General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Republicans Allow Potential Terrorist Buy Guns Legally?!?! [View all]branford
(4,462 posts)Simple political pandering and wanting to give the appearance of "doing something," particularly because they know such a bill has absolutely no chance of passing Congress. Hypocrisy and pandering are certainly not confined to the right-wing. I am a loyal voting Democratic; I am not an idiot.
In any event, I thought the government lists were a moral and constitutional abomination when first proposed, and then only generally applied to "privileges" like flying, and now even worse if applied to firearm ownership, a enumerated constitutional right. If the government believes anyone is so inherently dangerous or disturbed that they should not be able to own firearms, they should present their evidence in open court, bear a high burden of proof and with required due process, and be subject to appeal and oversight.
I've yet to hear anyone from the administration detail how many people actually purchased firearms legally who would have been prevented from doing so had they been on any of the anti-terror lists, and then proceeded to commit crimes or acts of terror. I believe the number is 0. For instance, it is my understanding that Malik and Farook were not only not any list, but could, and did, pass any required background check like almost every other mass shooter who didn't steal their weapons. The terror list proposal, like UBC's, appear to be little more than solutions looking for a problem, essentially Trojan Horse legislation to enact otherwise unpopular gun control policies. Instead of the usual gun control wish list, it appears we need better investigation and oversight of visa and others admissions to the county. At least that could have possibly prevented the San Bernadino tragedy. However, such strict scrutiny, although popular with much of the country, is disfavored by many in the administration (and here on DU) because it would appear to justify Republican concerns about asylum seekers.
You believe people should be judged by the company they keep. Well, congratulations, the company you keep includes people like Bush and Cheney who created the lists you now support.