Why It Should Be Just As Hard To Get A Gun As It Is To Get Cold Medicine

[Canuckistanian]

In the current debate about gun violence, the weapon manufacturers’ lobby has pushed the myth that the federal government has no role to play in stemming the tide of gun violence. In reality, it is the federal government’s responsibility to enact common-sense measures to protect its citizens. In fact, such measures have already been established for items as seemingly innocuous as cold medicine — but similar measures to regulate guns have faced a politicized battle, funded and led by the gun manufacturing lobby with little regard for the safety of civilians.

In 2006, then President George W. Bush signed the Combat Meth Act as part of the Patriot Act. The purpose of this legislation is to track and prevent potential drug manufacturers from obtaining pseudoephedrine, a common treatment of nasal congestion, but also a key ingredient for manufacturing meth. The act contains three key provisions:

1. A person is limited in how much pseudoephedrine he or she can purchase per month.

2. Retailers must keep personal information about these customers for at least two years after the purchase of these medicines.

3. Information for the purchase logbook must be verified against the photo ID, and recorded along with the amount of medication purchased.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/02/13/1587121/why-it-should-be-just-as-hard-to-get-a-gun-as-it-is-to-get-cold-medicine/

[robinlynne]

1. +1000!

[robinlynne]

2. funny how cold medicine kills people, and "guns dont kill people".

[HockeyMom]

4. Tell me about it

I have had to show my Drivers License, and number taken down, to get OTC Cold/Cough meds, and Mucinex in Florida. Get a gun? Lot easier.

[GreenStormCloud]

11. Come to Texas.

My wife buys Mucinex from time to time. We just throw it in the shopping cart and pay at check out with the groceries. We bought prescription meds today and all we had to do was sign for the insurance.

For guns we would have to fill out a form 4473, show ID, and submit to an NICS FBI check. You didn't have to do that to buy OTC meds.

[get the red out]

3. Exactly!

My allergies make me unpatriotic as hell, considering this is part of the "Patriot Act". But I'd be able to buy more guns at Walmart than cold meds I'm sure.

[RC]

5. Yeah, but...

Guns ain't drugs. People need their guns to feel safe in church 'n in Penney's. Can't be naked in church. J.C. Penney sells clothes.... So yeah, that proves ya need guns at both.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. It already is in just about everywhere when you buy either from a retailer.

[GreenStormCloud]

7. Guns are harder to get than cold meds.

For a gun you have to file out a Form 4473, show ID, and submit to an NICS check with the FBI. I have never had to do all of that for any meds, even prescription meds.

[Canuckistanian]

9. Did you even read the article?

The restrictions on buying simple cold remedies DWARF that of obtaining a firearm.

Not to mention that the all these "checks" are bypassed at a gun show or a private, easily concealed transaction.

[GreenStormCloud]

10. I bought prescripton meds today.

And we also bought some over-the-counter meds. All I had to do was sign for the insurance. No form 4473, no NICS check with the FBI. At gun shows all FFLs still have to have customers fill out the same forms as in a regular gun store.

Private sales are unregulated, but then you could buy OTC meds from a friend who had already bought them at a store, same as with guns.

[Bake]

8. Nothing should be as hard as buying sinus meds!

Bake