Free Republic

Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's previously stalled bill toughening the national gun background check system in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings sailed through both chambers of Congress within hours yesterday after a flurry of legislative activity. "I don't know whether to laugh or to cry," said McCarthy (D-Mineola), who saw her legislation pass the House in June only to have it blocked in the Senate. "You don't know how many times it's come to this point." In a statement, Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, "This simple but very important bill has been a long time coming. It will...

WASHINGTON -- Since the Virginia Tech shootings last spring, the FBI has more than doubled the number of people nationwide who are prohibited from buying guns because of mental health problems, the Justice Department said Thursday. Justice officials said the FBI's Mental Defective File has ballooned from 175,000 names in June to nearly 400,000, primarily additions from California. The names are listed in a subset of a database that gun dealers are supposed to check before completing their sales. The surge in names underscores the vastness of the gap in FBI records that allowed Seung-hui Cho to purchase the handguns...

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - A gun-control bill that advocates say could have prevented the April killings of 32 people on the Virginia Tech campus has hit a roadblock in the Senate. The measure would provide money to states to ensure that they properly update the national database of those prohibited to purchase weapons. It has support from both handgun control groups and the National Rifle Association but Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York says his colleague Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, has derailed any hopes of quick passage. Under federal law, people with criminal records and those who...

<p>WASHINGTON -- Two weeks before students return to classes at Virginia Tech, a Senate panel voted yesterday to strengthen the national instant background-check system for gun buyers.</p> <p>Responding to the Virginia Tech massacre, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to advance a measure aimed at closing gaps in the national background-check system.</p>

Freepers, please help me out on this one. I have a friend who is romantically interested in someone who may not be telling the truth on several matters...whether he's married, has a criminal record, etc. I know there are many sources out there (i.e., "scams") that charge a fee but give very little info. I used to know of some terrific websites on which there was a ton of information for free but I can't seem to track them down at the moment. PLEASE help. I don't want my friend to be duped. Intuition is great. Extra info is even...

The House of Representatives has fast-tracked new legislation to "improve" the National Instant Criminal Background Check System by allowing doctors to now decide who can own firearms.

The House of Representatives has fast-tracked new legislation to "improve" the National Instant Criminal Background Check System by allowing doctors to now decide who can own firearms.

Total Vanity.Does anyone know of a the best or most reliable source to do a background check on people? I read from what looks like consumer reports that these 3 were the best...but I can't confirm if it is true since I can't confirm that it is a actually a consumer reports website. Beware of Online Background Checks"Any recommendations on what site would be the best to purchase from for the most in depth search? Thanks for any help.

About 35,000 art enthusiasts packed the Boca Raton Museum of Art this spring to view exhibits that included the paintings of Milton Avery, a modernist often called the "American Matisse." Now, seven of those paintings have vanished and so has the ex-con with a suspended driver's license who was entrusted to drive them to the Avery estate in New York. Authorities are looking for Patrick McIntosh, 36, a 6-foot, 9-inch art-transport driver who disappeared April 18 with a rented Budget truck after he loaded Avery's works along with furniture, sculptures, photos and other art from at least 14 other collectors...

Wed 13 Apr 2005 9:47am (UK) Naval Security Reviewed over Ship Intruder By Ben Mitchell, PA A review of security at a major UK naval base has been carried out after an alleged intruder was found on board a visiting US aircraft carrier, the Royal Navy said today. The alleged trespasser was discovered on board the USS Harry S Truman, anchored off Stokes Bay, Gosport, Hants, on Saturday night during a week-long visit to Portsmouth Naval Base. A navy spokesman said the man had allegedly passed through both Royal Navy security and US Navy security to get on board passenger...

A former Malden wrestling coach who called his students ``disciples in training'' and instructed them to perform sexual acts to be a part of his team is facing charges of raping one of his students and more victims are likely to come forward, according to authorities. Prosecutor Michelle Margolis said Everett Bower, 32, asked his wrestlers to perform sex acts as the culmination of their four-step indoctrination into his ``family.'' Bower has coached boys wrestling at Savio Prep High School in East Boston, Malden High and Malden Catholic, though he's currently unemployed. Margolis described in court how he would instruct...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 - Senior administration officials on Sunday defended the White House review of Bernard B. Kerik's background before his nomination as secretary of homeland security. One official said that even "controversial" material uncovered in a weeklong review had not appeared to endanger Mr. Kerik's confirmation. In interviews, the officials denied that the White House review of Mr. Kerik's background had been rushed. Scott McClellan, President Bush's press secretary, called it "a very thorough vetting process" that "looked at all the issues relating to his public, financial and personal background." But they said that there had been no way...

I am looking for a good online "pay type" people search. One that is up to date and legit. I need to find an address of someone and do a basic background check on this person. Can anyone guide to a good online service for this where I will get instant results. I looking for one that is not super expensive and one that a fellow FR has used before. Who do folks use if they want to look up a babysitter's background? (address history, criminal check, etc) Thanks in advance for your help!

WASHINGTON (AP) - Civil liberties groups are objecting to a government plan for a new system that would check background information and assign a threat level to everyone who buys a ticket for a commercial flight. Activists see the potential for unconstitutional invasions of privacy and for database mix-ups that could lead to innocent people being branded security risks. "This system threatens to create a permanent blacklisted underclass of Americans who cannot travel freely," said Katie Corrigan, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union. There also is concern that the government is developing the system without revealing how information...