Come on. Of course we're going to say that criminals ought not have firearms. The world would be a better place if all good people were competent with and owned firearms, and none of the bad people did. I'm not going to say this is "common sense" because I can't stand that BS phrase that everybody uses for their own agenda, but this is basic stuff here. And the most effective method we have found of depriving criminals access to firearms (or at least restricting to a degree) is by doing background checks.
And no, there is no statement in the constitution saying "right to bear arms shall not be infringed, background check permitting" but we know this is a good idea. So as others have mentioned, there must be checks in place.
I personally believe that the system would be much improved if there were permits for different levels of competency. As much as everybody loves to rag on California, I do think they got the handgun permit right. When I first moved there, I hated the idea. Then I took the class and I actually knew what I was doing. Now having moved back, I've seen people at the range not knowing WTF they're doing and putting other people in danger. It's not that they're bad people, it's just that they've never been properly taught.
The bottom line is this. If you can't answer the simple questions on a handgun permit test and perform a safety demonstration with a pistol, you really shouldn't be handling them. Idiots with handguns and trailer-trash daddies who leave loaded shotguns laying around for their 8 year old to play with provide far too much fodder for the anti-gun group.
If the first handgun permit were a background check and basic proficiency exam, then there would be no need for waiting periods. Any private party transfers could be done without an FFL over state lines as long as the card were presented. No paper trail, the government won't know how many guns you own, or what type, just that you are proficient and most likely own firearms. This isn't an issue for 99% of us who have a digital trail a mile long that the government is almost certainly keeping tabs on. Ever ordered from MidwayUSA? I'm sure Uncle Sam knows about it. Posted on a message board? That too.
It would be just like a drivers license where you might get a motorcycle endorsement, here you would take a class to have access to machine guns and silencers. Then one for basic concealed carry. Then perhaps after a few years and another class you could be allowed to carry concealed in more "sensitive" places like schools for example so just like the standard CCW but less restrictive. Of course the price for the classes would have to be affordable or state provided.
I know a lot of people cringe at the idea of a system like this but I really think it provides the least restrictions. People "way back before all these laws" may not have felt as restricted, but it's not like they had it easier. Ok, so I'm all for constructive criticism and harrumphs. Who's got input on this?
