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Senators Propose 'Gun Owner Registration'
Cybercast News Service ^ | December 17, 2001 | Jeff Johnson

Posted on 12/17/2001 12:51:25 PM PST by marteny

Senators Propose 'Gun Owner Registration' By Jeff Johnson CNSNews.com Congressional Bureau Chief December 17, 2001 Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) wants the Department of Justice to keep personal data on law-abiding gun buyers from the National Instant Check System (NICS), and to offer the information for unlimited use by state and local agencies. National Rifle Association Executive Vice Wayne LaPierre called the move "gun owner registration, plain and simple." Making good on a promise he made during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing December 6, Schumer introduced the "Use NICS in Terrorist Investigations Act" (S. 1788) after Attorney General John Ashcroft refused to allow the FBI access to NICS records of lawful gun purchases. Schumer introduced the bill one day after Ashcroft explained that he was merely obeying the law Congress had passed. "The law which provided for the development of the NICS, the National Instant Check System, indicates that the only permissible use for the National Instant Check System is to audit the maintenance of that system," Ashcroft responded. "The Department of Justice is committed to following the law." Ashcroft also reminded the senators that NICS records from any illegal attempt to purchase a weapon, whether by a convicted felon, a terrorist, an illegal alien, or a person with a history of mental illness, are maintained indefinitely, and completely available to police. But Schumer, along with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and five other co-sponsors, dismissed Ashcroft's explanation and offered the "Use NICS in Terrorist Investigations Act" in response. Despite the bill's title, the language of the proposal makes no reference to terrorist investigations, and no limits are placed on the use of the information. The proposal would "allow the Federal Bureau of Investigation to access NICS audit log records for the purpose of responding to an inquiry from any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency in connection with a civil or criminal law enforcement investigation." It would require DOJ to maintain the records of lawful gun purchases "in no event fewer than 90 days after the date on which the licensee first contacts the system with respect to the transfer." Present federal law and Department policy require the records to be destroyed within 24 hours of a purchaser's approval. The National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) had harsh words for Schumer and the co-sponsors of S. 1788. "Anti-gun extremists have been attempting for weeks to invoke the specter of terrorists acquiring firearms as justification for their attempts to end traditional American gun shows," the organization said in a December 14 fax alert, "and now they are doing the same to promote their attempts to create the mechanism to establish a registry of law-abiding gun purchasers." LaPierre explained further. "Clearly, this will be the basis of a national firearms-owner computer registry that would profile decent honest citizens, violate their privacy, and provide a locator to assist Kennedy's and Schumer's vision of ultimately banning private ownership of firearms," he said. "Of more immediate danger are the civil data-sharing provisions in this legislation. "You have to think about what a Janet Reno or any future anti-gun-rights attorney general would do with this power," he added. While the legislation mandates that the FBI and the Treasury Department destroy any records they maintain for auditing NICS sometime after 90 days, no such restriction applies to information shared with state or local law enforcement agencies. "Once the personal information is out of the hands of the feds, it could become part of a permanent record elsewhere," the NRA warned. NRA-ILA Executive Director James Jay Baker says it's vital that Americans understand the need to protect the NICS data. "This is not about denying law enforcement any records that bear on criminals or terrorists and guns," he said. "This is about preserving the privacy rights of decent, innocent people." Calls to the offices of Senators Kennedy and Schumer were not returned prior to publication of this story.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist
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They're at it again. Just when you thought the Constitution was safe, they start the bone-headed stuff again.
1 posted on 12/17/2001 12:51:25 PM PST by marteny
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To: *bang_list
BANG!
2 posted on 12/17/2001 12:55:37 PM PST by wysiwyg
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To: marteny

Damn! Hillary can really run!

3 posted on 12/17/2001 12:57:13 PM PST by isthisnickcool
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To: marteny
I can't comment on this before I've registered my First Amendment right to speak.
4 posted on 12/17/2001 12:57:17 PM PST by onedoug
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To: onedoug
alt

Senators Propose 'Gun Owner Registration'
By Jeff Johnson
CNSNews.com Congressional Bureau Chief
December 17, 2001

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) wants the Department of Justice to keep personal data on law-abiding gun buyers from the National Instant Check System (NICS), and to offer the information for unlimited use by state and local agencies.

National Rifle Association Executive Vice Wayne LaPierre called the move "gun owner registration, plain and simple."

Making good on a promise he made during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing December 6, Schumer introduced the "Use NICS in Terrorist Investigations Act" (S. 1788) after Attorney General John Ashcroft refused to allow the FBI access to NICS records of lawful gun purchases.

Schumer introduced the bill one day after Ashcroft explained that he was merely obeying the law Congress had passed.

