U.S. Attorney Adding To Confusion About Gun Laws
By Phil Lee
Response To Washington Times Editor
Published 7/5/99
On 28 June 1999 your paper published a letter to the editor from
Deputy Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. which decried
"misinformation and misconceptions about the Brady instant check
system" in the recent House debates. In his letter he adds to the
misinformation and misconceptions.
He says "We know that having three business days helps stop criminals
from getting guns" and does not mention that his system has put nearly
1700 guns into the hands of criminals (see Atlanta Journal, 6/25/99,
page A16, "FBI delays put guns in wrong hands"). He probably doesn't
know (nor care) what has happened to the criminals who obtained
clearance from the FBI NICS system or the crimes they have committed
with the guns the obtained illegally. So asking him how many of these
1700 criminals have been charged with Federal crimes is a waste of
effort. The answer is zero without a doubt.
His use of "instant" to describe the check he promotes certainly adds
to misinformation. It is characteristic of our would-be ruling class
that they can use sloppy language while criticizing "misconceptions"
of others. And for the 5% or more of the gun buyers not "instantly"
approved, the three days will look like a waiting period no matter
what Mr. Holder thinks it should be called.
It appears that Mr. Holder has no concept of earning the trust of
American gun owners by implementing an instant check as his
government promised to do five years ago. Mr. Holder feels his
government's incompetence is plenty of justification for additional
attacks on liberty. He thinks we serfs are too stupid to realize
that a three day delay for 5% of the people could become a three day
delay for 95% of the people or a longer delay for 100% of the people.
All the government has to do is to continue letting criminals have
guns and they can use the same argument again.
Instead of adding new laws, the best way to deal with this
government's incompetence is to throw the bums out and get some
people running things that will do some law enforcement.
Sincerely,
Philip F. Lee
12921 Two Farm Dr.
Silver Spring, Md. 20904
301-622-0446 H 703-553-1510 W
Philip Lee is on the Executive Board of Montgomery Citizens for a
Safer Maryland.
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