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Subscribe to RSSA bipartisan group of senators has reached a deal on a bill that would make it a federal crime to buy a gun for someone who isn't legally allowed to own one.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy announced the agreement on the Senate floor Monday evening.
Illegal gun “straw” purchases, made by a buyer on behalf of someone who cannot pass a background check, are often not prosecuted under current law, usually because conducting such a sale yields such a weak penalty.
The new compromise legislation would make the consequences for both straw buyers and sellers far more serious - to the tune of decades in jail.
"Instead of a slap on the wrist or treating this like a paperwork violation, these crimes under our bill would be punishable by up to 25 years in prison," Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said.
In broad strokes, cracking down on gun trafficking has wide support in both parties and isn't intensely controversial, as other potential gun control measures are. A bipartisan group of House members have already introduced a similar trafficking bill in that chamber.
The National Rifle Association appears to be reaching out to minorities in its fights against new gun laws. TheGrio.com's Earl Ofari Hutchinson responds to the ad.
The Senate legislation will include penalties for the straw purchaser as well as for the gun seller. Collins is a cosponsor, as is Republican Sen. Mark Kirk. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Richard Blumenthal, D- Conn., have also signed on.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up the trafficking bill on Thursday, when it also plans to consider three other pieces of gun control legislation: an assault weapons ban, a school safety measure and a bill to require background checks for all gun buyers.
With an assault weapons ban all but doomed to fail, the focus is still on the universal background check bill. Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Charles Schumer of New York have been negotiating with Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., but those talks have mostly stalled over disagreements about whether to require that private sellers keep records of private gun sales.
“We’re working through all that and Tom will make a decision at the end where he is on the bill,” Manchin said Monday.
Coburn told reporters late Monday that he spoke by phone with President Barack Obama earlier in the day, but would not elaborate on the subject of their discussion.
Democrats have been circulating the potential background check bill to other Republican senators as they continue talking to Coburn. Arizona Republican Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake have both been involved, as has Collins.
It's unlikely that they'll reach a deal before Thursday's planned Judiciary Committee markup, Democratic aides said Monday. If there’s no deal, the committee would take up a background check bill that Democrats wrote during the last Congress.
Manchin said he hoped to reach a deal before the committee meeting. “We’re trying. But if not, it’s not the end of the world,” he said.
Negotiations around background checks could then continue until the bill reaches the Senate floor. The National Rifle Association opposes universal background checks; Coburn has an "A" rating from that group.
Asked which Republican senators might emerge as a potential cosponsor if Coburn decides not to, Manchin told NBC News: “I think that anybody that comes from the gun culture, especially those that have had A ratings.”
Senate Democratic aides say the chamber is likely to consider gun legislation on the Senate floor during the first week of April.
This story was originally published on Mon Mar 4, 2013 6:22 PM EST
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I know how to end the drug problem!!! we will out law drugs!!! thats the ticket , to end drug use forever
Wow, so, we are going to make illegal actions more illegal ? (insert pic of Eric "Trafficking" Holder Laughing his arse off)
Sounds more like a double dare.
That's nice. It won't do anything but I'll support it.
When will Obama, Hillary and Holder be tried for selling guns to people who shouldn't have them?
good question.
Right after Bush, Cheney and Reagan.
Right on!
If you were trying to inflame a Republican, you'd be better served to find one.
true ----- bear tends to make a lot of assumptions about people.
Now, now, at least they sold them much further away than the southern US & Mexico!
yep I'm sure 100's of more laws against murder will bring the murder rate down
You anti-gun jackasses have woken the sleeping giant.
That's what we need. More laws = More bureaucrats. How about enforcing the ones we have.
would make it a federal crime to buy a gun for someone who isn't legally allowed to own one.
are often not prosecuted under current law, usually because conducting such a sale yields such a weak penalty.
would make the consequences for both straw buyers and sellers far more serious - to the tune of decades in jail.
"Instead of a slap on the wrist or treating this like a paperwork violation, these crimes under our bill would be punishable by up to 25 years in prison,"
And they just came up with this yesterday?????? Remember, do not sell a gun to anyone who might be a wackjob!
And for all you "self entertainment centers" who think this is a good start.........just keep telling yourselves, I can handle that, that doesn't effect me, I don't care, I have no problem with that, let them do what they want, oh well! roflmao
WV Democrat Joe Manchin is about as genuine as a $3 bill.
