The bill that failed had a HUGE LOOPHOLE in it. We need a better bill!

[Tx4obama]

-snip-

As under current law, transfers between family, friends, and neighbors do not require background checks. You can give or sell a gun to your brother, your neighbor, your coworker without a background check. You can post a gun for sale on the cork bulletin board at your church or your job without a background check.

-snip-

Article here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022649387

So, folks could still privately sell their guns to ''... friends, family, and neighbors..." without background checks who may be felons and/or have mental issues.
And to folks at work and church that they might not even know.

That is a HUGE LOOPHOLE!

[Fgiriun]

1. The house

would have either watered it down further or completely defeat it.

[geek tragedy]

2. There will be no bill. The NRA owns Congress. nt

[Blue Idaho]

3. Forget the NRA.

The path to common sense gun control goes through the gun manufacturers. As long as we fixate on the NRA - we give it enormous power. Ignore them and lay the blame for needless gun violence directly at the feet of the weapons makers and see what happens. Today, the gun industry can relax behind the shield provided by Wayne and his pals. if we ignore the NRA and act directly - holding the weapons makers responsible for the deaths their products cause we can force them into the conversation - something they are trying desperately to avoid. Forget the NRA - take action at the factories and corporate offices of the gun makers. Turn up the heat.

[Ilsa]

4. Take action at the factories?

How? Protests? They'll laugh, call the police for trespassing, etc. Why would they change their behavior when every time there's a shooting or threat of gun laws changing, they make a shitload of money?
I don't understand what is supposed to be done.

[Blue Idaho]

8. Here is all I'm thinking...

I have never seen a gun manufacturer in front of a microphone answering for the deaths their products cause. That is because the hire the NRA to take the heat for them. So - how about we cut out the middle man and make them speak for themselves. Who knows if we concentrate on the gun makers we just might get somewhere.

I don't know if you remember - but during the great tobacco debate the tobacco companies created a "consumer smokers rights" organization to keep them out of the spotlight. It wasn't until the tobacco companies had to directly answer questions about their products and the damage they cause that things started to change.

One thing is obvious - as long as we keep focusing on the NRA the gun makers can sit back and laugh at concerned citizens.

If you have a better idea - I'd love to hear it.

[Ilsa]

9. Sounds good to me.

I had not heard of the smokers' rights group.

I just don't know how to cut out the NRA.

[Blue Idaho]

10. How about we start

Putting up photos of every person killed by a gun at their corporate headquarters?

Just a thought.

[drm604]

5. You're right. That sounds like a gigantic loophole.

What's the legal definition of "friend"? Some guy you met through Craigslist and had lunch with before making the sale?

[flamingdem]

6. What's this neighbors crapola

You could say Fred is my neighbor and get around it, geez.

[DevonRex]

7. Every gun bill has a loophole. But it was a step forward.

As long as it stayed as it was. God only knows what the House would have done with it. Trust me on this. I've never seen a gun law yet that was enforceable the way it sounded on its face. And I used to enforce them.