Senator Lautenberg at it Again:Backs Extended Brady Bill Background Checks

[Winchester 73]

Brady Campaign Praises Senator Lautenberg for Bill That Would Strengthen Brady Background Check System


http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-29-2008/0004802670&EDATE=

WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Paul Helmke, President
of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, today praised a bill
introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey that would require
longer retention of records in the Brady background check system and build
in greater safeguards when background checks reveal someone suspected of
terrorist activity.

The PROTECT (Preserving Records of Terrorist and Criminal Transactions)
Act of 2008 would require the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to
retain records of approved firearm transactions for at least 180 days.
Under current Justice Department regulations and appropriations
restrictions, those records must be destroyed within 24 hours. In cases
where the transaction involves a valid match to a terror watch list, the
FBI would be required to retain the record for a minimum of 10 years.

The courts have interpreted the Brady law to allow for the preservation
of background check records in approved purchases for a reasonable period
of time. Since 2004, the gun lobby has secured amendments to appropriations
bills requiring those records to be destroyed within 24 hours.

"Most Americans cannot believe that a known or suspected terrorist can
go through the Brady background check system and still buy guns," Helmke
said. "By strengthening Federal record retention laws, Senator Lautenberg's
bill will help stop terrorists and dangerous criminals from getting guns. I
want to thank Senator Lautenberg for introducing this sensible legislation,
and I urge Congress to move forward with it immediately. "

As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading
the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated
network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible
gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to
creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at
home, at school, at work, and in our communities.


For continuing insight and comment on the gun issue, read Paul Helmke's
blog at http://www.bradycampaign.org/blog/. Visit the Brady Campaign website at
http://www.bradycampaign.org.

 

[Guitargod1985]

So, let me get this straight: The Brady Campaign (which is not anti-gun, according to Helmke) supports a bill that would deprive yet another group of people of their constitutionally guaranteed Second Amendment rights by first depriving them of due process, which violates the Fifth Amendment? Wow, shocking.

So if some idiot bureaucrat decides I should be on a "terrorist watch list" because my suitcase happened to have a spent .22 casing or a large tube of toothpaste, then I can't buy a gun? Beautiful.

All these feel-good acronyms for bull**** legislation bother me nearly as much as the legislation itself. Uninformed people people hear "PATRIOT" and "PROTECT" and they think, "yeah, that's something I want to support."

Sometimes I begin to wonder if I'm really living in the country I thought I was.

 

[fletcher]

I can see no purpose for keeping these records. If they're interested in terrorists, why would they want all records kept for 180 days, instead of just following up on those that come up on the watchlist?

I agree this would be a step toward registration.

 

[Guitargod1985]

I don't care if someone is Mahmoud Ahmedenijad's brother, wears a turban and prays to Allah before boarding a plane -- if he is a citizen of this country and has not been CONVICTED of a crime he should be able to buy a gun.

Denying rights to someone based on what is suspected or what that person COULD or MIGHT do is crap.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Denying rights to someone based on what is suspected or what that person COULD or MIGHT do is crap.

Yeah, but it makes perfect sense if you're a leftist, which is to say: a believer in the intrinsic evil of Homo sapiens.

 

[jrfoxx]

If they're interested in terrorists, why would they want all records kept for 180 days, instead of just following up on those that come up on the watchlist?

That was my question too. the article says they can already keep the records of someone on the "terrorist watch list"'s record for 10 years, so whats the need to keep everyone's for 180 days? makes no sense.
unless......AH HA! I got it! unless they plan to just keep them all longer than 180 days, like say, permnantly. Then it makes sense.....

Also, how exactly are they allowed to keep "terrorist's" records for 10 years, if the law currently says ALL records have to be destroyed in 24 hours? Was that little gem always in there and I just didnt know it? I that a fairly recent "addition"? The more I think about it all, the worse and more devious, full of lies, and abused it seems to get...

 

[Henry Bowman]

"Most Americans cannot believe that a known or suspected terrorist can go through the Brady background check system and still buy guns," Helmke said.

If someone is a known terrorist and they are on the prohibited list, what difference does keeping the NICS record make? You either deny the sale or, preferably, go nab them on the spot. If "suspected" means there is a warrant for their arrest, same deal. Otherwise, explain exactly what possible benefit there could be to saving the record of the NICS calls.

 

[Guitargod1985]

Oh, LOL. I actually read the whole thing this time. I thought it was the same bill that they tried to push through Congress before, but it "just" keeps a record. I still think it's crap.

See Henry's comments above ^

 

[K-Romulus]

Yeah, my first reaction was: why is a "known or suspected terrorist" walking around freely in the first place? If they really are "terrorists," wouldn't they have been arrested before sauntering into the gun store? If buying a gun is in furtherance of a terrorist conspiracy, wouldn't that sale be grounds to arrest? Wouldn't they already be under surveillance BEFORE they walked into the gun store?

Too many questions . . . not enough answers :banghead:

 

[scout26]

The PROTECT (Preserving Records of Terrorist and Criminal Transactions)
Act of 2008)

So now merely purchasing a firearm is a Terrorist or Criminal act.

 

[USAFNoDAk]

Plus, they already have the paperwork, the 4473 form, from when the suspected terrorist went in and purchased a firearm. Those must be kept permanently by the dealer.

I think the FOPA of 1986 prohibits the establishment of a national registry of gun owners. So, does keeping the names for 180 days establish a national registry? I think it does. It would certainly give the government enough time to create a permanent, but secret registry. Oh, like that would never happen.