Friday, February 1, 2013

Didn't think he still had it in him.

Orrin Hatch: Gun Background Checks Could Destroy Liberty, Cause Persecution

8 comments:

David Forward said...

Damn, I'm both surprised and proud. The fact that an establishment, dyed-in-the-wool neocon actually defended real liberty is astonishing. It's almost enough to have me take him from the file of "dead to me" politicians and give him another chance...almost.

Dale S. said...

I called Hatch's office and thanked the staffer on the phone for the position Hatch had taken. We must communicate with these officials when they take positive steps. The fight in the public sphere is not over.

Anonymous said...

Considering it was on Huffpuff, a good sign of their concern, but never count your Hatchs until the vote is in.Maybe that last election challenge, increased clarity of vision. JDS

Anonymous said...

Nothing we’re going to do is going to fundamentally alter or eliminate the possibility of another mass shooting or guarantee that we will bring gun deaths down to a thousand a year from what we’re at now,” Biden said, according to a Politico report.

Anonymous said...

I seriously doubt HuffPo will actually publish it but here is my reaction to their article about Senator Hatch's objections.

HuffPost superuser HomerJFong opined:
"So I assume he's against background checks of any kind, for any purpose? Seems any decent job these days wants a background check, is that stifling my liberty...?"

Assumption - the mother of all f**k ups.

The good Senator is not objecting to background checks in general. He's not even objecting to background checks when purchasing a firearm from a federally licensed dealer (FFL holder). He IS, however, objecting to mandating that all firearms purchases or transfers be done under the auspices of a FFL holder. What if one of my cousins were to offer me that double-barreled 12 gauge that he inherited from my favorite uncle? Is the gun not his to sell? Why do we need to get a FFL involved?

The assault upon liberty to which the Senator objects is the federal government injecting itself into private transactions between law-abiding people. Property rights are the most basic of all rights. Part of property rights includes the right to sell my property to whomever I wish. Criminals already buy and sell firearms without utilizing a FFL holder or undergoing an instant background check. Mandating background checks for all firearm sales WILL HAVE NO EFFECT UPON CRIMINALS. I don't know if it has occurred to you yet but laws have no effect upon scofflaws (i.e. criminals)! If they obeyed the law, THEY WOULDN'T BE CRIMINALS. What is one more law to such individuals?

Anonymous said...

Color me surprised! Who knew the old man had it in him? He's been so center-soft-left until this last election when he woke up and saw that he was in danger of losing the primary. THEN he turned to the right.
But I'll take what I can get for now.
Thanks, Orrin! Let's hope that reason and intelligence (both sadly lacking in DC) can carry thru.
But if all else fails, a "NOT ONLY NO BUT HELL NO" should get a reaction.

B Woodman
III-PER


Anonymous said...

You guys are never gonna believe this! HuffPo DIDN'T post my reply. Imagine that. HuffPo doesn't publish departures from the party line. Whooda thunk?

Paul X said...

Hatch stuck his finger up into the wind. That's all it is.