UPDATED In Turnaround, Flake Says He’s Open To Expanding Background Checks
Source: TPM
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) told CNN he's open to expanding background checks if the Manchin-Toomey legislation is modified to be more accommodating for Internet sales between friends.
Flake said he'd consider voting for the bill if the requirement is altered to ensure that a gun owner may sell a firearm to a friend without an FBI check after exchanging text-messages or emails or posting on Facebook. The senator fretted that as currently written, the bill may deem that a commercial transaction and require a background check.
The legislation generally exempts background checks for private gun sales between friends and family.
Flake recently took a beating in the press after obfuscating his position on background checks with the mother of a shooting victim who was slain in Aurora, Colo. He admitted his vote against the bill harmed his poll numbers.
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Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/in-turnaround-flake-says-hes-open-to-expanding
Flake: Ive Always Supported Background Checks
IGOR BOBIC 10:33 AM EDT, TUESDAY MAY 7, 2013
After telling CNN he would support expanding gun background checks if the Senate Manchin-Toomey amendment was modified to be more accommodating for Internet sales between friends, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) on Tuesday clarified his position.
"Cutting thru clutter, I've always supported background checks," Flake wrote on Twitter. "I didn't support Manchin-Toomey, and still don't. I voted for Grassley amdt."
Flake's rhetorical games follow his vote against the Manchin-Toomey amendment that appear to have eroded his public standing with Arizona voters.
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http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/flake-ive-always-supported-background-checks
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Under his formulation, you could sell to any 'friend' on the Internet if you text or email or post on each other's Facebook page.
Which would mean that no one would ever have to do background checks on Internet sales.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)internet sales from a resident in one state to a resident of a different state currently requires a bg check..I haven't heard of any move to change that requirement..
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)pipoman
(16,038 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)femmocrat
(28,394 posts)By "friending" some stranger on the internet, a felon could avoid the background check. I guess that is the point.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)ieoeja
(9,748 posts)The only way this legislation makes any sense is if he is actively trying to arm criminals.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)EC
(12,287 posts)what a crock...these guys can't be so dense that they don't know how criminals get their guns. This is a red herring...he's not going to support shit..he just wants to look like he's being a good guy...what a creep.
timdog44
(1,388 posts)are the only way to protect seller, buyer, and innocent non gun owners. Things that are registered are then protected by law enforcement and insurance. Background checks will make it more difficult, not impossible, but more difficult to restrict people who should not be gun owners. And if this takes up to a month to complete, so be it. Innocents are protected by the fact that nutcases are not out toting guns around. And actually safety courses should be mandatory. Witness the number of parents who have kids killing their's and other kids. We register our cars. We register our refrigerators for heaven's sake. Nobody wants to take your guns. But it should be known who owns them and if they no longer have them, for whatever reason, it should be known where they are.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)how will this protect anyone? When has there been a crime gun which wasn't ultimately tracked back to it's origin? The Constitution will not allow registration in any of our lifetimes..even the ACLU recently stated it would strongly oppose any attempt to register firearms..time to start considering possible solutions..
timdog44
(1,388 posts)that sometimes I don not agree with. They make me rethink things when they come out with pronouncements that are contrary to the way I think. I am still am not sure I am wrong on the way I think about all this. I have no idea how many guns get traced back to their original owner, not their origin. And 300,000,000 is a number that is hard to fathom.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)is a liberal position. People don't like it when people like Larry Flynt, Westboro, The Klan, PETA, etc. are not conservatively limited in their exercise of their rights, I celebrate the most liberal allocations of the 1st and every other civil liberty, regardless the issue. This isn't easy to do for many. We are all products of our experiences, mine has taken me into the lives of people who were disliked/hated by everyone in society...if it weren't for small groups of people (defense teams) these people would have not been afforded their rights based on public pressure alone...death threats and threats of violence on the defense teams for protecting these people's rights..many fight against the rights of others and don't understand the need for liberal interpretations until a threat to their own rights or someone they care about are threatened..to this day, right here, I have been consistent in my position on civil liberties, most of which are very liberal positions, except this one single civil liberty which for some reason is conservative cause..
timdog44
(1,388 posts)that I am very pro ACLU. Even when they are backing organizations I don't like. Even they need protection to express themselves. I often bring this up to people who say they are a socialist group. Not by any means.I think the ACLU has protected the NRA in the past. Just the protectors of our freedoms. And when I find myself in conflict with them, I often have to change my position after thinking it through. I don't always come down on the the right side instinctively. I should, but I don't. I find it difficult to believe the ACLU does not think background checks and registration to be a good thing that is not constitutional. Of course it will never happen in our lifetimes as you said, but still, I think it worth the doing.
I assume you have been involved legally for the defense of "unsavory" types. And it would be difficult on both fronts to be there except for the conviction of beliefs. My background is that of a son of a very liberal minister and thus my nursing career. That is where my exposure to "unsavory" came in to play in the ER of the poor side of Joliet.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)and it is always refreshing to hear people willing to reevaluate their stances...I do the same regularly..
Paladin
(28,281 posts)pipoman
(16,038 posts)Paladin
(28,281 posts)Wish I could give you the details, but over the years I've found out that it's a really, REALLY bad idea to share personal information with gun militants......
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Iliyah
(25,111 posts)Maybe two Dems as well and the rate its going they may get the 60 votes. So all this bullshit talk about Pres O "Lame Duck" crap is what it is, crap. Plus this past venom fest by the unhinged absolute insane NRA the GOP who support them are losing, and keeping the crazy level up will insure a victory in 2014 for Dems.
IggleDoer
(1,186 posts)I propose legislation that allow friends to buy booze for all their underage friends.
rrneck
(17,671 posts)Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)you advertise on the internet for friends, and then sell them guns?