The background check law passed a few years ago is full of holes. It does not include many gun show sales, internet sales, or sales by a private individual. These loopholes allow about 40% of the guns sold each year to be done without any background check -- allowing criminals, terrorists, and the dangerously mentally ill to buy any kind of weapon they want.
All efforts to close those loopholes in the law have been stymied -- mostly by Republicans (and a few Democrats) who say the voters don't want that, and think they would not be re-elected if they passed a law closing those loopholes. That's bullshit!
The charts above show those fears to be unfounded. Note that 80% of adults and 83% of registered voters are in favor of requiring a background check be done for all gun buyers (including all guns sold at a gun show and private sales from one individual to another). And majorities in all groups agree (including Republicans). Furthermore, large majorities agree that such a law would be at least somewhat effective in reducing the number of mass shootings and deaths.
In other words, there would be no repercussions for politicians who voted to close the holes in the background check law. It's what the voters want.
Why then, has it not been done? Why do our members of Congress refuse to even bring such a bill to the floor for debate and a vote?
It's not political cowardice. It is political greed. The NRA has bought too many of our politicians off by providing millions of dollars for their campaigns (and supporting PAC's). They are not afraid of voter anger. They are afraid the NRA (and gun manufacturers) will stop the flow of dollars into their campaigns. These politicians have decided that American deaths are the price they are willing to pay to keep the campaign dollars flowing.
There is no excuse for not closing the loopholes in the background check law -- no excuse except for callous greed. It is time to vote these politicians out of power.
The charts above reflect the results of the latest Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between February 25th and 27th of a random national sample of 1,500 adults (including 1,296 registered voters). The margin of error for all adults is 3.2 points, and for registered voters is 2.9 points.
