grousemaster wrote:jdege wrote:grousemaster wrote:3. The only thing mentioned that I believe would have any chance of slightly curving gun violence would be universal background checks, which I would support as a life NRA member.
I will absolutely oppose universal background checks, if they involve reporting the serial number of the firearm being transferred to any level of government.
As it stands now, FFL's don't report any serial numbers. I am assuming that wouldn't change.
The dealer records the serial number on the 4473, and records the instant check number on the 4473, and the feds have the authority to demand the 4473.
I don't object to the 4473s, currently, because they don't - and the government knows that they don't - track all legal firearms transactions. So simple possession of a firearm, absent supporting documentation, cannot be presumed to be a crime.
When every legal firearms transaction does generate a paper trail, there will be such a presumption, however unfounded, and we will see innocent people jailed because the government screwed up the paperwork. (Currently, this is happening only for class III owners, but universal background checks will put all gun owners at risk.)
I see it as absolutely essential that the government never be allowed to convince itself that it knows who owns every legal gun.