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Senate Judiciary Committee Begins Hearings on Gun Control, Universal Background Checks Considered

Jan. 30, 2013 8:59pm Christopher Santarelli

Wednesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee on the issue of “preventing gun violence” featured fireworks and sentimental moments, with testimony from former Congresswoman and now gun control advocate Gabriel Giffords, as well as remarks from those opposed to increases on gun control, such as Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association and Gayle Trotter of the Independent Women’s forum. The hearing was the first time the committee came together with witnesses to discuss the shooting tragedy in Newtown, Conn., and subsequent legislation for increased gun control introduced by California Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein and called for by President Obama.

Giffords, who survived a gunshot wound to the head after being attacked at a constituent event in 2011, told lawmakers during her surprise appearance at the hearing that Republicans and Democrats must come together for the serious discussion on violence.

“Speaking is difficult but I need to say something important,” said Giffords, who had suffered from aphasia–the inability to speak because of damage to the language pathways in the brain’s left hemisphere–after being shot in the head at close range.

“Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying – too many children. We must do something. It will be hard, but the time is now. You must act. Be bold, be Courageous. Americans are counting on you.”

After Giffords’s brief remarks she was escorted out of the committee room and her husband, former Astronaut Mark Kelly, testified before the committee. Kelly called for action to increase background checks on gun purchasers, increase penalties on illegal gun purchases, and to remove limitations on public health organizations’ ability to collect data on gun violence.

Conversely, LaPierre argued before the committee that new proposed gun regulations and universal background checks will not solve the problem, and “law-abiding gun owners” won’t take the blame for “violent or deranged criminals.” In his opening statement the NRA executive vice president called on lawmakers to enforce “the thousands of gun laws already on the books,” rather than create new ones.

Trotter of the Independent Women’s Forum argued that increased gun control hurts women’s safety, and clashed with Rhode Island Democrat Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse specifically over bans on semi-automatic rifles and his understanding–or in her opinion lack there of–on the Second Amendment.

“I understand your also a graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law and you were close to Monticello where Thomas Jefferson penned our Declaration of Independence and close to Montpelier where James Madison was instrumental in drafting the Bill of Rights,” Trotter said after disagreeing with the senator’s argument that Americans are still capable of defending themselves without the weapons banned under the Feinsein bill.

“I think you can understand that, as a woman, it is very important not to place undue burdens on our Second Amendment right to choose to defend ourself.”

In her New York Daily News column Wednesday S.E. Cupp argues that universal background checks, which were discussed at the hearing and have been gaining traction nationally after the Newtown tragedy, may be an acceptable price to pay for the right to own a gun but are unlikely to curb gun violence and put gun owners through undue harassment.

But inefficacy is only half of it. Next to “Will this actually solve the problem?” the question least often asked when issues of gun control are bandied about is, “Whom will this punish?” And when it comes to law-abiding gun owners, there is often little consideration or sympathy.

But even though we accept background checks as a necessary preemptive measure, there is a real psychological and cultural impact when law-abiding gun owners are routinely treated en masse like suspects.

Unlike gun safety courses, which rightly ask that gun owners prove they are responsible, background checks ask that they prove they are not criminals, effectively putting the burden of proof on law-abiding citizens.

This means providing personal information, including race and ethnicity, and answering questions about your criminal record, drug use, history of abuse and immigration status on a federal affidavit. Then, at point of purchase, you’re run through the system and told one of three things: You’re cleared and can legally purchase the firearm; you’re yellow-lighted, and they need more time to investigate your record; or you are prohibited from buying the gun and sent on your way.

On ‘Real News‘ Wednesday, S.E. Cupp and the panel discussed Wednesday’s hearings and why universal background checks could do more harm than good.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (13)

loknarr
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:57am
Gabriel Giffords is clearly mentally defective. Should we not be limiting or restricting her first amendments rights? The focus should be placed on the mentally deranged person, not the tool he used to create his carnage! The school down the road has 50 to 75 children playing on the school grounds at recess. There are no barriers from the street. If someone takes an oversized vehicle with 4×4 attributes and runs them down should we not ban vehicles with that capability because it is a military characteristic? Where do you draw the line?

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BravePa
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 1:34am
If a person was to set himself up as a tyrant king of the world (The N.W.O./ anti-christ) he would first need to set himself up as king/god in the temple of soloman in Jeruselum. In order to do that he would need to destroy the nation of Israel and in order to destroy Israel he would have to destroy Israel’s only protector and ally, the U.S.. The only way to destroy the U.S. is from within and to accomplish that he would need to disarm the citizens. The U.S. citizens and the 2nd amendment are the only things standing in the way of world domination. Russia, China, Great Britian and Japan have gone thru years of military strategies and planning to overthrow or invade the U.S. and the one variable that the military strategists could not account for is the armed U.S. citizen. The 2nd amendment falls, the U.S. falls, then the rest of the world. The 2nd Amendment is NON-NEGOTIABLE. Pray for peace in Israel.

