2012 Democratic Platform

[fiundagner]

Here is the "official" platform of the 2012 democratic campaign.

http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform

Get a copy while the getting is good. If his last campaign is any reference they will change it around as soon as parts are inconvenient

Of course, since I am posting on the forum, I am sure everyone can guess what part of it I went straight to.

Firearms. We recognize that the individual right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we will preserve Americans? Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation. We understand the terrible consequences of gun violence; it serves as a reminder that life is fragile, and our time here is limited and precious. We believe in an honest, open national conversation about firearms. We can focus on effective enforcement of existing laws, especially strengthening our background check system, and we can work together to enact commonsense improvements ? like reinstating the ?assault weapons ban and closing the gun show loophole ? so that guns do not fall into the hands of those irresponsible, law-breaking few.

Once again look out for "common sense" gun control. Despite the negligible impact the assault weapons ban had the first time around the official stance of the party is that it needs to come back bigger and better than ever. Look for references to the iron river of guns flowing into the hands of criminals, while anything about fast and furious is swept under the table.

 

[John Canuck]

http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/ ... -gun-grab/

The Obama administration is making it easier for bureaucrats to take away guns without offering the accused any realistic due process.

The JBT'S already have some new power. Who needs that due process stuff anyway?

 

[fordnut]

DUH....FAST & FURIOUS.....

Steve

 

[bigfutz]

commonsense improvements ? like reinstating the ?assault weapons ban and closing the gun show loophole

commonsense? COMMONSENSE?

It's only an assault weapon if you use it as a weapon to assault someone, and we have plenty of laws against that already. Otherwise, it's sporting goods.

And what the heck is this loophole anyway?

so that guns do not fall into the hands of those irresponsible, law-breaking few.

Make a law so that law-breakers don't break laws. IN THE SAME SENTENCE WITH THE WORD "COMMONSENSE"!!!

 

[armaborealis]

And what the heck is this loophole anyway?

Generally most gun control folks equate the "gun show loophole" with the "private sale loophole." That is the, Brady Act requires all transactions between an FFL and an individual to be recorded on a 4473 and the FFL is required to conduct a NICS background check. Sales between two residents of two differents states are banned by the Brady Act unless they go through an FFL. It is also illegal to "be in the business" of buying and selling firearms without holding an FFL.

Private sales between two individuals who are both residents of the same state, however, do not require any sort of 4473, NICS check, or other registration or paperwork (although it is unlawful to sell to someone you know to be a prohibited person). It drives the anti-gunners nuts that two people can conduct an "off the books" transaction. As long as this is legal, then it is pretty much impossible to implement any sort of comprehensive registration or licensing scheme to keep track of which firearms are owned by which individuals. It is also difficult to implement any sort of "lost or stolen" legislation.

Many face-to-face private transactions are perceived to occur between individuals at gun shows. Therefore, the private sales loophole is often referred to as the "gun show loophole," even though a private sale is a private sale whether it occurs at a gun show, in a parking lot or SC DNR rifle range after being arranged on this forum, or at someone's house. A sale from an FFL is likewise subject to a 4473+NICS check whether it occurs in the brick and mortar store or at a gun show.

The major impact of this upcoming election will be the composition of the Supreme Court of the US. The Heller and McDonald decisions were narrow 5:4 cases. Three of the five justices who supported the 2A in Heller are getting old: Justice Scalia is 76, Justice Kennedy is 76, and Justice Thomas is 64. The next president will likely be able to select at least one new justice if not three. Both of the current President's nominees have proven to be fierce foes of the 2A; in particular, Justice Sotomayor who stated that she felt the Heller case and individual right acknowledged by the 2A was "settled law" did an immediate about-face in McDonald and essentially argued that the 2A should be read out of the Constitution.

The stakes in this election are a lot higher than a "mere" AWB-revival or mandatory weapons registration or cessation of legal private transfers.

 

[Treedodger]

The major impact of this upcoming election will be the composition of the Supreme Court of the US. The Heller and McDonald decisions were narrow 5:4 cases. Three of the five justices who supported the 2A in Heller are getting old: Justice Scalia is 76, Justice Kennedy is 76, and Justice Thomas is 64. The next president will likely be able to select at least one new justice if not three. Both of the current President's nominees have proven to be fierce foes of the 2A; in particular, Justice Sotomayor who stated that she felt the Heller case and individual right acknowledged by the 2A was "settled law" did an immediate about-face in McDonald and essentially argued that the 2A should be read out of the Constitution.

The stakes in this election are a lot higher than a "mere" AWB-revival or mandatory weapons registration or cessation of legal private transfers.

Amen. The ability to select the next SCJ is huge and will possibly have the greatest impact ever in history on the dircetion of this country. Everyone needs to think very carefully who they wish to make that selection. We will have live with the consequences.