The McCain-Lieberman bill would create a weaker background check at gun shows for unlicensed sellers, while at the same time giving priority to checks at gun shows. This idea was soundly and uniformly rejected by gun control organizations and Congressional gun control leaders in 1999. In addition, the bill could weaken state laws that currently rely on the federal background check provision for all gun show sales, such as New York. But so far the list of supporters does not include pro-gun legislators. As a result, instead of negotiating with the pro-gun lobby, gun control advocates are compromising with themselves, settling for less while the NRA stands firm.
Experience shows that the when it comes to crafting gun control laws, simpler is better.
This leaves less room for pro-gun advocates to exploit loopholes and undermine existing law. And it should never be forgotten that U.S. Attorney General and NRA Member John Ashcroft would have the final say in deciding how McCain-Lieberman would operate in the real world. S. 767 would extend the current instant check law to all sales at gun shows and actually close the gun show loophole.