Across the street from the Terra Mia Coffee shop on Mission Street is the High Bridge Arms Store, a tiny gun store that has been around since the days of the Beatniks. High Bridge has the distinction of being THE VERY LAST GUN STORE in San Francisco. They have survived recessions, the sixties, and even a brief hand gun ban -but the owners have announced they will close later this month.
What could bring down such a venerable institution? Incredibly, a simply gun sale transparency proposal –a pending bill in San Francisco requires that all gun purchases be videotaped. Although the bill has yet to become law, it has had a chilling effect on customers who were afraid their purchases would be sent to the police. Could this be a partial solution to our gun violence problem? Rather than ban specific types of guns, or limit magazine capacities – which may well be unconstitutional under the Second Amendment - simply keep the camera on when ever a sale is made? Who could object to this? “We strongly oppose San Francisco’s proposed bill to videotape gun purchases,” said NRA president I. M. Fulschitt. “Good honest citizens have the right to buy guns in secret,” added NRA spokesman M.E. Schiesskoff. Wait a minute- I thought the very idea of the “more guns less crime” lobby was that criminals would go elsewhere if they thought honest citizens had guns. And if you are truly buying a gun for self defense, why object to being videotaped? The state takes my picture when I “buy” my driver’s license. Why should guns be different? This could be the start of a welcome trend. Chicago is also considering this measure. Of course, this will drive customers to the internet where there are no background checks, so we need to patch that hole. But in a legal world where gun control laws are an endangered species, you have gotta love the fresh thinking here. I feel safer alreadyWhen you purchase a gun on the Internet or over the phone, it MUST be shipped to a licensed Federal firearms dealer. It is then picked up in a brick and mortar store where the Brady paperwork is completed and a background check is run. The federal and local authorities have extensive records for EVERY firearms purchase made this way. The only "loopholes" in this process are private sales between individuals.
What could bring down such a venerable institution? Incredibly, a simply gun sale transparency proposal –a pending bill in San Francisco requires that all gun purchases be videotaped. Although the bill has yet to become law, it has had a chilling effect on customers who were afraid their purchases would be sent to the police.
Could this be a partial solution to our gun violence problem? Rather than ban specific types of guns, or limit magazine capacities – which may well be unconstitutional under the Second Amendment - simply keep the camera on when ever a sale is made? Who could object to this?
“We strongly oppose San Francisco’s proposed bill to videotape gun purchases,” said NRA president I. M. Fulschitt. “Good honest citizens have the right to buy guns in secret,” added NRA spokesman M.E. Schiesskoff.
Wait a minute- I thought the very idea of the “more guns less crime” lobby was that criminals would go elsewhere if they thought honest citizens had guns. And if you are truly buying a gun for self defense, why object to being videotaped? The state takes my picture when I “buy” my driver’s license. Why should guns be different?
This could be the start of a welcome trend. Chicago is also considering this measure. Of course, this will drive customers to the internet where there are no background checks, so we need to patch that hole. But in a legal world where gun control laws are an endangered species, you have gotta love the fresh thinking here.
I feel safer already.
background checks.
Your point is only true as to as to licensed dealers who sell on the net, as I understand it
Take a look at Armslist.com.
They act as kind of Craiglist bringing together buyers and sellers of guns. You can buy a gun on line thru this website and the seller will ship to you without a background check. 40% of gun sales are done this way.
That is the internet loophole that needs to be patched
If you are caught shipping a firearm without going through a FFL dealer, you are in deep shit. Just as making heroin and meth illegal does not stop people using and selling it, I'm sure there are morons selling guns this way. I question the 40% figure, however. The chances of getting caught this way are significantly greater than a direct hand-to-hand sale.
Required a background check. If it ships in the U.S. It has to ship to an ffl dealer. It's a felony if it doesn't. At least that was my understanding of the law. Also the guns I have purchased through online dealers have all went to FFL dealers. That includes two from different sellers on armslist and one from there even required a photo ID to buy ammo. But my purchases are probably included in the 40% that went without a background check simply because they originated from arms list.
quote]
Your point is only true as to as to licensed dealers who sell on the net, as I understand it
Take a look at Armslist.com.
They act as kind of Craiglist bringing together buyers and sellers of guns. You can buy a gun on line thru this website and the seller will ship to you without a background check. 40% of gun sales are done this way.
That is the internet loophole that needs to be patched.