bob, Joe, and I are the only ones shooting at the local shooting range. Bob owes me about $500 from when I helped him finance a hip-replacement for his dad. He's shooting his SIG P239. I'm shooting my FAL, and Joe's shooting his HK P7. Bob offers to give me his P239 to pay up the debt, and Joe offers to trade his P7 for my FAL. Guess what? - We have now created a gun-show!
An even more scary implication is the language, "if any part of a gun purchase takes place at a gun show." Since they don't define that phrase specifically, what does it mean? Does it mean if I turn down Bob's offer now, but trade him something a month later? If I meet you at a gun-show, and we don't talk about any transactions, but I come over a month later and buy something from you?
I trying to convince everyone I come into contact with to vote against this, but according to the press, about 70% of the people are for it. Realistically, it will probably go through.
Will it completely outlaw private sales? Not as I read it. I think it will still be possible to make a legal private purchase without getting a background check by merely making damn sure the situations in which transactions are proposed or carried out have no relation to their defintion of "gun show", namely:
1. less than 25 guns "exhibited for sale, transfer, etc"; and
2. never have more than two people "offering .. for sale, exchange, etc" at the same place, at once.
"The law is an ass."
-z
[This message has been edited by smithz (edited October 06, 2000).]
edits for html -> ubb fixup.
[This message has been edited by smithz (edited October 06, 2000).]