United States Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), the most openly anti-gun "Republican" senator in Congress, has, it appears, become the first (but most certainly not the last) congressman with an "R" after his name to sign on as a co-sponsor of an anti-gun bill this session. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)--herself once triumphantly heralded by some gun rights advocates as a "pro-gun Democrat" (others were far more skeptical, and vastly more accurate, with Gillibrand now having already co-sponsored Sen. Feinstein's deliberately over-the-top "assault weapons" ban)--has introduced S. 179, "a bill to prevent gun trafficking."
Senator Kirk had this to say about the bill, according to the St. Louis Beacon:
“Gun trafficking is allowing gangs and violence to flourish in Chicago,” said Kirk, pointing out that illegally trafficked guns were involved in many of the 500 killings in Chicago last year as a result of gang violence. “We must put a stop to this cycle.”
Interesting that Kirk would raise the issue of gun trafficking into Chicago as justification for yet another gun law. Interesting, because he seems not to have made so much as a peep about a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives scheme to deliberately "gunwalk" guns from Indiana to Chicago gangs.
This is hardly surprising behavior on Kirk's part. Kirk has been an enthusiastic backer of anti-gun extremist Andrew Traver as head of the BATFE (see photo above), and there are very real questions (still not answered) about the possibility of Traver's involvement in "Project Gunwalker."
Although the text of S. 179 is not yet available, Senator Gillibrand's website describes some of the bill's provisions:
The Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2013 would empower local, state, and federal law enforcement to investigate and prosecute gun traffickers and their entire criminal networks, including gangs, cartels and organized crime rings. Specifically the bill will make it illegal to:
- Sell or otherwise transfer 2 or more firearms to someone whom the seller knows, or has reasonable cause to know, is prohibited by Federal, State or local laws from owning a firearm (e.g. felon, convicted domestic abuser).
- Purchase or otherwise acquire 2 or more firearms if the recipient knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, that such receipt would be in violation of any Federal, State, or local law (e.g. if the recipient is a prohibited owner).
- Provide false information on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives firearms transaction record form (e.g. straw purchasing).
- Knowingly facilitate the above actions.
Hmm . . . sounds as if it would make Operation Fast and Furious a federal felony in something like four new ways, but neither Senator seems very likely to have the Obama administration in mind as targets of the legislation.
Another point to consider is that the "need" for such a law is supposedly based on the notion that without a new federal gun trafficking law, traffickers do not face adequately severe consequences, and are thus not adequately deterred.
Tell that to the Reese family of New Mexico, who have endured a living hell for over a year and a half on the basis of the accusation of that crime--a crime of which they are looking more and more innocent every day.
See also:
- Yet another bill to ban so-called 'assault weapons'
- The sad state of the 'Republican' Party in the 10th Illinois Congressional District
- Speaking of Mark Kirk . . .
- A bit of good news from Tuesday--the culling
- RINO Mark Kirk seeking more power to disarm YOU
- Are there any true 'pro-gun' candidates in the Illinois Senate race?
- Republican Senate gains that would be bad for gun rights
- Why would Illinois gun owners vote for gungrabber Mark Kirk?
- Gun-grabbing Senate candidate Mark Kirk also grabs unearned military honors
- Obama names anti-gun extremist as next BATFE head
- Exclusive Report: Documents indicate ATF, FBI allowed Indiana ‘crime gun’ sales
- Mainstream media ignores Indiana ‘Gunwalker’ story
- Accused ‘illegal’ gun seller Terri Reese still awaiting bail release
- Dead Elephant party goes all wobbly on private sales.
- GOP, NRA may invent distinction between 'loopholes' at gun shows and away
- With GOP sellout on private sales looming, non-compliance is second-to-last step
- Remaining jailed New Mexico gun dealer family members granted bond
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