[RealGun]

I am seeing references to "keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists". I am not aware of any justification to apply the "fight against terrorism" to domestic gun control. I am well aware of where this could go as an anti-gun opening. I just wonder if I am missing something of real merit here.

To me, terrorists are foreign nationals with political motivation, not common domestic criminals typically associated with misuse of guns. Other than possibly buying guns in quantity for export to areas of conflict, what would be the connection to terrorism?

[316SS]

Certain domestic activity could qualify as terrorism, but I think this is retoric. "Keep guns out of the hands of _________" has been the ostensible justification for all gun control. First, it was black people. Next it was criminals (an elitist/racist euphemism for black people). Now the pushbutton is "terrorist." But, as with "assault weapon" the definition of "terrorist" is fluid in the leftist hive-mind. It could mean almost anything. Rest assured it won't make any sense.

316

[dolanp]

And now they want 'terrorist' to mean anyone on the no-fly list, which would have included a few senators if they hadn't manually corrected that 'oversight'. Meanwhile Joe Sixpack American doesn't have the luxury of complaining to Congress and his entourage of politically-connected lapdogs.

[Phoenix_III]

I believe it is meant and used to justify strict gun laws in order to prevent a terrorist or group of terrorist from buying semi-automatic rifles with standard (30round or so) and high capacity (50 round, drums/beta-c, etc) magazines and decimating a city center until trained professionals SWAT, etc could arrive to neutralize the thread. Most local and city PD are not equipped to handle such an attack, though some are, as with some officers being able to rise to the challenge and others not so much. Such a scenario would be inexpensive to execute (firearms, loss of life for the terrorist [cheap], training assumedly already done), and the death toll would be high, as would the fear level (kissing 50+ citizens would be easy for 5 men with a rifle in a city square, or on a gridlocked street, etc).

=\

However, those same restricting rules prevent legitimate citizens from carrying a handgun (or rifle in car) on their person and being able to stand a chance...

Lousy mentality to think that no one would ever need to be able to defend themselves and the police will always be there... =\

[Hkmp5sd]

I believe it is meant and used to justify strict gun laws in order to prevent a terrorist or group of terrorist from buying semi-automatic rifles with standard (30round or so) and high capacity (50 round, drums/beta-c, etc) magazines and decimating a city center until trained professionals SWAT, etc could arrive to neutralize the thread.
It is a bunch of propaganda to create more confusion and prevent more Americans from being able to purchase firearms. A foreign terrorist cannot come into the US and legally buy any firearm. How would any new law help that? The argument is over the government being able to prevent sales of firearms to US citizens that they believe are somehow connected to a terrorist group, but have committed no crimes in this country.

[taliv]

Next it was criminals (an elitist/racist euphemism for black people).

umm... feel free to rephrase that :scrutiny:

but i agree with the rest of your post. terrorists can be domestic. e.g. unibomber


naturally, i'd much prefer we keep the definition of "terrorists" constrainted to people who use "terror" to further their agenda. For instance, Timothy McVey was not a terrorist. Granted, he (in theory) used a pretty big bomb or "WMD", but his motive wasn't like the IRA. McVey didn't threaten to kill people, or "terrorize" anyone. He just got revenge by killing a bunch of feds.

Conversely, the environmental nuts who spike trees are definitely terrorists. Their MO is to scare loggers, etc. Same goes for nuts who bomb abortion clinics. They're not trying to get revenge against a specific doctor, so much as scare all the doctors into stopping their practice.

[jefnvk]

Anyone notice how it is OK to ban guns because terrorists may use them to their advantage, but as soon as those people get stopped at the airport, they are throwing fits about how restrictive the country is?

[Silver Bullet]

I don’t remember any terrorist attacks on U.S. soil involving firearms. Fertilizer, yes. Airplanes, yes. Firearms, no.

Unless you’re in a state with no CCW, I don’t think you have much to worry about from terrorists with guns.

A much bigger threat to the country is politicians who would use terrorism as an excuse to confiscate firearms.

[whm1974]

Next it was criminals (an elitist/racist euphemism for black people).


umm... feel free to rephrase that

but i agree with the rest of your post. terrorists can be domestic. e.g. unibomber

The first "gun control" laws in this country were passed to keep blacks from having guns. Then in states like New York they were passed to keep arms out the hands of the Iris.

-Bill

[Standing Wolf]

Other than possibly buying guns in quantity for export to areas of conflict, what would be the connection to terrorism?

It's conceivable terrorists could sneak into the United States, buy guns, and go on killing rampages. It hasn't happened. It could.

Leftist extremists believe their fears—rational and otherwise—trump the nation's civil rights. Carrion feeders that they are, they never pass up an opportunity, however far-fetched or revolting, to trot out their socialist message that the commoners need to be disarmed.

[Archie]

The recent liberal whine about "...terrorists buying guns..." derives from release of information from confidential sources.

The basic facts are these. Certain people, residing legally in the U. S., both U. S. citizens and 'Legal Permanent Residents' have purchased firearms. In the 'Brady Check' portion of the purchase, they showed up 'clean'. So, the firearm was sold. Big deal, right?

However, the confidential source leak indicates some of these people are on 'watch lists'. That is, for some reason, some law enforcement agency has some reason to be 'interested' in that person. Reasons vary from marginal to very specific. Regardless of the reason, they are not under arrest, they are not being charged, they are not being restricted. They are just 'interesting' right now. Sooner or later, some will be crossed off the list because they really aren't that 'interesting', some will be indicted and arrested for various things.

The '...liberal whine...' is "Why are these people on 'watch lists' allowed to buy a gun?"

Why not? They haven't done anything (provable) chargable. Maybe the information will develop, but we can't charge them now. The liberals are crying and wetting their pants because they are on a 'watch list'. It's the same old crap of suspending civil rights for 'suspicion'.

And, just for the record there are no verified cases of 'terrorist activity' in the U. S. using legally purchased firearms. This is a standard left-wing "non-event" played up by the liberal media and factions to smear President Bush and provide propaganda for more gun control. In the words of Shakespeare's MacBeth, "It is a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing!"

The confidential sources have to be within the U. S. Government. 'Watch list' information is not something casually discussed in public. Obviously, if one thinks a certain person is planning on committing crime "A", one should not advise that targetted person of one's suspicion. Goofy.

[model 649]

I am not too worried about the guns, but I am concerned that our wonderful ATF is not very thorough about background checks for explosives permits.
"We're from the government and we're here to help you" (#2 on the list of the three biggest lies)
Josh

[Parallax]

If our government had stuck to the Constitution in the first place, we wouldn't have to worry about terrorists :banghead:

[wally]

A non-citizen without legal immigration status buying a gun would violate *existing* gun control laws. So obviously we are protected, it can't happen :evil:

--wally.