Because there's both bullshit and kernels of goodness in Joe's gun speech from last week, and I'm passionate about the subject, let's break some of it down. Lest you think I'm being too hard on him, there were things he brought up that I find encouraging. First, he acknowledges it's not just the guns, stupid.
"...there are proven strategies that reduce gun violence in urban communities, and there are programs that have demonstrated they can reduce homicides by up to 60% in urban communities. But many of these have been badly underfunded or not funded at all of late."
He also wants to take action against 80% guns. I hate the focus group formulated term, 'ghost gun', which he uses to portray them as evil. As I revealed in my previous entries, despite ignorant people claiming to the contrary, guns aren't inherently evil. Back to the speach -
"Much more need to be done, but the first, want to reign in the proliferation of so-called “ghost guns.” These are guns that are homemade, built from a kit that include directions on how to finish the firearm. You can go buy the kit. They have no serial numbers, so when they show up at a crime scene, they can’t be traced. And the buyers aren’t required to pass a background check to buy the kit to make the gun. Consequently, anyone from a criminal to a terrorist can buy this kit and as little as 30 minutes put together a weapon. I want to see these kits treated as firearms under the Gun Control Act, which is going to require that the seller and manufacturers make the key parts with serial numbers and run background checks on the buyers when they walk in to buy that package."
Two points on this one. The most important is that the Gun Control Act does not prohibit a person from building their own firearm, so long as it's for personal use only, the type is not regulated by the NFA (i.e. machine gun), and the individual isn't otherwise prohibited from owning a gun (i.e. convicted felon). Furthermore, the GCA requires neither the gun to be serialized nor a background check passed. So, I can go out into my machine shop and legally create as many guns as I wish, so long as I don't sell them to anyone else.
Now you're saying that I just proved Joe's point, that these 80% lower receivers should be treated as firearms. Except they're not firearms! These lower receivers are typically missing critical holes or aren't machined out the whole way, so they can not be used as a firearm. Furthermore, they aren't kits that you 'put together a weapon'.
Case in point, here are photos of an 80% lower and a completed lower.
Still a lot of work to be done on that first one before it can go bang.
Then, we jump on the downward spiral into stupidity - no holes drilled, features not machined, and so on, until you're left trying to classify the item below as a firearm.
Let's not forget 3D Printers, which have become quite affordable and can print guns all day. Do we regulate those as well?
Change the damned law so that all finished firearms require serial numbers and the owner to pass a background check. Heavy penalties for those who don't comply. Easy peasy, you anti gun, fuck head.
"Finally, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the key agency enforcing gun laws, hasn’t had a permanent director since 2015. Today, I’m proud to nominate David Chipman to serve as a director of the AFT. David knows the AFT well."
I think I join many people in wondering what the fuck the AFT is Joe keeps talking about. Old Dave Chipman knows the ATF well and is quite well known for his anti firearm leanings as well as his bullshit claims that the Branch Davidians shot down two helicopters during the Waco seige.
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