Firearm ID cards for Americans

[Ranb]

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-2666

A new bill to license gun owners. It looks something like what Illinois has. It will be unlawful for any person (except dealers etc) to own a pistol or semiautomatic firearm unless they obtain a license IAW with this act. There is a list of requirements to get the license including a certificate attesting to the completion of a written firearms examination which shall test the safe storage of firearms, the safe handling of firearms; the use of firearms in the home; the legal responsibilities of firearms owners; any other subjects, as the Attorney General determines to be appropriate.

The last requirement requiring any other subjects the AG wants seems to be rather vague. I wonder how difficult it will be to become certified and meet the requirements for ownership.

The $25 fee is the second lowest fee/tax I have seen levied by the US government.

Private sales without going through a dealer will be banned.

The child access prevention part looks good, it even provides an exception for children using a weapon in self-defense.

Ranb

 

[fuelair]

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-2666

A new bill to license gun owners. It looks something like what Illinois has. It will be unlawful for any person (except dealers etc) to own a pistol or semiautomatic firearm unless they obtain a license IAW with this act. There is a list of requirements to get the license including a certificate attesting to the completion of a written firearms examination which shall test the safe storage of firearms, the safe handling of firearms; the use of firearms in the home; the legal responsibilities of firearms owners; any other subjects, as the Attorney General determines to be appropriate.

The last requirement requiring any other subjects the AG wants seems to be rather vague. I wonder how difficult it will be to become certified and meet the requirements for ownership.

The $25 fee is the second lowest fee/tax I have seen levied by the US government.

Private sales without going through a dealer will be banned.

The child access prevention part looks good, it even provides an exception for children using a weapon in self-defense.

Ranb

I have no problem with it if it gives the possessor carry rights in all states and replaces state carry laws.

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

Yay, I'm in Illinois so it has no effect on me!

Unless this will add another card onto the FOID, which would just be a hassle.

 

[casebro]

I would only support that if it were required as part of high school education.

"....commence to go forward. Now here's your diploma, and your FOID."

But that bit about whatever the AG deems appropriate? How about law school and pass the bar exam? Camels nose, anybody?

 

[Loss Leader]

This is a House bill that is being sponsored by thirteen democrats including three from New York and only one from a Southern state. I think it has as much chance of becoming law as this charming Snoopy drawing that I found on flickr.

 

[Thunder]

I see nothing wrong with all Americans having to take a set of certification courses before they can own a gun. Too many Americans dont know how to safely handle, store, or use a fire arm and the more we know..the better.

You need a license to own and drive a car...but not to own a AR-15????

 

[EvilSmurf]

I think it's a wonderful idea. Criminals will probably not register themselves as gun owners. If a police officer sees a gun when doing a traffic stop, he can ask the car owner for their card...if the owner doesn't have one you have enough to hold him on.

 

[Miss Anthrope]

I think it's a wonderful idea. Criminals will probably not register themselves as gun owners. If a police officer sees a gun when doing a traffic stop, he can ask the car owner for their card...if the owner doesn't have one you have enough to hold him on.

I wonder where, exactly, a police officer on a traffic stop would not inquire about an observable firearm without this law being in place?

 

[fuelair]

I wonder where, exactly, a police officer on a traffic stop would not inquire about an observable firearm without this law being in place?

Wondered that myself - that's why mine is always well concealed so they don't need to ask or get frisky.

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

Is this one of those ALERT ALERT ALERT! situations like the Fairness Doctrine panic a month ago?

 

[Zep]

It will make it tougher on crims. They either have to use false names, front guys, or try to dodge the whole issue by not telling anyone.

So this measure should be backed up by appropriate sentencing laws. E.g. Commit a crime while in possession of an unlicensed weapon, or register falsely = double your sentence. This allows licensed owners the right to carry (even concealed) and not be subject to differentiation.

 

[Art Vandelay]

You need a license to own and drive a car...but not to own a AR-15????

You need no license to own a car. And you certainly don't need to have a dealership license to transfer ownership.

So this measure should be backed up by appropriate sentencing laws. E.g. Commit a crime while in possession of an unlicensed weapon, or register falsely = double your sentence. This allows licensed owners the right to carry (even concealed) and not be subject to differentiation.

What about cases such as subgenius's?

 

[The Painter]

There are 25,000 gun laws. Do you really think 25,000 and 1 is going to make any difference? Crimes are already committed with illegal guns. How would this change that?

 

[Ranb]

You need a license to own and drive a car...but not to own a AR-15????

Can you show me a law that says I need a license to buy a car? I have purchased several cars and was never required to produce a driver's license when I bought it. Any government issued ID works for buying a car. Can you show me a law that requires a license to drive a car? I legally drove a truck when I was eight years old; on private property.

It is absurd to compare car and gun legal restrictions in the USA and call guns less restricted. No one ever went to jail for owning a car that was bought legally. I can't be put in jail if I drive my car into California, but if I bring my ar15 with me, then I risk some jail time.

No one ever had to get the local sheriff's permission and pay a $200 tax to get a muffler for their car. How would you feel if you had to inform the ATF everytime you brought your across state lines, this has to be done for certain types of firearms.

Ranb

 

[Ladewig]

Private sales without going through a dealer will be banned.

I'm not sure I like that part. But I don't consider that aspect of the bill to be anything to fret about - I expect we'll get nationalized health care before we get nationalized gun licensing.

 

[notsoshocked]

There are 25,000 gun laws. Do you really think 25,000 and 1 is going to make any difference? Crimes are already committed with illegal guns. How would this change that?

I tend to agree with painter on his opinion. We know criminals will not be taking out a license to own their guns and there will still be plenty of black market sales of guns.

 

[Zep]

You need no license to own a car. And you certainly don't need to have a dealership license to transfer ownership.

So you are going to buy a car just to park it in the garage and never drive it? So you are going to buy a gun just to lock it in a strongbox somewhere?

What about cases such as subgenius's?

Did he commit a crime with a gun? As I recall, the prosecutors used the presence of an unusable firearm (aka "a stick") merely as an excuse to come down hard on the guy for possession.

 

[Zep]

There are 25,000 gun laws. Do you really think 25,000 and 1 is going to make any difference? Crimes are already committed with illegal guns. How would this change that?

It wouldn't, and that's already well established and accepted. Gun licensing is hardly a deterrent to the determined crim. In fact, very little at all is a deterrent to the determined crim.

The point is that if a crim uses an unlicensed weapon and gets caught, then the sentencing gets a whole lot tougher. So they go away for twice as long. Or get electrocuted twice. Whatever.

 

[Zep]

Can you show me a law that says I need a license to buy a car? I have purchased several cars and was never required to produce a driver's license when I bought it. Any government issued ID works for buying a car. Can you show me a law that requires a license to drive a car? I legally drove a truck when I was eight years old; on private property.

It is absurd to compare car and gun legal restrictions in the USA and call guns less restricted. No one ever went to jail for owning a car that was bought legally. I can't be put in jail if I drive my car into California, but if I bring my ar15 with me, then I risk some jail time.

No one ever had to get the local sheriff's permission and pay a $200 tax to get a muffler for their car. How would you feel if you had to inform the ATF everytime you brought your across state lines, this has to be done for certain types of firearms.

Ranb

Umm, dude... Paris Hilton?

 

[Ranb]

Umm, dude... Paris Hilton?

I don't get it.

Ranb