Gyvel, Sorry you think I took a Draconian view but I was just stating a fact. The scenarios you posted are unfortunate and I agree but the fact remains. I don't make the laws.
Ah. Gotcha. I understand.
Thanks and I realized I was pretty blunt. I'd say let the degree of the punishment fit the degree of the felony. In the case of the grandfather I only hope that the court would take that in consideration. I think that's pretty stupid to throw the book at him for bringing home the war souvenir 50 years ago.
Your proposal won't stop anything. How is a tattoo on the shoulder going to stop a felon from buying a gun from another felon -- who knows he's a felon -- on a street corner in the inner city? If I were a private seller I wouldn't feel like asking to see a buyer's shoulder. I think the entire concept of forcing people to mark their bodies is just plain creepy. It conjures up images of 1984 and Brave New World.
As for Badger Guns, you seem to think they are innocent dealers who fell into a bad situation because bad guys fooled them. Do some homework. Their record of 4473 violations over the past several years is unmatched anywhere in the country. That one store had more violations than some entire states recorded. They knowingly sold guns to felons who checked the "Yes" box on the question that asks "Are you a convicted felon."
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Another thing to consider. Some states will allow a felon who has served out his sentence to petition the court to have his/her rights restored. If forced to get a tattoo, that takes away his right to have a judge restore his rights. Nope. I think that tattoo idea is no good. Personally, I have never approved of a gun control law based on a similar law put in place by Adolph Hitler. JMHO.
Paul B.
Odds are that such a law would run afoul of the "cruel and unusual punishment" clause.
Another aspect is that straw purchases are a trivial percentage of all illegal acquisitions. Lotsa smoke, little fire. Per federal testimony at the time of the nattering over the assault weapon ban, some 86% of criminal-use firearms are acquired via theft or illegal purchase "on the street" from other felons. Some 10% to 12% were originally acquired in a legal manner and misused at a later date by the purchaser. Only around 2% of crime guns come from purchase at gunshows from non-dealers, or from newspaper ads.
So, with theories that criminal records, ostracization from society, poverty, and low education lead to the United States' uniquely high crime and recidivism rate, we somehow want to jail people longer, enact more laws for people to break, and alienate criminals by permanently marking their skin for having committed a crime?
Hey I know, we could all get "chipped", like we do with our pets. Then the gun store can just scan your arm and you either come up green or red. If you get convicted of a felony your chip gets re-coded to red. There could even be a cell phone app so you could scan a buyer yourself in a private sale.
And there's no big brother element to any of this at all. Maybe I'll email Jeb! or Hillary to share the awesomeness of this idea.
Tattoo, no thanks. Just look how much trouble it is for state governments to ask for ID when voting....? Guess we need a voting tat.
If you are involved with a private sale and something bothers you.... don't sell or insist that they follow you to a gun shop to have a NICs check done.
Very Draconian outlook there. Yes, a felony is a felony, but, as I said, there's big difference between the 18 year old kid that stole cable TV and got railroaded by an overambitious DA, and a murderer, rapist, etc. For that matter, it's a felony to possess "unregistered" firearms in certain political subdivisions.
But, in your mind, "a felony is a felony."
Here's another one for you: Dad or Grandpa who served in WWII, Korea or Vietnam brought back an MP40 or AK, stored it in the attic 50-60- 70 years ago and forget all about it until he was cleaning out the attic one day. Lo and behold there it is! One of the "helpful" neighbors sees it, reports it and bingo!, Gramps or Pop is prosecuted for a felony for possession of an unregistered NFA weapon. Certainly no intent of breaking the law (probably didn't even know such law existed), but that law doesn't have any provision or leeway for "intent." Now he's a "felon."
But, as you say, "a felony is a felony."
Sadly, there are things that are felonies that shouldn't be; Until the laws are changed that's the unfortunate circumstance we have to deal with, but please don't take a black and white mind set that a "felony is a felony."
I just bought a pistol this morning and you're going to need a lot more than one tattoo for that background check.
And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
If I'm buying a gun from you and you ask to see my ID I'll tell you take a long walk on a short pier. I'm sure as the devil not going to undress for you.
I've had one speeding ticket in my life and I'm a pretty old man.
How about we just stamp the number 666 on our forehead or the back of our hand?