One recurring, daft theme worthy of an ignoramus like Glen Beck is that there is something called a Gun Show Loop Hole. Bullpucky.
RKBA is a DKos group of second amendment supporters who also have progressive and liberal values. We don't think that being a liberal means one has to be anti-gun. Some of us are extreme in our second amendment views (no licensing, no restrictions on small arms) and some of us are more moderate (licensing, restrictions on small arms.) Moderate or extreme, we hold one common belief: more gun control equals lost elections. We don't want a repeat of 1994. We are an inclusive group: if you see the Second Amendment as safeguarding our right to keep and bear arms individually, then come join us in our conversation. If you are against the right to keep and bear arms, come join our conversation. We look forward to seeing you, as long as you engage in a civil discussion.
RKBA stands for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
First I want to say the loss at Virginia Tech was horrific, but the way the school has pulled together and got back on it's feet is a testament to human resiliency. Good for them.
I also think that making political points using that massacre is pretty low behavior, and both sides in the VA-11 race are doing it. I think those students memory deserves respect, and they are respected best by the truth. What is shown above is a bald lie.
Seung-Hui Cho bought two guns. Neither one of them were purchased at a gun show. They were purchased because there was no legal bar to him owning them, because no report was made by the mental health facility where he was in outpatient treatment that would have prevented him from purchasing a gun.
He purchased one gun from an internet retailer. When this is done, the buyer designates a FFL holder (licensed gun dealer) and the gun is shipped to that dealer, and the dealer must complete the background check and BATF paperwork before completing the transaction and delivering the gun. This was done. The second gun was purchased from a dealer in Roanoke, same procedure. He had both guns a month before the shootings. Please note, the video above says something entirely different. Major Lie #1.
The video above suggests there's a Gun Show Loop Hole though which criminals line up to buy guns. Let me be clear, this loop hole doesn't exist. Here's why there is no Gun Show Loop Hole.
Gun dealers, who bring almost all the guns and do almost all the sales at gun shows still have to observe the law at gun shows. That means sales at a gun show are no different that sales done at their shop. Same laws, same background checks, and same waiting periods to get a handgun.
Why it's 'almost all guns' and 'almost all sales' is because private individuals talk to each other on the floor (and the guns shows I've been to only the dealers are allowed to sell on the floor - the dealers hate competition from private parties). This is legal, a private citizen owns a gun, and without crossing a state line sells the gun to another private citizen - the federal law has nothing to say in the matter. Cross a state line, different matter and the BATF may want to talk to you if they find out. Private citizens are not required to do a background check before selling guns, and in fact by law are barred from using the system that does the checking - for good reason there's personal information available.
But this activity between two private citizens doesn't need to happen at gun shows, it could happen anywhere, anytime. It could happen at the gun counter of the local Walmart. This is perfectly legal behavior. THIS is what is referred to as the Gun Show Loop Hole - private citizens doing things that are legal for private citizens to do. And it doesn't just happen at gun shows, it happens all over, all the time. Major Lie #2.
I understand the Tea Party acts like this, but I would hope we would do better. Please leave the lying hyperbole to the other side. And think about this for a minute - the Republicans use gun rights to energize their base - there's more than just gun rights of course, there's Glen Beck and religion as well. But if they were deprived of one of their major thrusts, how effective do you think they would be?