Andrew Rothman
Member
From http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/02/senate.guns/index.html:
My response:
In a series of votes Wednesday, senators added an amendment to Craig's bill that would have closed the loophole that allows the purchase of guns at gun shows without a background check...
My response:
This "loophole" characterization is a clear misstatement of fact.
Under federal law, LICENSED FIREARMS DEALERS must complete a background check, regardless of where they sell a gun, whether in a store, a gun show, a home or anywhere else.
Also under federal law, a NON-FIREARMS-DEALER INDIVIDUAL may sell a gun face-to-face without a background check, whether in a gun show, a home or anywhere else.
To "close" this non-existent "loophole," private sales would have to require a background check at gun shows, while requiring no background check in the street or parking lot outside. This makes little sense.
Once again, there is no "loophole." This is a term coined by gun control advocates to make it seems like something to be fixed.