One mans rebuttal to the Brady Campaign.....

So… The Brady Campaign to end legal gun ownership has posted its opinions on all the states, and their various gun laws. Oh boy! I can sleep better now!

Such outfits as the Brady bunch survive by ignorance. The less people know about reality, truth, and gun ownership… the more money the Brady’s make. Let’s not confuse the issue… they are in it for money and power, not idealism.

So, in answer to their opinions on my state of Pennsylvania, I’ll take their points one by one and discuss reality, as compared to their presentation. My voice shall be in green, the universal color of intelligence, and theirs in black, widely noted as the color of death. (g)

ASSAULT WEAPONS
Are there limitations on assault weapons? No

Pennsylvania - No state restriction on the sale or possession of military-style semiautomatic assault weapons. Assault weapons are as easy to buy as hunting rifles. Congress and President Bush allowed the federal assault weapons ban to sunset in 2004. See also: Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines

Reality: Of course there are none. Why should there be? They are almost never used in crimes, but are used by citizens legally every day. This is a simple play on the image uninformed people have on rifles that 'look dangerous'. The brady's are banking on people not bothering to learn any facts here.

BALLISTIC FINGERPRINTING
Must handguns be ballistic fingerprinted prior to sale? No

No state requirement that gun dealers or manufacturers provide police with sample bullets/cartridges or digital images of bullets/cartridges prior to the sale of a handgun, �ballistic fingerprinting,� which would assist police in tracing bullets at crime scenes to the guns that fired them.

Reality: This only has any effect at if they managed to enact universal registration of all firearms. Every SINGLE time in all of history that this has been done, eventually it led to confiscation at one time or another. That, of course, is the goal here.

CHILD ACCESS PREVENTION - CAP
Are gun owners held accountable for leaving guns accessible to kids? No

No state requirement that gun owners take responsible steps to prevent children from gaining easy access to their firearms. Gun owners are not held accountable for leaving loaded guns around kids, even if a young child shoots themselves or someone else with a gun left in plain sight.

Reality: Imagine this picture....... Police SWAT team breaking down my front door and shooting the dogs, my children, and me... because they got a tip my pistol wasn't stripped into twenty nine pieces and buried in the backyard under a cap stone only a crane could move. Since ALL law enforcement comes at the muzzle of a gun, it's not so far fetched. Recent news has a SWAT team breaking down a door for the stated goal of making sure the children inside had proper medical care (which they did). Medical care via sub-machine gun.... that's the Brady style answer.

Gun owners ARE held accountable, as much as any citizen is held accountable for anything they do. The Brady's hate gun owners, and wanted them treated differently.

CHILD-SAFETY LOCKS
Must locking devices be sold with guns? Yes

State law requires every gun to be sold with a child-safety lock to make it easier for gun owners to lock up their weapons. But there are no standards for the child-safety locks to ensure that they are of sufficient quality to work well. The law does NOT require gun owners to actually use the safety locks to secure their weapons - the law only says they must be sold with guns. Also see: Safety Standards and Child Access Prevention.

Reality: Yup, there's one in every box. In fact, there's one in almost every box with almost every new firearms sold in the USA. Our state gives them away. To anyone. Free.

They are almost worthless. Kids know where the keys are. Ask them..... I have, in groups, on many occasions. The answer to 'accidents' with kids and firearms is training, not ineffective locks. It's KID control needed, not gun control. Imagine that concept.... personal responsibility for ones children..... who woulda thunk it.

The Brady's real goal here is police control over how firearms are stored, which of course requires registration and 'reasonable' inspection. Like, on demand home searches. This is exactly what several politicians and Brady supporters have said they wanted, to the letter.

CHILDPROOF HANDGUNS
Are only authorized users able to operate handguns? No

Pennsylvania - There is no state law mandating that all new handguns be sold with 'personalized' handgun technology that would only allow the authorized user to operate the firearm. Childproof handguns play an important role in helping to prevent unintentional shootings among children and to deter suicides among minors.

Reality: Again..... DUMB idea, only meant to raise costs and make firearms ineffective for honest civilians. I say civilians, because the technology is out there
and readily available now. It's been universally rejected by every police agency that has looked at it, as dangerous and ineffective. The only ones supporting it are outfits like the Brady's and the companies who make it (and finance the Brady's while they are at it).

