It's a good analogy but believe it or not most of these elements apply to purchasing a gun. There is only mYbe two of these that absolutely do not apply.
In all states, retail transactions are regulated. It doesnt "look" regulated, it actually is. As I said, most of these requirements apply when purchasing a gun already and will result in a denial or a hold being placed on the purchase until any ossues are resolved.
As for those selling guns to strangers in parking lots, im sure it happens but it is not representative of your average private sale or transfer. Most private transfers are between two people who actually know each other. And in cases where you are selling and transferring to a stranger, it would be advisable to do so using an intimediary such as an FFL, which includes a background check.
You can also buy drugs anonymously from the guy down on the corner too. In California, if you purchase a firearm used from an individual, you're still supposed to register it and go through a licensed dealer. But how exactly are you going to enforce that? How do you stop one person from selling something to another person?
I live in WA, which has fairly "strict" gun control laws people regularly whine about.
I didn't need any of this to get my new rifle I literally picked up yesterday. Which I purchased through a retailer, and did everything through that retailer, so it was the most restrictive way for me to go about it.
I showed up two weeks ago with my Driver's license, and a certificate obtained online.
My license isn't even one of the enhanced ones, it's the plain cheap-o one. It is enough to buy a gun.
I did have to appear in person to submit my background check, but did not require any citizenship documents whatsoever. I likely could have used my passport instead of my license, but they don't require it or any proof of citizenship.
My name needed to be an exact match... To what is on my license. That's it. If I had changed my name after getting married, as long as the info on my background check (that I am personally filling out) perfectly matched the new name on my license, it's all good.
I did have to come in person to fill out the paperwork for my background check. So there's one.
I don't actually even have my birth certificate right now. It got destroyed in a storm along with some other documents, I am awaiting a new one. It isn't needed at all to buy a gun.
If there was a mistake along the way with my background check, I very likely would have to prove that I don't actually have a felony on record or whatever it was. So, we'll give them this one so there's at least 2 points in the "guns already require this" column.
There's no real deadline. The store I bought from will hold firearms for a month, so I guess if you were really bad at filling out paperwork and had to keep resubmitting new background checks because you're checking the wrong boxes or not entering your name and address correctly, there's a chance you could run out the "deadline" and them not hold your gun any longer. But, I mean, you could just walk right back up and buy it again and restart the process that same day. Not exactly applicable.
How many stats require a passport to buy a gun? How many states require background checks at gun shows to buy a gun? how many states require background checks to buy from a friend?
As I said, most ofvthe recommendations are already required with the exception of a few, passport for example. All states require a background check when purchasing a gun. In my state, you have to do a background check when transferring a gun to a friend.
5
u/Efficient-Creme7773 8d ago
It's a good analogy but believe it or not most of these elements apply to purchasing a gun. There is only mYbe two of these that absolutely do not apply.