> > [guns]

This is SO off-topic to Linux and open source software.  I hate to 
perpetuate this thread.

> A glaring example of the failure of waiting periods and background=20
> checks is Columbine.  If a waiting period had been applied, it would
> not have stopped Klebold and Harris, thier firearms were purchased=20
> months before the crime.  And, since some of the firearms were=20
> purchased at a gun show, no background check was required for those.

That is an incorrect statement, as is the entire notion of the "gun-show
loophole" that has been propagated by the anti-gun groups.

There are two kinds of entities which sell firearms: registered firearms
dealers who hold a Federal Firearms License; and individuals.

Every FFL holder is required to conduct the required background check
for every firearms sale, regardless of where the sale is held.  It is
against the law for any FFL holder to sell a firearm without conducting
the required background check.

Individuals are not required to conduct background checks on the sale
of private property to another individual, regardless of where the sale 
is held.  This is a common-sense law.  Imagine the size of the bureaucracy
to administer this idea.  Do you believe it would be properly managed?

I would venture to say that most of the sales at gun shows are from FFL
holders to other FFL holders or individuals.

> Colorado has "closed" the gun show loophole.  But there are still=20

There was no loophole.

> many methods to aquire a firearm without having a background check. I=20
> don't know how Klebold and Harris aquired all the firearms they used,
> but I don't think they purchased any of them legally, since both=20
> were under the age of 18...right?

The firearms purchased by the Columbine killers were purchased illegally.
An adult female purchased the firearms on their behalf.  This is called
a straw purchase and is illegal.  If the background check was conducted,
it was conducted on the adult female purchaser.  Do you see why straw
purchases are illegal?

If you believe that more gun laws would have stopped the Columbine
killers, you probably believe in the "honest, law-abiding criminal"
variety of individual.  The honest "law-abiding murderer" does not exist.

I saw a funny cartoon once.  It showed a bunch of rough-looking characters
and one of them was saying "OK all you drug dealers.  We now have to put
trigger locks on all our stolen guns!"  Obviously trigger lock and other
firearms safety laws are not effective to make criminals start obeying
the laws.

...Unless they're good, honest, law-abiding criminals of course...

--
Jim Ockers (ockers@ockers.net)
Contact info: please see http://www.ockers.net/

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