US Gun Laws

The FBI is required to conduct a background check on a person buying a gun. However, the record of that background check is not to be kept more than 24 hours after completion of the check. Senator Frank Lautenberg-Democrat of NJ-is proposing legislation-S 2820-that would require the FBI to maintain those records (the source does not say for how long). It is noted by this source that senators are "more inclined to roll back existing laws that advocates for gun owners consider restrictive, rather than pass new laws".

(Source: "Keeping tabs on gun sales" in Capital Games column by Herb Jackson. The Record on 12/6/09)

Guns, NRA and the Law

In the race for Virginia governor, the NRA is not endorsing a candidate who is known as a "strong supporter of gun rights", has voted "repeadedly to stop local governments from enforcing gun laws more restrictive than the state's", opposed a ban on guns in "community centers and parks". He has opposed "government law suits against gun manufactures" and against "firearm bans on school campuses". He opposed a state law "that limits gun purchases to one a month". In 2005 the NRA did endorse this candidate but after he voted to support a "bill to close the so-called gun-show loophole" that permits sales without a back ground check, the National Rifle Association now will not endorse him. (If the NRA had an rational thoughts they would endorse no-one in the Virginia race: big if.)

(Source: "The Issues. The Candidates. The Future of Virginia". Pull out section in the Sunday paper on 10/25/09. The Virginian Pilot)