Wayne LaPierre Speaking at Senate Gun Hearing - 1/30/13

[East_TN_Patriot]

Good testimony.  Here's the link:

http://youtu.be/JCXch2GBfAM

[Oh Shoot]

Inconvenient truth brought out in that today:

 

" We think it's reasonable to provide mandatory instant criminal background checks for every sale at every gun show. No loopholes anywhere for anyone."

 

      - Wayne LaPierre, during testimony before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee in 1999 after Columbine.

[Erik88]

Great content but I really wish he would lose the script and speak from the heart. Some of the best testimony I've seen so far has been from the citizen who calmly and logically laid out facts.

 

Wayne could use some help on public speaking but he made some great points. I'm proud to be an NRA member and I will continue to support them while they support me.

[East_TN_Patriot]

At least he finally talked about the .gov's own studies that show the original AWB was ineffective and how accidental shootings are at all-time lows.

 

As far as the background checks at gun shows, if that's the worst to come out of this, then I'll count myself lucky.  I didn't intentionally work it out this way, but I've never bought a gun from a gun show that didn't come from an FFL holder anyhow.  Also, if non-FFL holders are the kind that set up shop at a gun show to sell multiple firearms, they are walking a very fine line with the ATF anyhow and probably should have an FFL based on the current laws. 

 

My view on background checks is probably not a popular one here, but here it is.  I think it is safe to say that most gun owners believe the 2nd Amendment is an individual right to own firearms.  However, few rights in the Constitution are absolute and are subject to some limitations.   For example, our 1st Amendment right to free speech is limited when it leads to a riot, threatens people's safety, is libelous or slanderous, or places people's lives in jeopardy such as yelling fire in a crowded theater.  The 4th Amendment is limited to "unreasonable" searches and seizures, with many exceptions to the warrant requirement in place.  With that said, I think that background checks are a very reasonable step to help keep firearms out of the hands of people who shouldn't own them.  Basically, they keep honest buyers and dealers honest while providing a legal mechanism for criminals who lie about their background and dealers who violate the law to be held accountable.  Unfortunately, the BATF does not do anywhere close to an adequate job of prosecuting these people.  I'll concede that it's unlikely eliminating the background check requirement would have actually make gun crime increase since most crime guns are obtained illegally anyhow, but it's such a minor inconvenience that if it forces the criminals to go to the extra effort to get their guns that way, I'm OK with that.

Edited January 31, 2013 by East_TN_Patriot

[Oh Shoot]

...As far as the background checks at gun shows, if that's the worst to come out of this, then I'll count myself lucky.  .

Oh, it'll be a check on ALL private sales, if passed, you can take that to the bank.

- OS

[mcurrier]

This guy seems to tell it much more clearly than La Pierre or anyone else - http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/59859-henson-ong-at-gun-violence-prevention-public-hearing-jan-28th-2013/

[Jonnin]

Better than most of his speeches but he is too dry and pulls his punches too much.  He should have at least pointed out that anti gunners have prevented the eddie eagle program in many schools, and that the ACLU and other liberals prevent mental health disclosure in some states which guts NICS. 

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Great content but I really wish he would lose the script and speak from the heart. Some of the best testimony I've seen so far has been from the citizen who calmly and logically laid out facts.

 

Wayne could use some help on public speaking but he made some great points. I'm proud to be an NRA member and I will continue to support them while they support me.

He can keep the script, if you don't mind, Erik88. It's going in the public record and I can only imagine what would happen if he misspoke

just one phrase, can't you? The way the media and politicians use peoples' words against them, I don't blame him a bit.

[Guest PapaB]

With that said, I think that background checks are a very reasonable step to help keep firearms out of the hands of people who shouldn't own them.  Basically, they keep honest buyers and dealers honest while providing a legal mechanism for criminals who lie about their background and dealers who violate the law to be held accountable.

 

With all due respect I have to disagree with your assumption on accountability because of this:

The NICS does not have information on several groups of people that are barred, by law, from possessing guns. Those dishonorably discharged from the military and those that had court ordered confinement for mental health issues are 2 such groups. Likewise for drug addicts. Laws are preventing hundreds of thousands of individuals from being listed in the system although they actually are barred from gun ownership.

 

Until this changes I can't support background checks for anyone.

Edited January 31, 2013 by PapaB

[1gewehr]

I disagree with background checks, PERIOD!  They are a bad idea and worse than useless.

1)  Show me where background checks have reduced violence.  Some states have a 100% background check law.  Has it reduced crime?  No. 

2)  How many folks have been denied on a NICS/TICS check for any reason, and then had it overturned on appeal?  I've never been convicted of anything, been an FFL, then C&R licensee, own machine guns, and have had Top Secret security clearances for many years.  I also am the only person in the US with my name.  Yet, I've been denied twice since 1995, and had to appeal it.  If this happens to me, what about the person who is truly in fear for her life who goes to buy a gun and gets denied?  This happens with alarming frequency.

3)  The NICS and TICS systems sometimes don't work.  These systems go down with alarming frequency.  again, do YOU want to make excuses when someone gets murdered because they cannot buy a gun when they need one?

4)  Background checks are registration.  Theoretically, ATF and other agencies are forbidden to retain this information.  They lie.  This information IS being retained, and when audits are performed, ATF and FBI have been caught red-handed.  And if you don't believe that registration leads to confiscation, you haven't been paying attention.  Katrina, California Assault Weapons, NYC, Illinois, Chicago, and now New York State have all turned registration into confiscation.

 

Just say 'NO"!