The Connecticut Post (Conn.), Oct. 24:
True to their words, U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both D-Conn., are pressing their tough gun-safety agenda on Capitol Hill.
Wednesday they co-sponsored legislation that would eliminate yet another loophole in the acquisition of a firearm, an exemption that allows the sale of a gun if an otherwise required background check is not completed within 72 hours.
The essence of the bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, and 10 other Democrats, is ‘no check, no sale.’
The bill’s official name is the Background Check Completion Act.
The Act would require a completed background check for every gun buyer who purchases a gun from a federally-licensed gun dealer, closing the loophole that has allowed thousands of gun sales to prohibited buyers.
As the law stands now, if a background check on a prospective gun buyer turns up a criminal record, the FBI is asked to determine if the person can legally buy a gun.
If that process takes more than 72 hours, the sale can proceed.
Blumenthal and Murphy said Dylann Roof, the man who shot and killed nine people in a Charleston, S.C. church in June, obtained a gun because of this loophole.
Murphy, speaking at a press conference in Washington this week was absolutely correct when he said, “If it takes an extra day or two to make sure we’re not arming violent offenders, it’s worth the wait.”
After all, what is the hurry?
There simply is no legitimate argument against a thorough background check on a person who wants to buy a lethal weapon.
As exemplified earlier this month, public safety and gun rights are not mutually exclusive.
The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 2nd District ruled that the states of Connecticut and New York were acting legally in banning semi-automatic so-called assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
As a society, we routinely put limits on various types of behavior in an effort to balance individual rights and public safety.
As we’re noted here before, we can agree that protecting public safety will not be achieved solely through gun control.
More attention and and services need to be directed at mental health, for sure.
The only disappointing note on the new Blumenthal-Murphy initiative is that none of their Republican colleagues signed on in support.
So, in this Republican-controlled Congress, this and any other measure designed to put reasonable safeguards in place when it comes to guns, faces an uphill battle.
But the battle is worth fighting.
It’s only a matter of time before the next mass shooting brings grief to a new community and a new set of families.
Hard work for Blumenthal, Murphy and their supporters lies ahead. We encourage them to stay focused.
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