HR45 – More feel good gun control legislation

Being introduced by Democratic Congressman Bobby Rush of Illinois. HR45, also called Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, is another bill designed to make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to obtain a firearm while doing nothing to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.

You can read the details of the resolution here but a few of the highlights are:

• It will be “unlawful” to own a firearm without a license.
• Be required to submit a picture and thumbprint.
• Provide certification that the firearms are properly stored.
• Pass a written firearms exam which tests a persons knowledge of the safe storage of firearms in the presence of children, safe handling of firearms, risks associated with firearms, legal responsibilities of a firearm owner, and anything else the Attorney General deems fit.
• A release of any mental health records.
• Makes private sales illegal.
• Establishes a Federal Record of Sale system which records make, model, serial number, license of the transferee and name and address of the transferor.
• Provides for inspection of your home (fourth amendment violation)
• Reporting of lost or stolen firearms
• Notice of change of address
• Numerous other fun nuggets.

A large part of the bill has to do with licensing and registration. The Federal government is always trying to add more paperwork to legal gun ownership. I am sure there will be fees involved with all this, making it another source of revenue for the government.

Another section of the bill has to do with safety and training. While the 1,500 annual accidental deaths due to firearms are certainly tragic, giving the fact that there are 80 million firearms in the United States the statistics prove that the vast majority of gun owners already know how to safely store and use firearms. All firearms that are sold today are mandated to have gun locks included. Most people that purchase a handgun voluntarily take courses on their safe storage and operation. Passing a federally mandated firearms exam will do nothing to ensure that irresponsible gun owners will start acting responsibly any more than laws against drunk drivers will prevent some people from driving drunk.

I have heard some liberal gun control advocates argue the car ownership analogy. It goes something along the line of:

• Need a license to drive a car.
• Need a photo on file to drive a car.
• Need to pass two tests to drive a car.
• Have to get the car inspected regularly.
• Have to have the car licensed.

So why should anyone complain about similar requirements for gun ownership? The problems with this analogy are many. You don’t need a license to buy an automobile. Anyone (including violent criminals) can purchase a car. A drivers license is valid in all 50 states. There is no waiting period to purchase an automobile. There is no limit on how many cars you can own or how many you can buy per month.

There is nothing in HR45 that will further prevent criminals from illegally obtaining guns. Likewise there is nothing in HR45 that will significantly reduce the number of accidental gun deaths. The only thing that HR45 will accomplish is a further erosion of the rights of citizens to legally own firearms as provided for by the Constitution. In fact, it has been shown time and time again that legal ownership of firearms reduces violent crime as well as other types of crimes such as robbery, burglary, etc. Washington DC had some of the most stringent gun control laws on the books yet had one of the highest homicide rates in the United States.

I urge everyone who is concerned about the constant erosion of our civil liberties and rights to write your congressman in opposition to this resolution. Our C9nstitution says “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” !!!

Posted by Karan Berry