Here's how Coburn's plan would work: A gun buyer would log in to a free federal web portal and enter some personal information. If the buyer passes the background check, he or she would get a multi-digit key code, good for 30 days, to print out and take to a seller. That seller would use the same portal to confirm the authenticity of the background check.
The self-service system, the Oklahoma Republican said, would bypass the cost and record-keeping requirements required by the current proposal, which would require the involvement of a federally licensed firearm dealer for sales at gun shows and over the Internet. It's unclear how much it would cost to create a public-facing portal, but Congress has already authorized more than $1.2 billion to improve the system available to law enforcement and licensed dealers.
That dealer might not be convenient, and may charge a fee for the transfer service, Coburn said. And forcing everyone to go through a licensed dealer would simply push gun sales into the shadows. "If you make it easy for people to comply with the law, they'll do it," he said. "If I'm a gun owner, I want to know I'm not selling to someone who's on the list."
Sales to family members would still be exempted from the system, unless the seller has reason to believe the family member wouldn't pass. And states could pass laws making even more exceptions to cover friends, neighbors and co-workers.
Still, critics say Coburn's plan relies too much on voluntary compliance by private sellers.
"It's unworkable," said Ladd Everitt of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, "and there would be no incentive for any private seller to do a background check under the legislation."
Another problem for gun control advocates: There would be no lasting record of the sale.
From the beginning of the discussions about background check improvement, there's always been the idea that withough registration it would be unenforceable. This is no different.
I'm afraid what we need is comprehensive gun control, not more of the mish-mash spattering of laws that pass for gun control now.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
