From: "Patrick M. Fitzgerald" <pmfitzge@fitz.b30.ingr.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 93 08:24:47 PST
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: Instant check system
In-Reply-To: <2CE33AED@COURIER1.SHA.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: <199311121624.AA15772@fitz.b30.ingr.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


kone@COURIER1.SHA.CORNELL.EDU writes:
> 
> Jim Miller asked about the "Brady Bill" instant check system.  In
> the House version no deadline is set for the nation wide system.

An amendment was passed before voting that sunsets the Brady Bill to
five years.  So, effectively, there is a five-year deadline in the
House version.  This ignores the fact that the Feds have admitted that
they cannot *force* states to perform the instant check.  The Brady
Bill only *suggests* that states implement an instant check.

> I personly like the idea of instant check, if my privacy can be
> preserved.  The last thing I want is either a convicted
> "rights-violator" with a weapon [...]

Instant check will initially have some effect on criminals getting
guns, but certainly won't stop them.  From memory, I think the FBI
estimates that over 80% of criminals get their guns from places other
than gun shops (for example, from theft, private sale).  And as the
instant check is implemented, I imagine that the black market will
grow further.  But this doesn't belong on cypherpunks, so I'll shut
up.

> There should be a way for individuals to check on their own record,
> as often as they want, yet not alowing for others to check. [...]

I agree, this is important.  In the Virginia instant-check system,
which is a de-facto registration (since they also have a stupid
"one gun a month" law), you cannot check your status unless you
actually try to buy a gun.

Recently, a law-abiding citizen mistakenly tried to purchase a gun
after only 28 days.  He failed the instant check.  After a couple
weeks, troopers showed up at his house and tried to arrest him.  Seems
that he had "made a false statement" on his paperwork, which is a
felony.  Luckily, he did some fast talking and they later decided to
drop all charges.

This whole business make me sick.
--
Patrick M. Fitzgerald, pmfitzge@ingr.com             ______
                                                    / ___  )
  [The United States] can't be so fixed on our     / __)/ /__
  desire to preserve the rights of ordinary       (_/it(_____)
  Americans ...  - President William Clinton,
  March 1, 1993, during a press  conference in Piscataway, NJ, as
  reported by "The Boston  Globe", 3/2/93, pg 3