"The law which provided for the development of the NICS, the National Instant Check System, indicates that the only permissible use for the National Instant Check System is to audit the maintenance of that system," Ashcroft responded. "The Department of Justice is committed to following the law."

Ashcroft also reminded the senators that NICS records from any illegal attempt to purchase a weapon, whether by a convicted felon, a terrorist, an illegal alien, or a person with a history of mental illness, are maintained indefinitely, and completely available to police.

But Schumer, along with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and five other co-sponsors, dismissed Ashcroft's explanation and offered the "Use NICS in Terrorist Investigations Act" in response.

Despite the bill's title, the language of the proposal makes no reference to terrorist investigations, and no limits are placed on the use of the information.

The proposal would "allow the Federal Bureau of Investigation to access NICS audit log records for the purpose of responding to an inquiry from any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency in connection with a civil or criminal law enforcement investigation."

It would require DOJ to maintain the records of lawful gun purchases "in no event fewer than 90 days after the date on which the licensee first contacts the system with respect to the transfer." Present federal law and Department policy require the records to be destroyed within 24 hours of a purchaser's approval.

The National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) had harsh words for Schumer and the co-sponsors of S. 1788.

"Anti-gun extremists have been attempting for weeks to invoke the specter of terrorists acquiring firearms as justification for their attempts to end traditional American gun shows," the organization said in a December 14 fax alert, "and now they are doing the same to promote their attempts to create the mechanism to establish a registry of law-abiding gun purchasers."

LaPierre explained further.

"Clearly, this will be the basis of a national firearms-owner computer registry that would profile decent honest citizens, violate their privacy, and provide a locator to assist Kennedy's and Schumer's vision of ultimately banning private ownership of firearms," he said. "Of more immediate danger are the civil data-sharing provisions in this legislation.

"You have to think about what a Janet Reno or any future anti-gun-rights attorney general would do with this power," he added.

While the legislation mandates that the FBI and the Treasury Department destroy any records they maintain for auditing NICS sometime after 90 days, no such restriction applies to information shared with state or local law enforcement agencies.

"Once the personal information is out of the hands of the feds, it could become part of a permanent record elsewhere," the NRA warned.

NRA-ILA Executive Director James Jay Baker says it's vital that Americans understand the need to protect the NICS data.

"This is not about denying law enforcement any records that bear on criminals or terrorists and guns," he said. "This is about preserving the privacy rights of decent, innocent people."

Calls to the offices of Senators Kennedy and Schumer were not returned prior to publication of this story.


5 posted on 12/17/2001 12:58:10 PM PST by AStack75
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To: marteny
Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) wants the Department of Justice to keep personal data on law-abiding gun buyers from the National Instant Check System (NICS), and to offer the information for unlimited use by state and local agencies.

National Rifle Association Executive Vice Wayne LaPierre called the move "gun owner registration, plain and simple."

Making good on a promise he made during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing December 6, Schumer introduced the "Use NICS in Terrorist Investigations Act" (S. 1788) after Attorney General John Ashcroft refused to allow the FBI access to NICS records of lawful gun purchases.

Schumer introduced the bill one day after Ashcroft explained that he was merely obeying the law Congress had passed.

"The law which provided for the development of the NICS, the National Instant Check System, indicates that the only permissible use for the National Instant Check System is to audit the maintenance of that system," Ashcroft responded. "The Department of Justice is committed to following the law."

Ashcroft also reminded the senators that NICS records from any illegal attempt to purchase a weapon, whether by a convicted felon, a terrorist, an illegal alien, or a person with a history of mental illness, are maintained indefinitely, and completely available to police.

But Schumer, along with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and five other co-sponsors, dismissed Ashcroft's explanation and offered the "Use NICS in Terrorist Investigations Act" in response.

Despite the bill's title, the language of the proposal makes no reference to terrorist investigations, and no limits are placed on the use of the information.

The proposal would "allow the Federal Bureau of Investigation to access NICS audit log records for the purpose of responding to an inquiry from any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency in connection with a civil or criminal law enforcement investigation."

It would require DOJ to maintain the records of lawful gun purchases "in no event fewer than 90 days after the date on which the licensee first contacts the system with respect to the transfer." Present federal law and Department policy require the records to be destroyed within 24 hours of a purchaser's approval.

The National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) had harsh words for Schumer and the co-sponsors of S. 1788.

"Anti-gun extremists have been attempting for weeks to invoke the specter of terrorists acquiring firearms as justification for their attempts to end traditional American gun shows," the organization said in a December 14 fax alert, "and now they are doing the same to promote their attempts to create the mechanism to establish a registry of law-abiding gun purchasers."

