March 23, 2011 03:43 PM UTC

What we need: common-sense gun laws

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• by: Raf

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Not for the first time, I’m moved to comment briefly on our country’s gun laws. After yesterday’s indefinite tabling of HB 1205 – which would’ve allowed gun owners to carry their weapons without the need for a concealed carry permit and a second background check – I thought it was as good a time as any to point to efforts on the federal side of the ledger.

One thing that needs to be addressed is the existence of lax, unaccountable private gun sales. This report from KJCT in Grand Junction makes clear the need for change:

But, in the private classifieds, there’s no law requiring any kind of background check. We put it to the test Friday afternoon, to see if private sales are really exempt.

We scanned the classifieds in Grand Junction and called on a handful of advertisements. When we asked the seller how long a background check would take, we heard the same answer from each of them. “This is a private sale, there is no background check.”

Think of that. Someone with felonies on their record, or someone with a history of domestic violence, can just arrange for a private sale and minutes later possess a deadly weapon.

Contrast this with the process of buying a gun from a retailer:

“You have to give your complete physical address, driver’s license number, social security number,” James Palmer with Gene Taylor’s explained. “You’ll also answer eight or ten questions on your legal status and citizenship.”

If you’re buying from Gene Taylor’s Sporting Goods, or any other store for that matter, you’ll have to pass an extensive background check before you are approved. “If you have a felony in your background, you can’t own it,” Palmer explained. “If you have domestic violence in your background, you can’t own it.”

It boggles my mind that this is the case. And I’m not the only one. Tom Mauser, whose son Daniel was killed at Columbine High School in 1999, feels the same way:

If you agree, you can join Tom, myself, and thousands of others at FixGunChecks.org

disclosure: I’m working with Mayors Against Illegal Guns on this issue.