Firearms And Franchise

American Patriot with MusketAny discussion of gun control is fraught with controversy, angst, and outrage rage; that’s just the way it is in American society where Liberals have consistently tried to disarm the law abiding gun owners while decrying sterner punishments for illegal purchase, ownership, or use of firearms.

Reasonable minds, however, understand that there is room for debate and even compromise.

For example, requiring backgrounds checks for all firearm purchases and closing the “gun show loophole.” This is reasonable and can, with a little due diligence, be accomplished without trampling the Constitutional Rights enumerated in the 2nd Amendment and protected by the exercise of the same.

I’d be all in favor of this if the following preconditions were met:

  1. Multi-State background check databases were made easily accessible and commercially viable portable checking “kiosks” were developed so that the requirement for a background check didn’t de facto constitute a Prior Restraint on American’s right to keep arms.
  2. The exact same requirement and methodology for background checks is implemented by law at the polls for every election or referendum ballot.

The above are just simple compromises and pragmatic preconditions necessary to ensure that reasonable protective measures are emplaced on two perilous activities that Americans regularly undertake, purchasing firearms and exercising their franchise.

BallotIt seems to me that there’s little, if any, room for rational complaint about making sure the same provisions that cover firearm purchases also cover voting in elections or referendum ballots.

If the requirement for a background check is not a Prior Restraint upon American’s 2nd Amendment right then it obviously isn’t an illegal imposition on American’s privilege of voting.

Similarly, the rationale for such background checks is essentially the same for both firearms and voting. Society has long ago decided and codified into law that felons and the mentally infirm should be denied the ability to do either because either action entails significant dangers to society when undertaken by these individuals.

It’s a simple compromise that has the elegance of solving two problems with a single methodology, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing costs to all. It also has the key benefit of having checks and balances built into it since any changes to the system or procedures that might negatively impact either firearm purchases or voting would similarly affect the other.

Firearms and franchise – the more people understand the similarities between the two, the greater chance there is of a reasonable and rational set of laws regarding either or both.

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4 Responses to “Firearms And Franchise”

  1. cmblake6 Says:

    Well said! Sort of a NICS check at the polling locations. I LOVE IT!

  2. Jonolan is a genius. « Cmblake6's Weblog Says:

    […] NICS check at the polls. It’s short and sweet, and it’s a totally sound concept. Go read the post and see if you don’t agree. Since we must provide identification, and have our background checked to indulge in our 2A right, should the same not go for those who would control our access to same? from → 1776, Communism=Crime, Constitutional, Deep Thought, Freedom, History, Justice, National Security, Patriotism, Simple reality, Truth, Warm Fuzzy, Weapons ← Everybody know Aggie and Armed Geek? LikeBe the first to like this post. No comments yet […]

  3. jonolan Says:

    Yes, much like that.

    I’m not against sensible control / enforcement of gun policies. I don’t want felons or known nut-jobs buying weaponry any more than the next man does. I also don’t want them voting, which I see as more dangerous to society than their having firearms.

    I also figure that requiring the exact same controls on both firearms purchases and voting will keep most, if not all, agendists from corrupting the controls to our nation’s detriment.

  4. Firearms And Franchise | Mizozo Says:

    […] Reflections From a Murky Pond […]

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