From: vojak@icemaker.stortek.com (Bill Vojak)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
Subject: Waiting periods
Date: 28 Jul 92 15:49:48 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Storage Technology Corp.


pngai@adobe.com (Phil Ngai) writes:

>But let's forget the media. What do YOU think of waiting periods?

I perfer a Staggers type of instant check. But if we did have
a National waiting period, I would write one based around my
answers to your questions. One reason I oppose the Brady bill
is because it does NOT require a background check. Waiting
period without checks are harassment since they serve no
function of value.

>1) How long should they be?
Minimum length required to perform a background check. No more
than 3-5 days MAX. Also I would NOT require the max wait if the
check came up clean. (if the can process you in 1 hour, then
you can get the gun in one hour). I also would have an appeals
process built into the system. The appeals board/judge would
have to be someone outside of the PD. It also would have to 
require a mandatory approval if you could disprove the reason
of your denial. ("No sir, I am NOT the same Ted Bundy who was
executed in Florida in 1990")


>2) Would you increase the number in 1) if it didn't have an effect
>on crime?
NO, Nope, Hell No, No way!


>3) Would you make any exceptions for people who already own a gun?

My preference would be Yes. There are some problems however:

a) Buggsy owns a gun. He is arrested for armed robbery and his
   gun is taken away. He makes bail. He then goes and buys another
   gun. As a "current" gun owner, no background check is performed.

b) I don't know how you could implement this. How do you prove that
   you currently own a handgun. Bring it to the store with you? :-o
   IL. has a FOID card which all gun owners must obtain first. It
   requires a background check. Then IL has a waiting period on for
   each purchase without background check. FOID cards are the only way
   you could prove gun ownership, and I don't like FOID cards! 
   (BTW: FOID = Firearm Owners ID card).

The end result is that a Staggers type of instant check is the
only reasonable method to stop criminals from purchasing guns
from retail outlets. In case "a", Buggsy could be put in the
system under a tempory denial status until his case was determined
in court. One problem even here is: Do we have the right to deny
someone firearm ownership based upon a arrest, before guilt is
determined in court. One option might be to perform a tempory
denial only in felony/violent/weapons/extreme cases. Once again,
who makes this decision. I could see the government expanding the
list of gun-prohibition crimes all in the name of the WoD.


>4) Would you make any exceptions for people who have received threats?
Yes, but good luck getting a PD chief to approve it!


>5) Would you require a background check during that time or is the
>only purpose to require a delay?
I would mandate the check. Waiting periods without checks are just
harassment. 


>6) Would you allow a local police chief to extend the wait as long
>as he wants by simply not acknowleging a notice?
NO, Nope, Hell No, No way! I would also add a penalty such as a
$100-500/day fine for every day they delayed above and beyond the 
mandatory waiting limit. Make the fine payable to the applicant,
not to some Gov. agency.

My preference is not to have any waiting periods, combined with
a instant check system, an appeals process, and the death penalty
enforced for violent crimes. I really have never understood why
attempted murder carries a lesser penalty than murder. Was the
persons intent any less? He only gets 3 years in jail instead of
life or The Chair just because he was a lousy shot! Oh well. . . .


                                Bill Vojak
                                Bill_Vojak@stortek.com
                                NRA, ILA, CFC

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The CBS Nightly Propaganda With Dan Rather. (RATHER NOT!)
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"Whenever someone tells you you won't need a gun, you better
 bring one along."  -  Robert Mitchum as PI Philip Marlowe
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Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns