Monday, April 15, 2013

GUN CONTROL DEAL: THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS



Senators Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey have reached a gun control deal.  The deal would include mandatory background checks; the giveback would be a provision that a concealed carry permit issued in any state must be recognized throughout the United States and a provision to allow gun shops to sell out-of-state. 

COMMENTS:
I have to admit that the carrot is certainly enticing.  As a concealed weapons carrier, it would certainly simplify my life if I could carry just one permit instead of the wallet-full that I have now.  Being able to more easily purchase guns out-of-state is also enticing.  But, the provisions in the mandatory background checks are still grossly lacking.  We need to provide those denied a purchase a right of appeal and we need to provide a mechanism for lifting the purchase bans in cases of mistake or success on appeal.  The argument against background checks that HIPPA laws prohibit disclosure of confidential information regarding background checks is moot; if you authorize a background check, you waive the HIPPA constraints.  If these drawbacks can be successfully mitigated, I wouldn’t mind signing on to this deal. 

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:
Q. Whatever happened to the maker of that anti-Muslin video who was originally blamed for the Benghazi Massacre?  (Sean ~ Los Angeles, CA)
A. He’s Barack Obama’s new limo driver.  No, seriously… Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, also known as Mark Basseley Youssef and a long list of other names, was sentenced in November to a year in the pokey for parole violation to which he pleaded guilty; he was previously found guilty of four counts of bank fraud.  In turn, the government agreed to drop four more probation violation charges, all of which pertained to his work on the “Innocence of Muslims.”  One story that emerged was that he was also an agent for the State Department.  To my knowledge, that allegation has never been addressed, but I now doubt its authenticity. 

Q. New Rochelle, New York has ordered the removal of the Gadsden Flag from a local armory.  The Gadsden flag as long been used by the Navy and Marine Corps, but is also the symbol of the Tea Party.  Isn’t this censorship?  (Paula ~ Mesquite, NV)
A. Of course it’s censorship.  The Tea Party also, like the Republican and Democratic parties, uses the American flag extensively; why didn’t they bar that?  They’d probably allow a Nazi flag or a Communist crescent to fly in a heartbeat.  We Americans need to stand up and shout! 

Q. What’s your opinion of the new immigration plan being touted by the so-called “Gang of Eight?”  (Lucinda ~ Glendale, AZ)
A. I would like to know a little more about it before commenting.  Unlike those in Congress who seem to be willing to sign any piece of paper whether they have read it or not, I’m not about to give a blank check to anybody.  I say, let’s let it get on the table and let’s allow some exposure and discussion take place first.  Like ObamaCare and thanks to Her Highness Pelosi, Congress has proven itself totally capable of rushing out a piece of legislation and getting it passed before anyone knows what is in it.  Who knows… there could even be hidden taxes in it or some provision for another GSA party or Solyndra loan.      

TODAY’S QUOTE:
''Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it.''  ~ Mark Twain

TODAY’S VIDEO:

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