Gun control talking points

It is clear that the editorial board of the Herald Courier has spent some time digesting press releases issued by the Brady Campaign. Leaving aside the fact that they decided to donate precious column space to someone who wanted to limit firearms to a four-round capability, there is no other way to explain the recent editorial urging the closure of the alleged "gun-show loophole."

The "gun-show loophole" exists only in the minds of the Brady Campaign and others who wish to diminish our civil liberties by restricting the private sale of all firearms. In reality, there is no "gun-show loophole." It is no more real than a unicorn. All licensed dealers at gun shows have to conduct background checks. There is no such thing as an "unlicensed" dealer. If any individual sells enough guns to qualify as a "dealer," they are required to obtain a license pursuant to federal law. If they don’t, they have committed a felony and are punished accordingly.

The only sales that occur at a gun show that don’t require a background check are sales between private individuals – not dealers. And, to argue that those sales only take place at gun shows is completely false. For example, on the very same day that the editorial in the Herald Courier argued for the prohibition of these private sales at gun shows, there were at least two classified ads in the Herald Courier for the sale of handguns. There is no difference in the private sales taking place at guns shows versus the sales being promoted in the classified section of the Herald Courier almost every day.

The Brady Campaign wants to prohibit the private sale of all firearms, and believes scaring people into believing a "gun-show loophole" exists will be one step closer to their goal. It is a shame our local paper took the bait, hook, line and sinker.

Ricky A.W. Curtis
Piney Flats, Tenn.