I appreciate it.
I mean, if you knew me, you would know that I actually proposed a comprehensive nationwide background check program that I finalized in the wake of Newtown... which incidentally is about 20 miles from me. And my son is in second grade.
But doubtless you want to hear what my plan is so you can call me an NRA shill some more.
My plan goes like this:
The ATF creates a federal firearm transfer agent license for people that want to have a side business transferring firearms from a private seller to a private buyer.
The transfer agent would not be a stocking gun dealer and would not be able to purchase new-manufacture guns, but they would have all the appropriate forms as well as access to the federal background check system (NICS).
For, say $20, the buyer and the seller would meet with the transfer agent. The transfer agent instructs them to fill out the paperwork, checks and copies identification, then runs the background check on the buyer. If he or she passes the check, the gun is transferred.
To protect privacy, the gun's make, model, and serial number would be recorded with the ATF, as well as the seller and the transfer agent... but not the buyer. That would be held by the transfer agent. If the gun turns up in a police investigation, it would be a relatively simple and quick matter for the police to contact the transfer agent or the seller and find out who it was sold to, but it would keep the government from trolling through a digitized database of gun owners.
This system could and should be used to limit firearm purchases or sales to 12 (or some other number) per year. If a person is selling more than 12 (or whatever) guns per year, then they really need to get a regular federal license and pay taxes on their income. And if they're buying more than 12 (or whatever) guns a year, they should get either a regular federal license or a collector's license.
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