Do you need a background check for gun purchases?

Concealed and open carry laws I’m informed of, and I know that a state can, if it chooses to, require gun dealers to perform background checks (the National Instant Background Check System, or something along those lines), but I recall reading somewhere that it was ruled unconstitutional for the federal government to require states to mandate these checks. Is that true? If so, in which states do people NOT need to pass a background check to buy at a dealership? Or does other firearms legislation (1934 and 1968, et al) bypass this by making Federal Firearms licenses mandatory and, therefore, enabling back-door blanket background check requirements in all states? Such confusion. x_x

Be sure to read the comments, you will find more information about firearms dealer license


Will criminals soon be the only ones who can purchase a fire arm?

For years lawmakers have defeated bills requiring vendors at gun shows to conduct background checks of would-be buyers. yet such legislation squeaked by the senate courts of justice committee by an 8 t0 7 vote this week and is poised for a vote in the full senate. Politicians are trying to restrict the average citizens ability to purchase firearms and if successful only criminals will be able to purchase firearms when they choose to without being subject to any kind of check. Currently only licensed gun dealers are required to conduct these checks but if this legislation passes even unlicensed vendors will be required to without the resources to do so, this would effectively end gun shows and sales for any unlicensed vendors. Criminals buy there firearms out of the trunk of other criminals cars so this legislation will not prevent anyone from purchasing a firearm except law abiding citizens. how can these politicians be stopped?
Ihave an illinois FOID card and have already underwent a very stringent background check but if this legislation passes i will be subject to a check anytime i make a purchase.

Be sure to read the comments, you will find more information about firearms dealer license

Will criminals soon be the only ones who can purchase a fire arm?

For years lawmakers have defeated bills requiring vendors at gun shows to conduct background checks of would-be buyers. yet such legislation squeaked by the senate courts of justice committee by an 8 t0 7 vote thi week and is poised for a vote in the full senate. Politicians are trying to restrict the average citizens ability to purchase firearms and if successful only criminals will be able to purchase firearms when they choose to without being subject to any kind of check. Currently only licensed gun dealers are required to conduct these checks but if this legislation passes even unlicensed vendors will be required to without the resources to do so, this would effectively end gun shows and sales for any unlicensed vendors. Criminals buy there firearms out of the trunk of other criminals cars so this legislation will not prevent anyone from purchasing a firearm except law abiding citizens. how can these politicians be stopped?

Be sure to read the comments, you will find more information about firearms dealer license

Do you think the NRA is just plain wrong in some of their policies?

They have fought against every act of congress to make firearms safer. They fought against trigger locks, they fought against better serial number protection, against the assault weapons ban, against handgun background checks, against closing the gun show loophole.

Aren’t some of these stances at best negligent, at worse criminally irresponsible to what we know about firearms saftey and preventing violent crime? Shouldn’t the NRA get propose Gun control legislation that we all can live with, instead of fighting tooth and nail against even something as harmless as trigger locks and background checks?
Again I see right-wingers reading something that isn’t here. I am not for the abolition of all firearms in America. I am for our nation standing up and doing what is right; we need better laws and regulation to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people.

The NRA has an opportunity to be a part of a comprehensive solution to the gun problem; shouldn’t they get on board instead of standing in the way?

Be sure to read the comments, you will find more information about gun control act

Survey: Would you like to move to Texas?

1) hearsay is "good enough reason" to ban a book
…The State Bd of Ed banned the children’s book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" because they confused the author, Bill Martin with another author, Bill Martin who wrote "Ethical Marxism". Instead of banning the book, these dim bulbs banned anything by Bill Martin. The board member who introduced the measure even admitted that she just took someone’s word for it.

2) marijuana (personal use amt): TX penalties:
…Possession — 2 oz or less, class B misdemeanor, incarceration 180 days, fine ,000
while in Indiana: possesion < 1 oz can result in a few hundred dollar fine, attendance in a drug class, participation in community service and agreeing to unsupervised probation

3) In 2009, Texas executed a mentally retarded man for rape. The Supreme Court disallowed the penalty back in 2002 but left the decision up to the states as to what constitutes mental retardation. Texas has has joined with Mississippi and Alabama in the idea that someone with an IQ above 66 is not impaired.

4) Texas gun laws:
…NO waiting period to purchase firearms
…NO safety training is required to obtain a license
…NO requirement to register firearms with the police
…NO background checks done at gun shows or for private sales
…NEITHER state police nor federal NICS perform a background check
…NO mandatory requirement for locking devices be sold with guns
…NO license or permit is required to buy handguns
…NO ability for the police to limit carrying concealed handguns

I realize those to the far right will applaud these situations and the far left will heap scorn on them.

I am looking for responses from the middle-of-the road respondent, NOT the extremists.
I’d like to hear what centrists think.

Be sure to read the comments, you will find more information about federal firearms license

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