ABC
The National Rifle Association opposes expanding background checks. The
organization says many people sent to prison because of gun crimes get
their guns through theft or the black market, and no amount of
background checks can stop those criminals. The group attributed the
effort on Capitol Hill to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has worked to impose stricter background checks in several states.
"If Bloomberg and his supporters were serious about solving underlying
problems, they would work to reform our broken mental health system, not
attack the rights of America's 100 million gun owners," said Chris Cox,
executive director of the NRA's lobbying arm.
The lie is that criminals who get their guns from the "black market" would not be hindered by universal background checks. Many of the guns in the black market get there through private sales with no background check. Requiring background checks on all gun sales would cut into the pool of guns available in the black market.
The diversion is suggesting that reforming the "broken mental health system" is the solution rather than gun control.
Another lie is that requiring background checks on private sales is an "attack the rights of America's 100 million gun owners."
Debate Magazine