LaPierre explained further.

"Clearly, this will be the basis of a national firearms-owner computer registry that would profile decent honest citizens, violate their privacy, and provide a locator to assist Kennedy's and Schumer's vision of ultimately banning private ownership of firearms," he said. "Of more immediate danger are the civil data-sharing provisions in this legislation.

"You have to think about what a Janet Reno or any future anti-gun-rights attorney general would do with this power," he added.

While the legislation mandates that the FBI and the Treasury Department destroy any records they maintain for auditing NICS sometime after 90 days, no such restriction applies to information shared with state or local law enforcement agencies.

"Once the personal information is out of the hands of the feds, it could become part of a permanent record elsewhere," the NRA warned.

NRA-ILA Executive Director James Jay Baker says it's vital that Americans understand the need to protect the NICS data.

"This is not about denying law enforcement any records that bear on criminals or terrorists and guns," he said. "This is about preserving the privacy rights of decent, innocent people."

Calls to the offices of Senators Kennedy and Schumer were not returned prior to publication of this story.
6 posted on 12/17/2001 12:58:33 PM PST by the
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To: AStack75
Darn, I hate it when that happens!
7 posted on 12/17/2001 12:59:12 PM PST by the
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To: onedoug
If you lose your 2nd Amendment right to defend yourself that won't matter. The liberals will leave you gagged and bound and unable to protest their agenda. Do you really think they'd stop with gun registration and later gun confiscation? No what these guys live for is to shred the Constitution so socialism can be imposed throughout America with no opposition. Think about it.
8 posted on 12/17/2001 1:01:25 PM PST by goldstategop
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: marteny
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) wants the Department of Justice to keep personal data on law-abiding gun buyers from the National Instant Check System (NICS), and to offer the information for unlimited use by state and local agencies

This is lame. What is the purpose except to employ a few more bureaucrats? They already know everything about you if you shop at the supermarket. They know your favorite brand of tobacco and what kind of cheap beer you drink. Big Brother already has this infor, if Schumer wants it, he can buy it like everybody else. Government data bases are useless compared to Big Brother's.

10 posted on 12/17/2001 1:05:43 PM PST by RightWhale
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To: isthisnickcool
An Intratec Tec-9! My favorite 9mm! (for looks) I wanna shoot it- waaa,gimmee gimmee gimmee sniff
11 posted on 12/17/2001 1:05:51 PM PST by marteny
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To: onedoug
I can't comment on this before I've registered my First Amendment right to speak.

4 posted on 12/17/01 1:57 PM Pacific by onedoug [ Post Reply

How much does the Right to Speak license cost, and I heard it's only good for three years, is that right??!

12 posted on 12/17/2001 1:09:11 PM PST by timestax
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To: zcat;donozark
BUMP
13 posted on 12/17/2001 1:11:10 PM PST by shaggy eel
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To: AStack75;the
Thank you. I miss out sometimes because I refuse to read posts not set off with paragraphs.
14 posted on 12/17/2001 1:13:57 PM PST by pa_dweller
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To: EricOKC
Partially.

Requiring felons to register was found violative of the 5th amendments prohibition against self-incrimination.

15 posted on 12/17/2001 1:16:34 PM PST by the
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To: marteny
From my cold dead hands! We need our guns now more than ever - in case we need to fend off a TERRORIST! For victory & freedom!!!
16 posted on 12/17/2001 1:16:53 PM PST by Saundra Duffy
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To: EricOKC
It's only unconstitutional for people who aren't supposed to have guns. Your average law abiding citizen isn't so protected. Although, since that's not going to change, I wonder if we couldn't make an equal protection case out of it -why shouldn't citizens have the same rights as criminals?

In fact, there have been cases prohibiting the registration or license of a right, but they have never been applied to the Second. One of many things that's waiting on the government to admit the amendment exists.

17 posted on 12/17/2001 1:16:56 PM PST by NovemberCharlie
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To: the
The boys in the hood will sure NOT be affected by this one way or another. The inner city thugs can get all the guns they want and no one will ever know about it. Chuck and Ted are too dumb to realize this. But this will play well for their type of constituents..."we must do something to stop the shootings..." Of course this will not stop anything.
18 posted on 12/17/2001 1:23:17 PM PST by Rudder
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To: marteny
This is harrassment of persons wishing to excercise their rights!
19 posted on 12/17/2001 1:26:38 PM PST by INSENSITIVE GUY
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To: Saundra Duffy
in case we need to fend off a TERRORIST!

Foreign AND Domestic!

20 posted on 12/17/2001 1:28:13 PM PST by Doomonyou
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