CmdrSlander
Member
If the Federal Government really wanted to come after everyone that owns a modern sporting rifle or standard capacity magazine, the information needed to do so is only a few subpoenas away.
One could get most of the Modern Sporting Rifles, or at least most of the ones that are in the hands of people likely to resist a Federal confiscation, by cross referencing/pooling:
-List of NRA members (the NRA has it somewhere - subpoena), pro gun activists like us are likely to own the guns currently targeted and are likely to be non-compliant.
-People with Concealed Carry Permits (state database), if you've jumped through the hoops to get a CWP/CCL you probably like guns, and if you like guns you probably own an MSR or banned magazine.
-People with registered NFA items (existing Federal database), if you own an NFA item you are probably invested in the shooting sports to the point that you own something they want to make illegal.
-Online gun retailer purchase histories (Buds, Midway, Brownells - subpoena), it wouldn't be hard to check these for recent purchases of Modern Sporting Rifles, MSR accessories, mags and other items.
Pool these four existing electronic database and you'd have the vital information of about 85-90% of Modern Sporting Rifle owners. There may not be a formal registry, but it wouldn't be hard to find all the personal information needed to raid gun owners using existing databases.
We still need to fight a formal registry on all levels, but my point is, if it ever gets as far as confiscation, don't think that not having any weapons registered will save you from getting raided/searched. We have to defeat this before that happens.
Edit to Add: My point is, in the modern age, the government knows or could easily find out all there is to know about you. We must elect a government that either will not or cannot abuse this information.
One could get most of the Modern Sporting Rifles, or at least most of the ones that are in the hands of people likely to resist a Federal confiscation, by cross referencing/pooling:
-List of NRA members (the NRA has it somewhere - subpoena), pro gun activists like us are likely to own the guns currently targeted and are likely to be non-compliant.
-People with Concealed Carry Permits (state database), if you've jumped through the hoops to get a CWP/CCL you probably like guns, and if you like guns you probably own an MSR or banned magazine.
-People with registered NFA items (existing Federal database), if you own an NFA item you are probably invested in the shooting sports to the point that you own something they want to make illegal.
-Online gun retailer purchase histories (Buds, Midway, Brownells - subpoena), it wouldn't be hard to check these for recent purchases of Modern Sporting Rifles, MSR accessories, mags and other items.
Pool these four existing electronic database and you'd have the vital information of about 85-90% of Modern Sporting Rifle owners. There may not be a formal registry, but it wouldn't be hard to find all the personal information needed to raid gun owners using existing databases.
We still need to fight a formal registry on all levels, but my point is, if it ever gets as far as confiscation, don't think that not having any weapons registered will save you from getting raided/searched. We have to defeat this before that happens.
Edit to Add: My point is, in the modern age, the government knows or could easily find out all there is to know about you. We must elect a government that either will not or cannot abuse this information.
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