Published 08. 14. 02 at 7:12 Sierra Time
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As you may or may not know, on weekends I work in a gun store, in sales. This past Saturday I was selling a revolver to a nice-looking older gentleman who wanted a small .38 caliber for protection. He asked me why he had to do so much paperwork and go through all the background check stuff to buy a gun. He indicated it was easier to be born, or to buy a car or a house, than to buy a gun.

Now mind you, I spent many years in law enforcement. I think I’m a good judge of people, and to me this man looked and acted like one of our “solid citizens” as we call them in law enforcement. The instant check came back with “Proceed” about as fast as any I have ever done. However, I explained to him about the laws that have been passed, and why we were forced to do all the mandatory paper work, and even take his thumb prints.

He then commented that if he were to go down the street to an auto dealership and and buy a big motor home, a truck, or a car, the chance that he would hurt or kill someone with one of those would be far greater than with the small handgun he had just purchased. However, he would not have to be checked to buy a vehicle.

When you stop and think about it, he is quite right. We allow a 16-year-old to drive a vehicle on our highways, but we do not allow them to buy a handgun. Instead, we allow them into the driver’s seat of a 3,000 pound bullet that can be aimed with great accuracy at a velocity of 60 to 100 miles per hour. Now that is blunt trauma.

I keep harping about how stupid the form is for buying a firearm. The form asks for a bunch of information and of course everyone answers all the questions just the way they should. Then, when the phone call is made, more information is taken, and if the person checks out, the green light to “proceed with sale” is given. The process also costs the buyer an extra sales tax in Oregon of $10.00 for a handgun and $9.00 for a long gun. Oregon, the state with no sales tax? I don’t think so.

Many would say all this keeps guns out of the hands of criminals. Well, to that I say, “Bunk!” Show me one criminal who wants to use a gun but doesn’t have one. Show me one crime that has been prevented by this law. I can tell you that almost every search warrant we ever executed on a felon (or anyone else who shouldn’t have a firearm by law and was prevented by law from having one in possession) turned up a firearm anyway. So what good is this stupid law and its instant check system? The process only harasses the honest citizen who is exercising his or her right to own and possess a firearm. When do we put a stop to this stupidity, and get back to allowing people the freedom the Constitution gives them?

The anti-gun crowed wants to outlaw all firearms. To them I say: “How dumb can you get?” Narcotics are outlawed in America right now; notice how many people still buy, sell, and use them each and every day? Firearms would be the same way. It would be as bad as, or worse than, Prohibition, when alcohol was outlawed in America. Where there is demand, someone will supply it; and people who would otherwise be honest and productive citizens will become criminals. I can tell you right up front: we can’t build enough jails fast enough to hold them all, nor can we afford the cost. If gun prohibition happens it would be the fall of America as a free nation. You can take that to the bank.

God Bless America.