During his last campaign, he took a high powered rifle out and shot at a piece of paper called Obamacare.
Joe is a Class A SUCK.
see - even Democrats think you gun grabbers are a bunch of whack jobs . - But Joe did want to cancel "Buckwild" a totally awesome show - Guns girls and trucks mudding -
on the other hand libs want to legalize drugs, all of them. for the childeren dont you know
"It is unlawful to sell any firearm to any convicted felon. It is unlawful to sell or give a handgun to a minor, unless the gift is from a parent, guardian or executor to a child, ward or heir."
Already law in NH and probably most states.
nraila dot org/gun-laws/state-laws.aspx
I'm sure criminals are going to obey this one.
What a f'n joke.
Easily the stupidest crap I have ever heard of.
And to think they spent time and money on this crap.
LOL Another Federal law that won't be enforced!!!!
No law is enough without Wayne LaPierre serving time.
for what crime -
You cannot talk to people who are not in the know Red.
It's impossible.
For everyone who says the NRA will laugh at/support this law, that's GREAT news!
You all work under the assumption that someone wants to take guns from law abiding citizens so you think this isn't "left" enough because it doesn't take "your guns". You're wrong and we're happy that the NRA will be onboard with reasonable laws.
Now is the time to start watching how these/our senators/representatives vote! Remember. Do not forget how your reps voted. Did they vote for our liberty and the constitution? Or did they vote with BHO/Biden/Boxer/Fienstein and tyranny? We now know the answer. We have witnessed the lies this regime has spewed over the month of February about the "massive hatchet cuts" to the budget. We all woke up Friday morning and much to their chagrin we are all still here. Unless something really drastic happens I mean really drastic its going to be a loooong four years and yes when he's through its going to be rough for those in their twenties and thirties.
Anybody out there trying to purchase ammo for any semi automatic rifle? Call the Dept of Homeland Security, Dept. of HHS, Dept. of Treasury take your pick they have it all. I wonder why? It has also been reported today that the Dept. of Homeland Security has just put in an order for 2700 light armored tanks for service on the streets right here in America. Hmmmmm?
Its really getting scary folks!!!!!!
time to start welding steel plating on my f-250
Yep, at least 3/8"...but it's a deisel right? My F-150 is gas...I'll take in the shorts!
hey - just weld a box around the fuel tank or put in a fuel cell in the bed - they wont explode
The background check system is terribly flawed. 21 years ago my wife and I got into an arguement outside of a police station. I simply pushed her in the shoulder. I was spotted by a police informant and charged with a 5th degree assault. As a young and stupid person I just wanted to get it over with. I chose to plead guilty pay a fine and move on. Little did I know that now 21 years later I am not allowed to purchase even a hunting rifle to go deer hunting. I have never struck my wife and we have been married now for 22 years. I guess I am too evil to own a rifle. I do however own weapons, purchased through private parties. I would never aim them at another human, I was raised differently than that. So yes, I am strongly against universal checks.
You should look into getting your assault charges changed or removed,it has been done unless you live in one of those wacko states that does not allow that!
I live in Wyoming, It happened in the state of Washington
Let's look at the case of long-time fugitive James "Whitey" Bulger. The man is now in his mid-80's, and had been "on the run" for 16 years when nabbed in Santa Monica. He has been charged with 19 murders but is thought to be the behind many dozens more here in the Boston area. When caught, federal investigators found 29 firearms, including pistols, revolvers, shotguns and rifles, tucked away in Bulger's apartment.
According to authorities he bought at least 16 of the 29 at gun shows in Nevada and Utah, and bought others from private sellers. The most famous fugitive in the US looked these gun dealers and gun owners in the eye and bought 29 guns.
Maybe this law will help us identify and prosecute the scum who sell guns to criminals, nutjobs, and yes the terrorists.
i agree that should work, except of course, for those people who have false identification. ------ kinda difficult for a seller to know for a fact if the buyer is who his ID says he is.
They can't pass a budget,get the US out of debt but they can take more freedom from honest citizens! It's called control honest people while the criminals roam the streets supported by the democrats!