GUN DEALER REGULATIONS
Must gun dealers adhere to state licensing and/or oversight systems? Partial

Pennsylvania - The state requires all firearm dealers to obtain a state license to sell firearms. State law mandates licensed firearm dealers to record and retain all sales records on premises. The dealer is required to report those sales records to the state and the state must retain those records in a database. State law mandates that a firearm dealer take steps to ensure his/her inventory is protected and secured. (Examples: Locked inventory, product placement requirements, employee screening, install alarm systems, etc.)

Reality: Non-issue. Also misleading. A 'firearm' in PA is defined as a hand gun. Dealers selling Long guns do not take a special license in PA, only those selling 'firearms'. Force dealers to lock up their inventory? Shheeeesh... might as well write a law forcing them to breath, whether they want to or not. Idiocy.

GUN MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABILITY
Do cities have authority to hold gun makers legally liable? No

State law forbids city and county governments from taking any legal action to hold gun manufacturers accountable, even when they act irresponsibly in the way they design, market or distribute weapons. No other industry enjoys such special immunity for irresponsible conduct.

Reality: The only reason we even need a law preventing cities from pulling this crap is people like the Brady's, and mayor Bloomingnuts from New Yoyk.
They tell the world flat out they are going to file hundreds of completely bogus lawsuits, then cry foul when the people react and force legislation curtailing their attempts at intimidation via lawsuit.

GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE
Are background checks required at gun shows? Partial

State law requires people buying handguns at gun shows to undergo the same Brady criminal background check as is required for sales that occur at federally-licensed gun stores. People buying long guns (which includes assault weapons) at gun shows are not subject to a background check prior to the sale. The state requires gun show sellers to use an authorized federal gun dealer at the gun show or a law enforcement official to access the FBI criminal records check prior to selling a handgun.

Reality: ALL dealer sales at a gun show are run through an instant check, not just hand guns. What they wrote above is a blatant lie. Private sales are subject to the same state laws no matter where they occur, at a gun show or in a home. Gun shows enjoy NO special rules, not a single one. There is no such thing as 'the Gun Show Loophole'. That is a lie made up by the Brady's out of whole cloth.

GUNS AT WORK
Are businesses forced to allow guns in the workplace? No

Pennsylvania - There is no state law forcing employers or businesses to allow guns on their privately held property.

Reality: As it should be. Private business are PRIVATE, and may do whatever they damn well please on this issue. I imagine this really ticks off those who would control every facet of a persons life, 'For their own good'.

GUNS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
Are colleges/universities forced to allow guns on campus? No

Pennsylvania - There is no state law forcing colleges/universities to allow guns on campus.

Reality: No there isn't. Which means most colleges make up rules against having any means of self defense at all. In fact, some colleges make actual self defense against the rules, period. Any possibility this has some connection with mass shooting at colleges? I mean, why would the average loonytoons homicidal maniac choose a place with hundreds of guaranteed unarmed victims?

JUVENILE SALE
Is it illegal to sell handguns to anyone under 21 years of age? No

State law does not restrict selling handguns to juveniles under the age of 21 by unlicensed sellers. Under federal law, only federally licensed dealers are prohibited from selling or delivering handguns or ammunition for handguns to any person under the age of 21. A strong state law is needed to stop unlicensed persons from selling handguns to those under the age of 21.

Reality: Pure BS. It's illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to possess a handgun without adult supervision. OWN one?... sure, locked up someplace. HAVE ONE in use? Not without an adult there monitoring.
More.... PA state law says private hand gun sales must go through a dealer. But... the dealer cannot legally transfer a handgun to anyone under 21.
Again, pure, unadulterated, BS on the part of the Brady campaign to prevent gun ownership.

LARGE CAPACITY AMMUNITION MAGAZINES
Are there limitations on large capacity ammunition magazines? No

Pennsylvania - There is no state law restricting the sale or possession of large capacity ammunition magazines that can fire 30, 50 or even 75 rounds without reloading. Ammunition magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition are considered large capacity magazines. These types of ammunition magazines are available for any firearm capable of accepting a detachable magazine, including assault weapons and semi-automatic handguns.

Reality: So what? Again, made up BS. There is no crime issue here at all, just a control issue.

LICENSE OR PERMIT TO PURCHASE
Is a license/permit required to buy handguns? No

No state requirement that handgun buyers obtain a handgun license or undergo any type of safety training prior to buying a handgun.

Reality: Yup... don't need a special permit from anyone to buy a firearm in this state. I bet that REALLY chaps their feelings..... Imagine that, people taking responsibility for themselves, making decisions, acting like mature adults.... all without 'der nannystate' telling them what to do.

