If people actually had common sense they would oppose “Common Sense” Gun Legislation
After the Senate voted down four gun bills, the Desktop Demagogues hit social media in numbers unseen since Harambe the Gorilla was killed. Many are hyperbolically suggesting that Senate Republicans are responsible for the murders in Orlando. The other culprit is the NRA who (according to the Bills’ supporters) has been funneling money from Gun Corporations, into the pockets of Senators.
But here’s a point that everyone is missing: It’s not just the Gun Lobby that wanted to see those Bills defeated, the FBI and the ACLU thought they were bad ideas as well.
First of all, the Orlando shooter wasn’t on the Watch List. Although he had been interviewed by the FBI on a couple occasions, he wasn’t on “the list”. So he still would have been able to buy those weapons. The Bills proposed would have done nothing to stop the tragedy that’s being capitalized on here.
But even more relevant, the FBI doesn’t want people on the list prohibited from purchasing guns. There is a reason why the Watch List is classified. Outside of Presidential Candidates, once people know they’re being investigated, they stop their criminal activities. This should be blatantly apparent to anyone who ever sped past a cop. As soon as you see he has a radar gun pointed at you, you’ll slow down. (In the past I’ve speculated that police should stage fake accidents, rather than hiding on us, to slow traffic.)
In a similar fashion, terrorists who know they are being watched, leave their terror cell and are recommissioned. That hinders the ability of law enforcement to investigate the cell further. If a terrorist can test if he’s on the watch list, by simply walking into a Wal-Mart and purchasing a gun, the classified nature of the list is broken.
Even more importantly, the FBI wants the gun purchases to go through. Because they get an alert when someone on the Watch List buys a gun. Current estimates put almost a million names on the Watch List, so it would be impossible for the FBI to follow everyone. But when one of those people buys a bunch of rifles, they’ve singled themselves out as potentially dangerous, and they can be put on 24 hour FBI surveillance.
But beside the FBI, one of the most Liberal organizations in America: the ACLU, believes it’s an infringement on 2nd Amendment rights. More so, they believe putting any name on any list is a violation of Due Process. They’ve been fighting the Federal Government over the No-Fly portion of that list for the past six years, so taking away another civil right from listed individuals is unconscionable.
Law enforcement and the ACLU have been at odds ever since the early days of Miranda. But when they both agree with the NRA that a Bill before the Senate is a really bad idea, it probably is.
Excellent explanation Tim! Of course, the gun haters won’t care for the argument and will largely ignore it. But that is why we have “free press”…
“Current estimates put almost a million names on the Watch List, so it would be impossible for the FBI to follow everyone.”
Actually over 95% of those “million people” are foreign nationals who are prohibited from buying guns anyway…
It’s the 25K, or so, that are US citizens or Green Card holders that they care about…
(5% x 1,000,000 = 50k)
“Over 95%”… 😉
(Almost 50K)
Some of the US citizens and Green Card holders are ineligible anyway…
Look, you never said there was going to be math on the test!!!
The bigger question is, why are more than 950,000 foreign nationals suspected of terrorism not being deported?
They may not even be in the country. They are simply on the “watch list”…
That is another reason using this list to ban gun purchases is bullshit…
So rational.
Well said. This was just a political chess move in an election year, hoping for a “gotcha” moment.
In the past, they would have passed an unread gun legislation bill so they could find out what was in it.
Right wing nut jobs at the ACLU want terrorists to get guns!
These are some excellent points.
Hastily drawn legislation has replaced praying as the only acceptable symbolic gesture.
It’s a prayer to the State. (Accompanied by sacrifice of Human Liberty.)
That makes sense Tim.