Michael Berry

Michael Berry

Michael Berry has drunk homemade moonshine from North Carolina with Robert Earl Keen, met two presidents with the same last name, been cussed at by...Full Bio

 

Harris County Commissioners Court Goes Full California-Style Gun-Grabbing

In a 3-2 vote this week, the Harris County Commissioners Court backed a resolution calling for Texas to enact stricter gun laws — specifically universal background checks. 

While the resolution has passed, the county cannot make laws. This move is for virtue signaling purpose and to somehow push the Texas Legislature enacting stricter background checks for people trying to buy guns. 

Currently, you have to be 18 years or older to buy a rifle and at least 21 years old to buy a handgun in Texas. Certain groups of people, including convicted felons and people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence are prohibited from buying guns.

The NRA Institute for Legislative Action writes on Harris County Commissioners Court that this puts “the most populous county in Texas on record as supporting a California-style ban on all private firearm sales – including those between family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, hunting buddies and fellow gun club members. While the resolution would not have the force and effect of law, it would call on the U.S. Congress and your Texas Legislature to adopt legislation that requires these transfers be conducted through a federal firearms licensed dealer, which would include extensive federal paperwork, a criminal record check and payment of an undetermined fee. This type of law unduly burdens law-abiding citizens, would be ignored by criminals and is unenforceable without gun registration.”

They point out the consequences of California-styles "universal background check" regulations:

Imagine being forced to pay fees as high as $50-$100, complete extensive federal paperwork, and obtain government approval before selling or loaning your personally-owned firearms to immediate or extended family members, longtime friends, neighbors and co-workers, or fellow hunters, competitive shooters and gun club members.
That's what so-called "universal background check" laws do. They turn innocent conduct into a criminal offense. They target law-abiding gun owners, but not criminals who will scoff at any restriction, including new or expanded background check laws.
In their worst form, these laws mandate background checks on EVERY transfer, sale, purchase, trade, gift, rental, and loan of a firearm between any and all individuals. All such transactions would need to be conducted through a federally licensed firearms dealer because private individuals cannot access the national instant criminal background check system (NICS) system. 
It is ALREADY a federal felony to be engaged in the business of buying and selling firearms, for livelihood and profit, without having a federal firearm dealers license.
It is ALREADY a crime for a federally licensed dealer to sell a gun without doing a background check – that's all dealers, everywhere, including at retail stores, gun shows, flea markets or anywhere else.
Further, it is ALREADY a federal felony for any private person to sell, trade, give, lend, rent or transfer a gun to a person you know or should have known is not legally allowed to own, purchase or possess a firearm. State law also provides penalties for similar conduct.


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