LIMIT BULK PURCHASES
Is there a one-handgun-per-month limit on sales? No

No state restrictions on gun-trafficking such as a limit on the number of handguns that can be purchased at one time. Gun traffickers can easily buy large quantities of handguns at gun stores and resell them on the street to criminals.

Reality: Another Non-issue. Buying multiples already requires special forms and the ATF must be notified. So far, they have proven beyond a doubt they have no intention of enforcing any laws in this regard. It's just more pure BS. The laws are already in place, and are 100% ignored by the authorities.

LIMITS ON CONCEALED HANDGUN PERMITS
May police limit carrying concealed handguns? No

State law forces police chiefs and state sheriffs to give concealed carry permits (CCW) to anyone who can buy a handgun, allowing them to carry loaded, concealed handguns in public (known as �shall issue�). Police may not even require safety training in the legal or safe use of weapons for CCW applicants. State law allows residents of some other states to carry concealed weapons in this state without informing local police.

Reality: Almost BS, but not quite. Local authorities regularly abuse these rules, but usually just in major cities where the post is a political one. There, it devolves into 'my buddies' and those who are well connected get permits, no matter their background.

Still, this state has a LARGE number of carry permits issued, and violent crime is dropping fast as a result. Honest citizens win, criminals and Brady's lose. I'm Ok with that.

MICROSTAMPING
Must new semi-automatic handguns be sold with microstamping technology? No

Pennsylvania - There is no state law requiring new semi-automatic handguns be fitted with microstamping technology, which would engrave on each fired bullet casing microscopic identifying markings that are specific to that firearm alone. This technology would provide law enforcement with another investigative tool to better solve gun crimes and apprehend armed criminals.

Reality: It's a stoopid idea, and NOBODY likes it but the Brady's. Why them? Because it will raise the cost of gun ownership to honest citizens, and that's their real goal; prevent honest citizens from owning firearms. Even the police hate this, and don't want their own weapons to have this 'feature'. They could have it today, if they wished. Instead they made sure California's law about microstamping was written to exclude police weapons.

PREEMPTION - LOCAL GUN LAWS
May municipalities enact law stronger than the state's? No

State law forbids local city or county governments from enacting any local gun laws, even though the state has failed to pass responsible state-wide laws. This preemption of local government authority makes it impossible for cities to enact sensible gun laws to make their citizens safer.

Reality: Again, as in other answers, local municipalities make up their own rules are dare citizens to sue them. The city then uses tax money to defend itself against the tax payers. Pretty sweet system, if you can vote it in for yourself. Philly is famous for this... and claims its 'class A' status allows them to do anything to the citizens they please. Preemption laws are there to prevent people like the Brady's from targeting cities with friendly gun-hating politicians for civil rights extinction.

RECORD KEEPING
May police maintain gun sale records? Partial

State law authorizes law enforcement to keep a record of every handgun sold or transferred in the state, but the state does not keep any records on the sale of rifles or shotguns. The handgun sale records are maintained by police for use in gun tracing and related criminal investigations. But the state does not automatically compare past gun sale records with recent criminal activity to identify and disarm felons and others who bought guns legally, but later committed a crime or otherwise became ineligible to keep possession of their firearms.

Reality: There isn't a single 'gun registry' database in the nation that isn't corrupted and full of errors. The state keeps all kinds of records, legally and ILLEGALLY, and doesn't use them now, nor maintain them properly. The Brady's want more... always more... because their goal is total registration followed by total confiscation.

Registration and databases.... I have to laugh..... the single biggest fouled up database of weapons? The ATF's own weapons log. They lose so many weapons now, it's a national embarrassment.

REGISTRATION
Are all guns registered with law enforcement? No

No state requirement that gun owners register their firearms. Police do not know how many guns are in the state or where they are. The lack of registration data makes it more difficult for police to trace guns used in crime, identify illegal gun traffickers or hold gun owners accountable for their weapons. Although the state keeps records on handgun transfers, there is no state system to automatically identify and disarm felons and other prohibited people who bought guns legally in the past, but later committed a crime or otherwise became ineligible to keep possession of their firearms.

Reality: There has never been a gun registration scheme in world history that didn't eventually lead to confiscation and limitations on ownership. Again, and always, that is the Brady's goal.

The firearms registration systems already in place are seldom properly used, and seldom kept up in a proper manner. They can't justify having more of such, but that is their never ending mantra....
"Just a little more.....more....more....more....more....more....more"

It's not about gun control folks..... it's just about CONTROL, period.