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Foundingfollower
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 3:31pm
Why is Mark Kelly testifying? I do not think the fact that his wife is a victim of a gun crime makes him some kind of expert on how to curb gun crimes. It is a shame to see a former commissioned officer in our armed forces advocate for the passage of laws that are diametrically opposed to the U.S. Constitution. The same constitution he once took an oath to “…defend and protect against all enemies,foreign and domestic…” He should be recalled to active duty and Gibb-slapped! Furthermore, although I usually admire her, S.E. Cupp’s comment “Unlike gun safety courses, which rightly ask that gun owners prove they are responsible…” shows a lack of comprehension of the issue at hand. This is a natural right, protected by the 2nd Amendment, just like the others codified in the Bill of Rights. There is no litmus test or safety course required to exercise any of the other rights contained therein. There are already a plethora of laws on the books to deal with anyone who acts irresponsibly with a weapon; no need for test, let personal responsibility be your guide. Did Cupp take a test to prove she would wield her 1st Amendment rights responsibly? I don’t think so! Let’s see what happens when we re-write her comment to address the 1st Amendment -”Unlike journalism safety courses, which rightly ask that journalists prove they are responsible…” The press on both sides would have a pink pantie melt down!

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DougHuffman
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:46am
Only the law abiding abide the law.

In this day and age of ever more intrusive personal data collections with failing security – a la flipper-de-gibbet Bradley Manning – creation of another one seems a no-brainer, quite apt for this Federal Executive and his administration.

MOLON LABE Fly guy

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johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:29am
Here’s one that even a US Senator can understand……

Gun Control is like Trying to Reduce Drunk Driving by Making it Tougher for Sober Drivers to Own Cars!

“Remember Benghazi and ALL the Traitors!”

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- DougHuffman
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:05am
  Gun regulation is as effective as regulation of cocaine and heroin – or intoxicated drivers – and any malum prohibidum.
  
  Report this comment
raderby
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 4:52am
JUST WHEN will the world finally know, exactly, what is being said when these cockroaches in DC use the word “UNIVERSAL”?

[ or "comprehensive".......etc. to my mind, all this stuff is like the word "final"; as in, "final solution"]

ok, now, sit up, turn all electronics off, and try to focus on this simple equation:

progressivism=slow marxism+fascism

then the word “universal” might make all your alarms go off, or, you are dead, or, you are part of the problem.

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Maji
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 2:24am
Have you notice the same ploy of get what you can before
mid term elections??
Crimminal or not

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EllieR
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:49am
Whoever is going to vote for gun control might not be re-elected in 2014, in certain areas. That means the demonrats will lose their edge in the Senate. There will be no voting, folks. Shall I say, unfortunately?

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- Maji
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 2:21am
  You know you’ve got to wonder( speaking of checks)
  Did Egypt pass a “universal background check”
  Before the gov decided to give them F16s @M1Abrams????
  
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TeslanEdison
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:18am
This is going to be rammed down our thought ala Obama Care, there is no consideration here, that’s a farce, this is a dog and pony show, replace dog with children, and pony with the infirm and bereaved. There will be universal background checks, no private gun show sales either, this is just song and dance, and no-one should even think there is recourse through the supreme court, Obama has that stacked with radical socialists.
The ban will happen, and many current guns will be made illegal, there will be a grace period, then you’re a felon, God help you if they have a desire to take you down, because if you’re not foul of taxes you may just be foul on guns.

I’m totally against gun control but Obama has spoken and he’s beyond the law, I look forward to how the left will whine when they have to get into food lines with everyone else. They economy is so very bad cooking the books isn’t working, now wait till they have to give the real unemployment numbers, and you’ll know why they want the guns. It’s pretty apparent we have socialists in the white-house, who have quite progressively removed all the checks and balances. The FEMA camps make sense now because when you get lots of unemployed people with no food or housing, you get riots.. and then you get the counsel of Governors in conjunction with the Fusion sites putting away the dissidents. If this keeps up it will be illegal to even post here.

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DM999
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 11:48pm
The current gun/weapons control debate nothing to do with “protecting the children.” The current gun/weapons control debate is an effort by the elite (liberal and conservative) to enslave the American Citizen. Aristotle – “Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of arms.” Throughout history there are many examples of despots and dictators using gun control to enslave and control their citizens.
Thomas Jefferson – “No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government” -, 1 Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
Mao Tse Tung – “All political power comes from the barrel of a gun. The communist party must command all the guns, that way, no guns can ever be used to command the party.”
George Mason – “To disarm the people… was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.” speech of June 14, 1788
Do not be fooled the Government that is comprised of the elite. The elite do not have the best interests of this country or the citizens in mind. The only interest elites have is to stay in power and expand their power by enslaving the citizens. Who do you stand with; Thomas Jefferson, Mao or George Mason? Stand up for your rights do not allow yourself, your children or your grand children to become enslaved by the elite. Un-elect the elite, take control of your liberty, and stan

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denkat56
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 11:23pm
I got an idea, who’s going to enforce this. The FBI, CIA, ATF. Real criminals won’t do a gun check, they’ll have the weapons already. They can’t control Americas criminal element, now they want to control the world. Only the boy king Obama and his liberals would try this, they couldn’t stop the 9 /11 attacks. Whose fault was that. Our boy king couldn’t protect 4 people in Bengazi, and he now’s to gun check the world. Maybe an exec. Order will solve it.

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