NYC bill would put NYPD gun offender database online

[branford]

12. Wow. OK, let's address you points (without the snark).

As this is "your forum," I will be brief and direct, and note that I'm only responding to your implied inquiry. If you would like to debate the issue more intently, I would be happy to move the discussion to the other gun forum or GD.

First, citing the IRS is simply madness. Despite laws designed specifically to prevent such an occurrence, we currently are engaged in a scandal wherein the IRS targeted groups based on ideology and requested and maintained information that it was not entitled to possess. Years ago, Nixon did the same thing, only far, far worse. The IRS is the poster child for curbs on government access and use of personal information.

I'm not naive, I know perfectly well that my name and personal information are gathered and maintained by both the government and private entities for any number of purposes, both legitimate and absurd. That does not mean I have to support adding creating additional government lists. (See my prior issue with the errors and lack of accountability and appeals with the Terror Watch Lists and airlines, which most people on DU have opposed)

A government list of gun owners is of particular concern because these gun owners have broken no laws and the list can be used for later confiscation (see Australia and Britain). If government lists are no problem, should we also maintain a list of everyone's religion, or what websites you visit or forums where you participate, or maybe a list of valuables or important papers in your home, just in case the police may need to search.

I'm also always bemused by the DMV argument. Despite your almost certain disagreement with the premise, we do in fact have a constitutional right to keep and bare arms. We do not have a right to own or use and automobile. Similarly, gun registration is a state, not federal issue, and you only need a license to operate on public roads. Farmers with tractors and the like do not need a license. I should also remind you that operatives in DMV offices nationwide have been routinely known to use and abuse personal information. It's so commonplace that it is usually minor local news.

Let's all be honest. At best, you believe that far more draconian gun restrictions should be enacted (hence this particular forum), and at worst, you believe the private ownership of guns should be outlawed. Why would I, or most individuals who support gun rights, of any political persuasion, agree to make it much easier to achieve your goals? What is your evidence that a federal gun registry will demonstrably decrease gun deaths. It certainly had little impact in Canada (I know it was only for longarms), and it was ended due to unnecessary costs. I oppose a gun owner registry for the same reason why we are fighting laws about safety at abortion clinics after Gosnell. The slipper slope is alive and well.

If you've read my other posts on DU, you would know that I'm very liberal and we likely agree on most issues, and I'm not a gun owner nor an absolutist concerning firearm regulation. I believe that many proposed laws would be constitutional, and some may actually be effective. I've stated in this thread alone that I do not oppose the gun offender registry, nor universal background checks, in principle. I laugh when when some DU members attack me as some sort of NRA shill or gun zealot. Despite the absurdity of suggestion, I'm the type of person closest to you on the other side of the gun debate. If you completely lose or alienate me, you can expect both gun rights and ownership to continue to expand as you make the perfect the enemy of the good.