REPORT LOST/STOLEN GUNS
Are firearm owners required to report all lost or stolen guns to law enforcement? No

Pennsylvania - State law does not require firearm owners to report lost or stolen firearms to law enforcement. This requirement would help to keep illegal guns off the streets by removing the excuse used by gun traffickers that "lose" their firearms.

Reality: 'Gun traffickers' can already be prosecuted under dozens of laws already in place. They aren't, because thats not the goal. The goal is to make life miserable for honest citizens, not criminals.

It's not about law enforcement or crime control. It's about people control.

SAFETY STANDARDS
Are there consumer safety standards on guns? Partial

State law requires all firearms to be sold with a state-approved child-safety lock, but there are no standards to ensure the locks work. There is no state requirement that handguns meet basic safety standards, or be equipped with a loaded-chamber indicator or a magazine safety disconnect to prevent unintentional shootings. No requirement that handguns have a more advanced, built-in "personalized" lock that would prevent unauthorized use of the weapon. The state Attorney General is authorized to independently establish gun safety standards, but has not done so.

Reality: Great leaping horny toads..... what a load of hog swaller.
To quote an unnamed Soviet general, "Is gun, is not safe!"
One more time..... and sorry to repeat myself..... it's not about safety.
The Brady bunch wants to ELIMINATE gun ownership by honest citizens.
Period. They don't want 'safe guns', they want NO guns in citizens hands.
Wait... I take that back.... they might be Ok with a gun shaped block of soft rubber, if it was bright orange and kept in a heavy safe, buried under ground, inside a compound with armed government agents. maybe.

SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIALS
Are there limitations on 'junk' handguns? No

No state restriction on the sale of Saturday night specials or "junk" handguns. No requirement that handguns meet any safety tests such as a drop-safety test or a firing-performance test. No restriction on the sale of snub-nosed handguns that are very small and easy to conceal.

Reality: The genesis of the 'Saturday night special' idiom is based in pure racism. It's a term once relegated to racially segregated sections of some cities.
The name was picked up by anti-rights advocates long ago as way to scare
'The White Folk' into enacting laws banning handguns inexpensive enough for poor minorities to own.

It's a telltale to the roots of gun control in this nation, which are almost solely based in racism. The first gun control laws in the nation were targeted specifically at blacks, hoping to keep them disarmed, and preventing them from getting 'uppity'. Now the anti-rights crew has expanded the notion of 'uppity' to include any citizen who believes in self determination and their own basic civil rights.

SHOOT FIRST
Is deadly force allowed to be a first resort in public? No

Pennsylvania - The state does not allow the use of deadly force as a first resort in public.

Reality: Nope, but it does 'allow' self defense against violent crime in public or in the home.

I can understand the Brady's wish to protect the lives and livelihood of criminals in our society. Without a crime ridden block of news every evening they would be out of business pretty quickly.

Imagine this scene.... "We need gun control to prevent crime!....... What? There's no crime to prevent??.... then ...... Oh crap.......... QUICK! Cash those donation checks before they are canceled!!"

UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
Are background checks required on all gun sales? Partial

State law requires universal background checks on handguns only. People buying or obtaining ownership of any handgun must go through a criminal background check prior to every purchase. The background check is required for all handgun transfers including those at gun shows. Criminal background checks for assault weapons, rifles, and shotguns are only required if the buyer goes to a federally-licensed gun store - all other long gun sales are not subject to the background check.

Reality: Imagine that..... people can't be trusted to do business with each other, without the government giving a blessing. At least, so say the Brady's.

This is not a crime issue..... and never was. Criminals steal weapons, they don't buy them from unsuspecting citizens. The number of firearms used in crimes, and traced back to a legal non-dealer sale, is minuscule. Again, and again, and again.... it's not about crime. It's about registration, confiscation, and preventing honest citizens from owning firearms.

What do the Brady's want? Repeat after me..... "MORE!" ..... "MORE!"

WAITING PERIOD
Is there a waiting period on gun sales? No

No state requirement that there be a waiting period for gun sales beyond the "instant check" in federal law. Police are not given any additional time to run a criminal background check to make sure the gun buyer is not prohibited from acquiring firearms. There is no "cooling off" period to help prevent crimes of passion.

Reality: Nationwide,waiting periods are going away fast since the instant check system came on line. Why? Because they are useless to prevent crime and only serve to disarm honest citizens (Amazingly enough, their only purpose from the start!).


Folks..... the information is out there.
Groups like the "Brady Campaign to prevent gun ownership" rely on ignorance.
Shine the light of reality and truth on them...... and see what scurries away.