NRA increases pressure on Wash. lawmakers
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The National Rifle Association is increasing pressure on Washington state lawmakers who have endorsed a plan to expand gun background checks, specifically targeting a Republican lawmaker who supports the effort.
In a note mailed to its Washington members, the NRA called for "URGENT" action to contact GOP Rep. Mike Hope, who works as a Seattle police officer and previously had the NRA's support. The group said Hope's vote could determine the fate of a "sweeping gun control measure."
Hope supports the background check plan, saying Tuesday it is a reasonable way to help keep guns away from violent criminals and the mentally ill. Hope said he's invited the NRA to help shape the bill and will propose changes to make it better.
"What frustrates me is that they're not really looking at that stuff," Hope said of the NRA. "They're just looking at a unilateral 'no' to everything, and they're not looking for a solution."
Gun buyers already have to undergo a background check if they purchase from a federally licensed firearms dealer. The bill supported by Hope and many Democrats would expand that to sales between private parties, with Hope saying criminals purchase guns privately to avoid having to prove that they are legally allowed to own one.
Hope said he's received about 300 emails related to the gun bill and believes there are a lot of misconceptions about what it does. In the memo the NRA sent to its members, the group said the bill would have no impact on criminals and would be "the first steps toward universal registration of firearms and owners." It called the background checks plan "a massive regulatory scheme with huge burdens and obstacles."
Hope said the note is inaccurate. He said records of the background checks would not be maintained or part of a registration system. Under the bill, two people wanting to complete a transaction could go to their local gun shop or local law enforcement agency and pay for a background check of $20 or less.
NRA officials did not respond to requests for comment.
The background checks plan also has the support of Republican Sen. Steve Litzow and Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom, a Democrat who has aligned himself with Republicans this year. House lawmakers will begin considering the measure Wednesday in a committee hearing.
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Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
Confiscations are coming (for those who said no one is talking about confiscating guns).
http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills131/biltxt/intro/HB0545I.HTM
Democrats want to take them all away. Be afraid, be very afraid. Democrats are working overtime to take away our rights.
The cat is officially out of the bag.
Currently it's $10 for a FFL to do this if you buy from them. It should be no different and you shouldn't be required to go to a gun dealer to get this done. Gun dealers will just charge an additional fee for this service. If they want this then the required state and federal agencies need to support it by providing a method for a private citizen to get this done easily.
Go to a police department or something similiar. There should not be a bunch of hoops to jump through.
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If you drive up the costs then cheap guns wont go through this process. This will just increase illegal sales of unwanted guns.
This bill is an attempt to keep felons and crazies from handling guns, is it?
Currently, (most) felons and (most) crazies are barred from possession of firearms - yet they are arrested frequently and hit with the additional charge of "felon in possession" or "unlawful possession."Â
All those arrests, and the problem continues... These are people known to the system, already identified as criminals and nut bags. Â Yet they continuously get guns... Doesn't really support the concept of furthering background checks, now does it - Passing a law that only the law abiding will respect in an attempt to affect the scoff-laws?Â
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Something needs to change, that much is true, but I don't believe it has to be the law-abiding citizen who gives an inch to make it happen!
Background check for private sales??? How do they think that they're going to enforce that??? There is no way that they can, unless they require all guns to be registered - and you can't tell me that they won't try that! Once you allow the government to start down that road, they will just continue until it is unlawful for a person to own any guns! Gotta support the NRA on this one, totally! As per the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America!!!
What part of SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED do people not get?
@Conspirator So you oppose laws requiring any background checks, and you oppose laws preventing felons from owning or possessing guns?
@ShallowEnder @Conspirator I do support background checks, but they need to be easily done, i.e. a free 1-800 number.  And there is no proof that such checks will make any difference whatsoever in preventing felons from owning or possessing guns.  Do you really think that a crack dealer is going to go get a background check on his homie before he hands him a gun (so the dealer is not charged with the gun crime to follow)?
 @Conspirator The part where 20 first graders have to die for it.
@No_Conservitards @Conspirator Background checks would not have prevented that tragedy, nor will they impact the next one in any way. Â
@No_Conservitards @Conspirator Although a tragedy it should not be followed by another tragedy of restricting more of the rights of law abiding citizens....As stated above it is a meaningless act unless they require all guns to be registered which there will be far to much opposition for them to get to happen....I wonder if they might actually hold those that break the law responsible in the first place such as those caught being a felon in possession or those small percentage of dealers that sell to those who are not supposed to be sold to....lets start enforcing the laws that we currently have first and see if that helps..... Thanks for dancing on the graves of the children though while you attempt to further your cause...next
@No_Conservitards @holymolE @Conspirator Not a valid comparison. It would be like a law that said before you sell your car or motorcycle, you have to get the buyer's driver's license and pay someone to check to ensure he has not had any tickets
@holymolE @No_Conservitards @Conspirator It's like saying that wanting traffic laws means you're anti-car. Standard teatard response.