Some good news to end the work week. President Biden announced a new regulation, mandated by the 2022 Safe Communities Act, one that hopefully will stand court challenges – background checks for purchases at gun shows or on the internet. First the seller must be licensed; secondly, the buyer must pass a background check.
This rule is being issued pursuant to the bipartisan bill passed two years ago. Why it took two years to write this regulation I don’t understand but perhaps the ATF lawyers were concerned about court challenges. Of course, gun sellers are not happy, being willing to sell a weapon of destruction to any idiot who wants one.
This rule affects about 20,000 sales a year. Doesn’t sound like much in a country of 350 million but keeping a gun out of the hands of an abuser, a criminal, or someone who is emotionally or mentally disturbed could save a life. But do gun sellers care? No, they just want their money. Wonder how they would feel if faced with a gun.
Prayer for the Day
Mourning our streets covered in the blood of young and old alike,
We pray that we can stem the tide of gun violence;
Fearing that anyone could get a gun and kill even unintentionally,
We pray that even small steps could save lives.
We know, O God, that it doesn’t sound like much,
But requiring background checks could stem the flow of death.
In the name of the One who is our help,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Before you’re allowed to own a .44, your IQ should be higher than 44.
Quentin R. Bufogle, writer, journalist, from Horse Latitudes
I am especially proud to see that the new rule includes action to close the firesale loophole [which] allows federally licensed firearm dealers whose licenses are revoked to transfer their inventory to their personal collections, allowing them to sell those firearms without conducting background checks. Closing this dangerous loophole will help keep deadly weapons out of the wrong hands.
Cory Booker, U.S. Senator, New Jersey
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
And your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
And prosper for us the work of our hands.
Psalm 90 16-17