Reply #126: It wouldn't be easy, cheap, or effective- and here's why.

[friendly_iconoclast]

Frankly, your whole argument smells of "gun control by any means necessary", like the recent proposed ban on lead bullets and
another DUers' advocacy of higher taxes on guns and ammunition.

I note that you do not advocate stricter enforcement of laws that already ban straw sales, or attempts by prohibited persons to buy guns from FFD by means of false statements on a Form 4473.

No, you want to make it more difficult and expensive for people that haven't done any wrong. I think that
speaks volumes...


But let's get back to your latest statement:

1. "Easy"- You'd have to change Federal gun law to do this, and with the increased popularity of guns, combined with a declining
crime rate, most gun owners would (correctly) see this as a stealthy attempt at restricting guns for no good reason.

2. "Cheap"-This would amount to another tax upon legal gun owners who would have to fork over every time they wanted to buy or
sell a gun + the cost to the government for the increased number of background checks.

3. "Effective" - There are tens of millions of guns in the US that aren't connected by paperwork to anyone.
And as others have noted, nothing would prevent various undocumented pharmacutical distributors
from adding hardware to their extant product lines.

Create a larger market for firearms that aren't readily tracable, and that market demand will be met.
Bet on it.