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Another attack on our constitutional rights as gun owners is coming down the pike. Currently in committee there is legislation designed to close the “gun show” loophole. Senate Bill 843, sponsored by a number of well known gun control advocates, attempts to achieve its goals by dismantling the accessibility and responsible execution of gun shows all together. As one can only expect, much of the bill goes too far in restricting the lawful promotion of any show. Similar to Amendment 22 here in Colorado, the bill will require background checks on individuals who purchase or transfer a firearm at a show. But the bill goes further, seemingly in design to disrupt the entire process of attending or organizing a show.
Among the requirements outlined in the bill is the mandatory registration of all gun show promoters, and vendors. A vendor is identified in the bill in the following way: “The term ‘gun show vendor’ means any person who exhibits, sells, offers for sale, transfers, or exchanges one or more firearms at the gun show, regardless of whether or not that person arranges with the gun show promoter for a fixed location from which to exhibit, sell, offer for sale, transfer or exchange one or more firearms.” Essentially, if you attend the gun show, with a firearm of your own, you are viewed as a vendor and will be required to sign a ledger, and submit your valid ID for registration. As pointed out by “the Firearms Coalition of Colorado,” this is basically de facto gun owner registration.
The bill also places far more control of such gun shows into the hands of the Attorney General. Among the powers the bill gives the A.G., is the right for him (or his department) to enter the place of business of the promoter, or the gun show itself, and with no showing of probable cause or a warrant allows access to all information regarding licensees, vendors, and all other paperwork collected at the show. In essence, this bill eliminates our right to refuse unreasonable searches and seizures. It amazes me a bill can really include an outright denial of one of our basic rights. Understand what this means; even if the promoter has done nothing wrong, the A.G. can come in and seize the personal information of any one of the vendors or attendees.
Many claim the bill is a not-so-hidden attempt at an eventual nationwide registration of gun owners. Another piece of the legislation states “that if any part of a firearm transaction takes place at a gun show, each licensed importer, manufacturer, and dealer who transfers one or more firearms to a person who is not licensed shall, within 10 days after the transfer, submit a report of the transfer to the Attorney General.” How much red tape are they trying to make someone go through? Do they really think more bureaucracy is going to limit illicit guns from getting in the hands of thugs and criminals? All this bill would really do, is punish law abiding citizens by limiting their rights. In the words of George Washington, "It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it."
No one seems to confront the fact that such ridiculous regulations will most likely increase the number of “under the table” gun transfers and sales. Regulating gun shows out of existence is not going to solve illicit gun sales or purchases. All this law will accomplish is infringement upon our first, second and fourth amendment rights. But, as is usual in Washington, their answer is to give government more power and control, while limiting your rights as a law abiding citizen.
For information regarding the sponsors of the bill, and to read the legislation directly, please click here.
Contact the Firearms Coalition of Colorado for more information and to help fight unnecessary gun control regulation.
Contact your Senators and urge them to oppose this bill when it comes up for debate.The US Senators from Colorado are:
Mark Udall (D)
Washington D.C. phone number: 202-224-5941 (Toll free 877-768-3255)
Denver contact number: 303-650-7820
E-mail: Senator_Mark_Udall@markudall.senate.gov
Michael Bennet (D)
Washington D.C. phone number: 202-224-5852
E-mail: Senator_Bennet@bennet.senate.gov
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