Online and free NICS checks

[HoughMade]

 

[Bfish]

Government: "Identity Theft is a major concern and we need to put brochures out on this."

Also Government: "Give your name, date of birth and SSN to strangers."

Yeah, even though the SSN is optional on a 4473, I never even thought about it this way. I know that some ask to see a drivers license for a private sale sometimes just to prove state residence, but giving all of your info to someone you don't know can be unsettling. Even if it's not an identity theft thing and it's a criminal lets sell this guy a gun get his address and then go take it back with all of his other stuff kind of thing.

 

[Hawkeye7br]

To the OP intent, I can see where this would be used in gifting or selling to out-of-state friends, family, etc. But the implementation of it ( the devil is in the details) and including SSN & other vital info is a dealbreaker. Not a road I wish to go down.

I think most of us are very fortunate that we have local dealers that charge nominal fees for transactions. But still not a fan of UBC. If I know you, shoot with you, you have a LTCH, I'm good with that.

 

[HoughMade]

"Since we have the system in place to simply and easily check every gun sale for legality, why would we ever want such a system to remain voluntary?"

 

[Hawkeye7br]

On a side note (not a hijack) anyone that went to a marriage counselor prior to a divorce has "sought mental health counseling" and has been "under the care of a mental health provider". A point that a scumbag attorney made during a divorce proceeding 30+ years ago. The judge saw thru it, but it should make people cautious when they talk about mental health care and being red-flagged on gun ownership.

 

[T.Lex]

"Since we have the system in place to simply and easily check every gun sale for legality, why would we ever want such a system to remain voluntary?"

I'll pick on your post, because Matlock was a bad attorney.*

What if it was part of a package that took suppressors off the NFA list and made Constitutional Carry a federal right?

* Did the man EVER file a final witness and exhibit list?

 

[gopher]

Maybe it wasn't clear in my initial post, but I'm AGAINST this proposal for the reasons that I stated (reasons that I happen to agree with).

I am having a discussion on Twitter regarding a proposal to make NICS checks online and free. This was presented as a potential "bi-partisan" way to help prevent firearms from getting into the wrong hands. The idea is anyone could do a NICS check online and at no charge. One would have to input the usual identifying information for the buyer (as on a 4473) and then would get back a response indicating that person was or was not a "prohibited possessor". Whether firearm make/model/serial # would have to be included is unknown. Availing yourself of a NICS background check in this manner for a private sale would be voluntary.

This *might* increase utilization of the NICS background check system by removing the cost involved as well as allowing the check to be done anywhere that an internet connection was available.

I had actually considered this a while back and rejected the idea for the following reasons:

1. you can do essentially the same thing right now by requiring the buyer produce his/her LTCH
2. many staunch 2A defenders would see this as a foot in the door for mandatory UBCs
3. many staunch 2A defenders are at the point where ANY further restrictions on firearms are unacceptable
4. NICS returns quite a few "false positives" (or so I've heard; including your SSN apparently reduces the chance of a false positive at the risk of revealing private information)
5. potential for government surveillance (IP addresses and other information could be stored)

What says INGO?

 

[HoughMade]

I'll pick on your post, because Matlock was a bad attorney.*

He was a spectacular TV lawyer. Real-life lawyers are boring...except for Jamie Casino and the Texas Law Hawk.

What if it was part of a package that took suppressors off the NFA list and made Constitutional Carry a federal right?

Now you're getting warmer, but there will, inevitably, be creep. I see no will in Congress to trade anything for more freedom. Rather, it is a matter of how much freedom will Congress give away. In other words, we'll never see such a compromise.

* Did the man EVER file a final witness and exhibit list?

That really gets in the way of surprise witnesses who confess on the stand.

 

[T.Lex]

Now you're getting warmer, but there will, inevitably, be creep. I see no will in Congress to trade anything for more freedom. Rather, it is a matter of how much freedom will Congress give away. In other words, we'll never see such a compromise.

If by "creep" you mean "incrementalism," I say, "Bring it." But, primarily in our direction.

We are winning the incrementalism war. Kinda like sailboats, sometimes tacking/beating in a direction that isn't purely toward where you want to end up.

 

[Hotrod29]

It really is a privacy issue. This could be and would be abused

 

[foszoe]

Perhaps a self check that produces a pin for someone to use once showing you are a proper person would be acceptable without providing any info other than name address and a go no go..

And would have to be completely voluntary just as now when I ask for an LTCH.