House Gun Vote Shows Hypocrisy on Law Enforcement

While reading The Huffington Post, which is intended for the liberal community, I came across an article written by Dennis A. Henigan. It was called House Gun Vote Shows Hypocrisy on Law Enforcement. Mr. Henigan spoke about the proposal put forth by the Justice Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or better known as the “ATF.” The proposal would require licensed gun dealers in the border states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California to report to the ATF multiple sales of semiautomatic rifles. Examples would be the AK-47 and the AR-15.  “This new requirement would give law enforcement officials real time notification of large-volume sales, and would give federal enforcers a valuable tool to move quickly to disrupt trafficking channels -- and arrest the traffickers -- before the guns reach the streets of Mexican cities and towns.” said Mr. Henigan.

 The NRA says the proposal "only burdens law-abiding gun owners and retailers." "If someone is breaking the law, go after them full-bore." "If they aren't, leave them alone.” says Chris Cox, lobbyist for the NRA. Mr. Henigan then goes on to say that, “The problem is that the government needs information to determine who is violating the law and who is not, and then to prosecute the violators. The ATF proposal would give the government more timely information to permit federal agents to go after the traffickers "full-bore" before the guns do their damage.”

After reading Mr. Henigan’s article, I will agree with him that people who buy 30-40 assault rifles at one time should probably be put on a “registry list.” The only concern I have with this proposal is it does not specify how many weapons “one” must purchase before they are put on the “registry list.” What happens if a man goes into a gun store and buys him and his wife both an assault rifle so they can go target practicing. Should he be put on the “registry list?” I do not think so. Just because someone may have more than one assault rifle or handgun does not mean that they should be labeled a “trafficker.”