Say what????????

[Ishmael]

People following the raging gun debate are probably aware that VP Biden had a series of meetings last week with gun control advocates and opponents. The opponents met with Biden on the second day of the meetings and the following quote is from a news release from the NRA.

Jim Baker, NRA-ILA's Director of Federal Affairs, represented NRA at the meeting. As detailed in a recent Daily Caller article, Mr. Baker was given five minutes to present NRA's concerns and the approach NRA saw as being the most effective way to safeguard our children. During those five minutes, Baker mentioned the need to vigorously prosecute existing gun laws. He further noted the low number of prosecutions for falsifying information on Form 4473s, and the low felony prosecution rate for gun crimes in general.

In response to Mr. Baker's comments, Vice-President Biden said, "And to your point, Mr. Baker, regarding the lack of prosecutions on lying on Form 4473s, we simply don't have the time or manpower to prosecute everybody who lies on a form, that checks a wrong box, that answers a question inaccurately."

I have commented en passant the general lack of prosecution of existing gun laws. How many times a prosecutor will drop the 'gun enhancement' portion of charges (usually a mandatory addition of anywhere from 5 to 20 years to the sentence for anyone that used a firearm in the commission of a crime) from the list of charges in order to obtain a plea deal. Fine, only jumping on your local prosecutors can change that as that is a prosecutorial discretion decision.

However Biden's statement to Baker is highly problematic. Falsification of statements on the form 4473 (Firearm transfer application) is a federal felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. That is a class 'D' felony. (On a scale of 'A' to 'E'.)

If Biden is to be believed the government cannot be 'bothered' investigating and punishing individuals making felonious statements so as to allow themselves to obtain firearms due to lack of manpower, BUT are on the verge of proposing an entire raft of new laws and regulations concerning firearms.

If they don't have the manpower, or will, to investigate and prosecute those laws already on the books where in the world is the manpower (or will) going to come from to investigate and prosecute all of the new laws they are proposing?

Laws that cannot, or will not, be prosecuted are worse than no law at all. They make a mockery of the entire system of jurisprudence. They lead to a general erosion of the respect for any law.

Ishmael

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Look at some of the other laws they have chosen to simply ignore...

During the rush at the gun store, one old guy checked one box wrong and the owners denied him a sale and told him he had to come back the next day.

We're responsible out here in fly-over country.



A_J's scary looking gun of the week:

This must be banned!

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws."
Cornelius Tacitus
__________________
"Ceterum autem censeo, Liberalismum esse delendum"
A_J, the Stupid

 

[Wat_Tyler]

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

I like the one where the girl hiding in her closet drilled the home intruder through the door...

 

[Wat_Tyler]

So did I.


I recall this same assertion back in the 90's.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

If checking the boxes wrong is no big deal, then can we leave them blank?

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Ah reckon not . . . .


*spit*

 

[Ishmael]

The lack of investigation/prosecution has been a bitch on the part of the NRA since the Gun Control Act of 1968.

Ishmael

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

I upheld my end of the bargain and filled out all the boxes.

Do you think the Administration upheld its end of the bargain and did not store the information for use at a later date?

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

The lack of investigation/prosecution has been a bitch on the part of the NRA since the Gun Control Act of 1968.

Ishmael

The problem is that a lot of those guns might be in the hands of Mexicans in the US0fA...




We cannot possibly profile them! They vote too...

 

[Wat_Tyler]

The state does our background checks here.


I trust there is a tad greater likelihood that the records are disposed of.

 

[Liar]

A_J's scary looking gun of the week:

This must be banned!

I say nay, that color scheme must be mandatory.

 

[Sean]

I say nay, that color scheme must be mandatory.

I'm thinking that would cut down on the gangsta wannabes quite considerably.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

My daughter hates pink. Does it come in purple?

 

[XdOu™]

Hmmm, interesting..

 

[phrodeau]

Simple solution: Require a waiting period and delay all 4473 approvals until they can be completely confirmed.

We must keep the NRA satisfied.

 

[Ishmael]

Simple solution: Require a waiting period and delay all 4473 approvals until they can be completely confirmed.

We must keep the NRA satisfied.

That's NEVER going to happen. Got a Plan 'B'?

Ishmael

 

[Lancecastor]

Laws that cannot, or will not, be prosecuted are worse than no law at all. They make a mockery of the entire system of jurisprudence. They lead to a general erosion of the respect for any law.

Ishmael

...and erosion of respect for the rule of law that makes people buy more guns.

Therefore, Sandy Hook was Joe Biden's fault and she should report for execution.


(by your standard, the USA is already completely eroded...much like Greece)

 

[Ishmael]

...and erosion of respect for the rule of law that makes people buy more guns.

Therefore, Sandy Hook was Joe Biden's fault and she should report for execution.


(by your standard, the USA is already completely eroded...much like Greece)

If only things did work that way.

I look more to Rome re. that subject. We've all but abandoned Common Law for Statute Law. Each year more and more laws are passed that go unenforced, or only selectively enforced. And we continue to see 9 yr. olds busted on a Lemonade Stand beefs, or home owners threatened with property seizure on vegetable garden beefs. Lawmakers at every level meddling in affairs that are none of their business.

Ishmael

 

[Lancecastor]

If only things did work that way.

I look more to Rome re. that subject. We've all but abandoned Common Law for Statute Law. Each year more and more laws are passed that go unenforced, or only selectively enforced. And we continue to see 9 yr. olds busted on a Lemonade Stand beefs, or home owners threatened with property seizure on vegetable garden beefs. Lawmakers at every level meddling in affairs that are none of their business.

Ishmael

Yeah well, you decided to adopt the French Legal System for your country's use when you decided you didn't like anything British.

You get what you pay for.

 

[Ishmael]

Yeah well, you decided to adopt the French Legal System for your country's use when you decided you didn't like anything British.

You get what you pay for.

We aren't that bad yet.

The big change started in the late 1960's. Up until then we got along quite well on common law, almost made it to the 200 year mark. It's been downhill ever since.

Ishmael

 

[unregistered]

 

[phrodeau]

And it begs the question, what good are further "laws?"

It makes the book thicker when they throw it at the criminals.