Gun Show Regulations in the works (S. 843 and H.R. 2324)

[alfsauve]

The push is on to outlaw gun shows......or make it so onerous that few will want to go through the process and incur the liability for being a promoter.

For those who haven't read Brady Campaign's latest missive it's below.   They're going after the "Gun Show Loop Hole"  now cutely referred to as the GSLH by some.  I've pulled up the text of S843 http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.843:  And here's the definition of a "Gun Show"

(36) GUN SHOW- The term `gun show' means any event--
  (A) at which 50 or more firearms are offered or exhibited for sale,
  transfer, or exchange, if 1 or more of the firearms has been shipped
  or transported in, or otherwise affects, interstate or foreign commerce; and
  (B) at which--
    (i) not fewer than 20 percent of the exhibitors are firearm exhibitors;
    (ii) there are not fewer than 10 firearm exhibitors; or
    (iii) 50 or more firearms are offered for sale, transfer, or exchange.

The bill bends over backwards to justify, through the commerce clause, the power of congress to enact this law AND to make it seem all so reasonable.   Look at the first line of the definition.........."ANY EVENT" be it a gun show, as we know it, or a how about a competition, or a DU Christmas Banquet.   And while 50 firearms seems like a lot, what if there are 50 guns offered as prizes?  Out of all those attending Camp Perry, do you think you could find 50 willing to sell their guns?

Here's the kicker, the real 1st amendment kick in the gut.

It shall be unlawful for any person to organize, plan, promote, or operate a gun show unless that person--
   (1) registers with the Attorney General in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Attorney General; and
   (2) pays a registration fee, in an amount determined by the Attorney General.

Which screams to me that you need government permission to assemble.

And there are other onerous, more restrictive portions concerning reporting and record keeping.

AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T THINK THIS WILL EVER APPLY TO THEM.....

The definition of firearm "transaction" includes the OFFER FOR SALE as well as the actual sale and transfer/exchange.

OH AND........THE FIREARM, itself, DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT !!!   

Which means if you go to a competition and state you are THINKING about selling your whole collection you may have instantly turned that "event" into a "gun show".     Hey, a creative BATF agent could pay an informant to do that for them!

OKAY, you know what to do....start talking it up.....start contacting your Senators and Representatives.

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
-----------------------------



Dear Alfred,

We are going to close the gun show loophole.

In January, you helped us to reach our goal of more than 100 official or committed cosponsors for the bill in the U.S. House to close the gun show loophole.

Right now, people can buy as many guns as they want from unlicensed dealers at gun shows without a Brady background check.  No questions asked.

That's how the Columbine killers got three of the four weapons used eleven years ago this month -- and how the Pentagon shooter, who shot two law enforcement officers just last month, got his.

*****************************
Please contribute to the Brady Campaign to help us close the gun show loophole:
http://www.bradynetwork.org/site/R?i=IdswGL2akEu3MZdTAddgHw..
*****************************

The momentum is building.  Our goal is now 150 commitments by Memorial Day.  We can get this bill passed.  We can make this happen -- with your support.

Last April, U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg and Representatives Mike Castle and Carolyn McCarthy introduced bills in the Senate and House.  Since then, we've been pressing Congress to make requiring Brady background checks on all gun sales a priority, starting with the gun show loophole.

We released our videos with Virginia Tech shooting survivor Colin Goddard going undercover at gun shows and showing how easy it is for anyone to buy a gun from a private seller at a gun show -- no criminal background check, no questions asked.

We've gotten the media to expose our country's weak gun laws, including those allowing the reckless carrying of guns and ammunition in public places. Just recently, Brady representatives have been on CBS Evening News, CNN, NPR, local TV and even part of a humorous segment on The Daily Show.

We've been quoted in the Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, and TIME magazine, and editorials in favor of our agenda for sensible gun laws have appeared in USA Today, New York Times, and the Arizona Republic, to name just a few media outlets.

And we're working to get hearings scheduled in the next few months.

This is all to build support for common sense gun laws to keep dangerous people from getting guns.  So, yes, we can close the gun show loophole.  But we need your help and support.