OK, Fiesty...after quietly reading posts here since mid-December last year and refraining from comment, I must say that you are supremely mis-guided. In fact, I think you're a thinly veiled troll (yet well established here) and despite the occassional reference to your husband, I think you are actually a male. If I'm wrong, and you truly are a female, then your routinely spewed venom against men simply highlights your need for a great sexual expereince...please go find that for yourself and lighten up for Christ's sake.
Your routinely observed one-ups-manship in your posts/arguments also expose you as at best, untuthful. Tonight a poster says he's has two adopted children and suddenly, you have six!!
Just stop...
As for the article, excellent step! "Straw Man" purchases have never been legal in any state. Intentionally purchasing for and providing a firearm to, an individual who is known to not be able to legally possess. Perfect example of the strengthing and expansion of laws. Escalate the crime and prosection thereof along with consequences and we get one step closer. Lose the pie in the sky approach...won't ever get your confiscation, weapons ban, reduced magazine capacity, universal background checks, etc. All will provide for better control of the good guys, none for the bad....widen existing laws, pusnishment and prosecution.
Again @ Fiesty...I don't really like you, but you do turn me on to some extent for some unimageinable reason (Supreme Biaathch thing I guess)...anyway, can I help you out with your problem? I'm a right-wing gun nut with plenty of disposable income, what do you say? Oh, and hey...does one of those six kids happen to be a 24 y/o Asain hottie? If so, pretty please pass this along to her from me....what'zz up babe? Thanks FISTY!!!
you didn't know ???? ----- well, maybe you suspected....... feisty is paid by first read to comment on here, and so is pigotry. ------ and, i suspect at least one other person who pretends to be a anti-democrat.
Name :::; Feisty doesn't have the guts to take you up on your offer !!!!!
So what does that mean? No 3some w/ Fisty and the Asian girl??? @!&#, everytime time I think I'm close!!!
i figured out feisty more than 2 years ago ----- in fact, i'm not even certain that the person commenting as feisty now is the same person from 2 years ago ---- the writing style/ word usage has changed.
funny how 0bozo said not one word about guns after 500 killings per year in chicago..
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in goverment......when the people fear their goverment there is tyranny, when the goverment fears the people, there is Liberty" [Thomas Jefferson]
What is the penalty for the US government arming Mexican drug lords that aren't supposed to have guns that are used to kill US Citizens??? Impeachment? I think that would be fair. Impeachment!!!
As long as the government doesn't make it easy to lose your gun rights, this law is a good thing.
I think I'm going to start a blog. I'm thinking of calling it "Guns are Stupid".
Or maybe "Guns are a Stupid Assed Idea".
Or how about "The Only Thing Stupider Than Guns Are People Who Love Guns".
In the blog I can talk about all the really stupid nonsense that attends the whole - 2nd amendment/cold dead hands/guns don't kill people, people kill people - debate.
I'm sure it will be filled with your fellow Liberals - I would join it but The stupidity in the comments would be too much to bear - Im sure there will be alot of warm and fuzzy - save the children ( but lets kill some with abortions) alot of redneck bashing - and how great O'bummer is - Take from the rich - give to the poor -
it amazes me when someone is so insecure about his position that he would seek to prevent others from saying things that conflict with his beliefs. ------- i have a liberal acquaintance who actually blocked me from his facebook page, because he was afraid i would say something that contradicted his beliefs.
@ronpal, #153.2 - So why is this a comment to my post?
yes Ron - but when the crap hits the fan and the gangers come out of the city trying to loot us he will be the first banging on your door - help me - save me ....
you are probably correct.
Yeah, this will surely make those dastardly CRIMINALS think twice :/
Laws don't stop criminals. But they're effective at stopping otherwise law abiding citizens from committing crimes.
Bear,
Do you have a documented example where a law abiding citizen was stopped from committing a crime by the law? Or did their inherent morality stop them? Have you ever broken a speed limit? Why? Aren't you law abiding? Yes you are but your moral compass said it was OK to speed.
Agreed....
But better than a bunch of knee jerk new legislation that only impacts non-criminals. Plenty of laws to modify (state to federal) if that's what it takes to escalate punsihment and enforcement.
But, then again...gun laws should rest squarely with the states...Fed should step in when the laws of each state are compromised (i.e. carying a legal weapon from one state into tom one in which it its illegal).
Bottom line, don't waste my money creating laws against me which you can't enforce and only for which I become a guilty party regardless of my intent or actions.