Gun Control is not on the back burner

Gun control is not on the back burner for the 112th Congress.  The usual suspects are working to circumvent not only your right to bear arms, but your right to due process.

The usual suspects read like a list of gun-banning congressional idiots. Senators Lautenberg, Boxer, Durbin, Feinstein, Franken, Kerry, Levin, Menendez, Reed, Schumer and Whitehouse. 

The Senate Bills introduced by Lautenberg are:
S. 32 - Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act
S. 34 - Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2011
S. 35 - Gun Show Background Check Act of 2011


The House has its own versions of these bills, of course.  Two introduced by Carolyn McCarthy who is infamous because when asked what a "barrel shroud" was, she said "I think it's the shoulder thing that goes up."  In short, she knows nothing about guns and only does what her handlers tell her to do.

In the house, Representative Carolyn McCarthy has introduced:
H.R. 308 - Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act
H.R. 591 - Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2011
 
New York's Peter King has introduced:
H.R. 1506 Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2011
 
Of these, the "Dangerous Terrorists Act" is the most offensive.  It gives the Attorney General the authority to deny a gun purchase to anyone known or suspected to be a terrorist.  This means the AG can use the "No-Fly List" to make deny your right to purchase a firearm!

The problem here, of course, is that you could be denied a fundamental constitutional right because some bureaucrat put your name on a list. No trial. No jury. No lawyers.  And the list is not public. While there is an "appeal" process, don't count on it working.  The AG can simply dismiss your appeal and say that any hearing would "endanger national security". 

Imagine for a moment being accused of a crime, then being told that because you're on a terrorist no-fly list that you do not have a right to a jury trial.  Or that no lawyer would be appointed for you.  Would you be screaming to the news media?  You betcha. 

Most of these bills are still in their respective chamber committees.  However, I'd still suggest you write, fax or make phone calls to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on the Judiciary to kill these bills in committee. 

The ban for "high capacity magazines" (anything over 10 rounds) includes a provision to require serial numbers on magazines and a date of manufacture.  Yet, the bill grandfathers in existing magazines (watch the prices of hi-caps skyrocket if this bill gets to a floor vote in either chamber).  This ban would include rifles, pistols and shotguns that hold more than 10 rounds while exempting "law enforcement" (including the Federal alphabet soup agencies), military, retired police officers and others.  Just no exceptions for you, not even if you have only one hand and dozens of death threats. 

As for the gun show "loophole", I don't like the idea of needing the government's permission before selling a piece of personal property.  Why aren't we requiring car dealers and rental companies to do a background check to prevent repeat DUI's from driving?  After all, driving is not a right, it's a privilege you pay for with your registration fees and taxes. 

These bills have been introduced every year for the last three years.  Let's make sure they continue to get quashed before going anywhere. 

A bigger worry is what the Obama administration is working on "under the radar".  That's what he told Sarah and Jim Brady of the anti-gun Brady Campaign lobby a couple of months ago.  Was that project Gunrunner?  Or is it something even more evil?