The NRA on Gun Registration
 

So here's the story:

I went to my local sporting goods store to purchase a firearm. I was required to fill out a form with my personal information so that my local law enforcement agency could complete a background check to ensure that I was not a felon, wife beater etc. When my check came back, I was approved for the purchase however, the form was retained by the retailer.

Here's my question. I saw on the news that a deranged student killed several people on the campus of Virginia Tech. The news report said that the gun was purchased legally at a local sporting goods store a few days before. How could they possibly know this if we didn't have formal gun registration in place?

The problem that I see with this is the fact that law enforcement are able to trace every gun that you purchase legally, to you. Not very shocking right.

Because the retention and "filing" of your background check is a Bona fide gun registration program, I sent the NRA 2 emails one week apart asking them their position on the issue. I never received a response.

SOOOO, I've come to the conclusion that the NRA must support gun registration and is not willing to respond to their members concerns.

Don't get me wrong. I support the background check. I just think that wants you're checked out, they should give the form back to you for disposition; whatever that may be.

If someone has a different opinion of the NRA, I'd love the hear about it.

I'd post this on one of those gun forums but I've observed that most of those people are full of hot air or just plain morons. Thanx!

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

Jrog,

Frankly, I think the NRA has been soft on the second amendment for a long time. Situations like this does nothing but reinforce that opinion. In fact, I am sure people have plenty of dirt to post on the NRA so stay tuned! :P

You should look in to the GOA, you might find them a lot more inline with your beliefs.

Dave

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

I think they are allowed to keep the records for 2 weeks. After that, the process to trace a gun involves grabbing the serial number, calling the manufacturer, tracing it to where it was sold, and looking at their records.

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

Yeah, my subs up for the NRA so I'll check out GOA. These NRA folks have really got me torqued off.

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

Dave, I strongly second the GOA! www.gunowners.org

Here is some reading on the nra www.patriotpages.net/nrafraud.htm

jrog:
The registration is "backwards" meaning they get the serial of the gun, they contact the manufacture and they say we sold it to 'ABC wholesale', then they contact abc wholesale and they say we sold it to 'XYZ local gun dealer' Then they walk into the XYZ dealer and demand to see the dealers "bound book" and search thru it until the find the serial number and the person who bought it, then they get the person who bought it who eitehr still has it, had it stolen or sold it to someone else.

The process may sound tedious but it takes a few phone calls in most cases to get right to the final retail sales location. If they find a gun on the road durring business hours they can tell you the last dealer who had it within minutes.

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

There is nothing worse than a traitor in my book! I personally feel that the NRA has for the most part sold us collectively down the creek. The good news is there are other organizations out there we can go to like the GOA and be WELL represented.

Just remember that anger when you vote for your next Congressmen or Senator.

By the way, send the NRA renewal back with a copy of the Second Amendment and write "Think about this before you ask for my patronage again".

Dave

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

If there were no gun grabbers in the government, would the NRA attract funding from individuals? What would guarantee it's existence then?
The NRA needs Schumer, Boxer. et al to keep it's payroll up.:confused_ma:

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

The NRA is nothing more than front group to waterdown the 2nd .......they are always putting "lipstick on a pig"

They always claming to need funding to "fight the good fight" but when the smoke clears the legislation is by and large worse than before...

they make me sick.....


T

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

I'll not be renewing my membership.:banghead:

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

It became obvious to me that the NRA had abandoned any sincere support of the second amendment decades ago. They provide shallow and superficial rhetoric for the media "debate" while in truth, they sold you out.

Here are some obvious clues you can use to know when any political organization is selling you pure unadulterated BS. They work for any and all circumstances and you can consider them to be universal truths.

1) An (ex)actor is hired to play the role of "president" or "chairman" or "spokesperson".
2) Unsophisticated bait and switch tactics are used to sell you something you don't want. (example: instant checks vs waiting periods, partial bans on non "main-stream" products... (assault weapons bad, hunting weapons good, you can't have Ron Paul but how about the faithful republican toad sitting over here..)
3) In place of meaningful communications, the salient eductation of its members/electoriate, and intelligent debate regard the rule of law; you hear cheesy sound-bites. (ex.-"my cold dead hands"..hahaha, that one was worthy of a saturday morning cartoon.)

I cancled my membership years ago but I still love to hear them call and ask for money.
Check out the GOA.

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

I think I would have taken the waiting period over the yellow sheet!

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

The NRA do not do enough IMHO to repeal the laws in place they only work on new laws coming that will screw us. I let my membership expire a few years back and wont be joining again. I have joined the JPFO who at least acknowledge the ATF is out of control and is trying to stop them.


http://www.jpfo.org/images02/bootpin.jpg

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

I really wonder what the NRA's total overhead is. Here's something from a couple of years ago. This is just one man's salary and benefits:

http://www.gunguys.com/?p=1061

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

.....................

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

Have any of you written or contacted the NRA and voiced you opinions???

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

IIRC the BATFE requires FFL dealers to keep form 4473 on record forever.


IMO, BATFE form 4473 = Registration by proxy

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

It is still legal to just buy directly from private owners who are selling their weapons without having to go through an FFL dealer, right?

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

Depends on the state. In my state, maryland, it is not legal to transfer what they call a regulated firearm (handguns and so called semi automatic assault rifles) privatley. All sales must go through an FFL holder and the purchaser must do the background check (criminal and mental) and go through the 8 day waiting period.

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

glad I dont live there:smokin:

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

you send them into ATF once you close your business and give up your FFL....................with a little flood damage to all the 4473:smokin:



Not that my grandfather did that

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

That sounds harsh. Hopefully Texas is not that bad. I don't recall having to do anything special when I bought a shotgun and a .22 rifle about 25 years ago when I lived in Louisiana. I just presented cash at the store and walked out with my guns, as I recall.

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

since 1968 you have had to fill out the yellow form 4473...............your reccolection is failing you if you bought them from a dealer...........even in La.

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

Could be my recollection failing me alright, I wouldn't doubt that. Or perhaps it just didn't seem remarkable to me at the time. I was a kid out of high school, and I bought from the Sporting Goods section of a discount or hardware store.

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

Then you filled out a 4473.....................dont you remember answering "no" to all those questions?:D

Re: The NRA on Gun Registration
 

Texas looks much more relaxed compared to MD: http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/TXSL.pdf

Check it out, just make sure when you sell one the person isn't drunk.

"It is unlawful to knowingly or recklessly sell any firearm or
ammunition to any person who is intoxicated."

Maryland on the other hand: "Maryland does regulate the sale, transfer, rent and possession of regulated firearms, which consist of handguns and assault weapons. A person who is not a regulated firearms dealer may not sell, rent, transfer, or purchase any regulated firearm without going through a regulated firearms dealer. Alternatively, the prospective seller/transferor and prospective buyer/transferee may complete the transaction through a designated law enforcement agency."