*****************************
Click here to donate to the Brady Campaign to help get this done.
http://www.bradynetwork.org/site/R?i=nLEDxRfWnFbhfwDeOw0_Zw..
*****************************

We will continue our push -- providing facts to reporters about our weak gun laws, pitching stories to news editors, and posting our hard-hitting blogs and Internet ads. And we will be aggressive in lobbying Congress to get more cosponsors, and to start holding hearings.

We can do this.  We can close the gun show loophole.  Please support the Brady Campaign today: http://www.bradynetwork.org/site/R?i=QqKWNREGOTfcx6sqBWImwA..

Sincerely,

Sarah Brady, Chair
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

-----------------------------
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1225 Eye Street NW, Suite 1100
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© Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

The Brady Campaign, along with its sister organization, the Brady Center, is the nation's largest, non-partisan grassroots organization leading the fight to protect you, your family and your community from gun violence.

[crusader rabbit]

Wow.  There's not even a single slice of bread in that crap sandwich.

But, I think that darned old Constitution may just trip 'em up.  Specifically, how do you abridge the people's right to assemble and add a tax to that right?  SupCourt would probably throw that one out pretty quickly.

While I do not discount for a moment our need to be constantly on guard, and I acknowledge the cumulative effect of nibbling away at our rights, this is kind of like, "Ask for the moon.  Settle for Miami."

Still, there is that minority of very vociferous activists who would steal the guns in our gun safes. 

[Pathfinder]

Sponsors of S.843
Mr. LAUTENBERG
Mr. REED
Mr. WHITEHOUSE
Mr. SCHUMER
Mr. KERRY
Mr. KENNEDY
Mr. LEVIN
Mrs. FEINSTEIN
Mr. DURBIN
Mr. CARDIN
Mrs. GILLIBRAND
Mr. MENENDEZ

Sponsors for HR 2324
Mr. CASTLE
Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York
Mr. ISRAEL
Mr. KIRK (ed.: RINO from Illinois)
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey

Lots of the usual suspects in these lists. Both bills introduced a year ago. Alf, is there action that indicates that these are ever going to leave committee?

[alfsauve]

The action is that Brady is trying to press for movement.  Until the end of the 111th session of congress they remain a threat.

The way congress works we could go to bed tonight and wake up to find these bills passed tomorrow.

[twyacht]

The "rush" will be on before Nov.

Nothing would surprise me this summer. From Congress, the UN Small Arms Treaty, or BHO/Holder, etc,...

Keep stocking up...

[Sponsor]

[Rastus]

I think this, and other such nonsense, is going to be telling legislation.  It will tell us what the libs are thinking.  If they push this then they don't take polls seriously and believe their own bovine scatology that they will be re-elected.  If they leave it for dead then realization has crept into their conciousness and we need to press for more gun rights before so they can patronize us before we vote their worthless behinds out of office.

[alfsauve]

And

By stretching the definition of "EVENT" on-line auction sites (GunBroker, etc) and classified sections of forums would be dead.  Impossible to bring into compliance.

[mortdooley]

 Kennedy? I don't think he votes any more. Is this another long term Brady dream? I remember when there were no dealers at gun shows and no record keeping, no tax on purchases either. That was when we were free to buy and sell private property without government involvement, you could have a major collection with no paper trail.

[alfsauve]

Ted Kennedy was a co-sponsor when the bill was introduced.   And being from MA, who knows, they might still allow him to vote, in abstentia.

Yes it's a pipe dream, but it is also current pending legislation in 111th Congress.   Now that the "big one" (healthcare) has been passed, everyone wants their pet project to be next.  

Letting your congress critters know that this bill is unacceptable now might influence them to move on to some other area of legislation.

[PegLeg45]

Ted Kennedy was a co-sponsor when the bill was introduced.   And being from MA, who knows, they might still allow him to vote, in abstentia.

Yes it's a pipe dream, but it is also current pending legislation in 111th Congress.   Now that the "big one" (healthcare) has been passed, everyone wants there pet project to be next.   

Letting your congress critters know that this bill is unacceptable now might influence them to move on to some other area of legislation.

Exactly, thanks Alf for the reminder.

We must not be silent. Nearly all Senators and Representatives have personal websites and all can be reached through the Senate and House websites. Get addresses and send snail-mail, make phone calls, send emails. A little effort now, to say (in a positive and polite manner) that we will not stand for this to even be brought up for a vote, may curb interest.

http://www.house.gov/

http://www.senate.gov/

http://www.congress.org/