The term “mainstream media” is misleading. Yes, Big Media’s audience is “mainstream” (i.e. it’s consumed by lots of ordinary folks). But the stories themselves are well outside mainstream experience. Obviously. News is, by its nature, sensational. A NSSF report on the tens of millions of Americans who bought a gun, went through a NICS checks and took possession of their firearm straight away (or after a short wait) is relegated to internet specialists like TTAG. The MSM wouldn’t give it the time of day. But this . . . “When Scott Schulte stopped at Pasadena Pawn and Gun last week to pick up his fifth firearm of the year, the Maryland State Police still hadn’t finished his background check. The store let him take the pistol anyway.” OMG! How the hell did that happen? . . .
“I figure I can use my discretion,” owner Frank Loane Sr. told Schulte. “I know you.”
Yes, well, the baltimoresun.com article somehow fails to mention that ALL MD GUN SALES REQUIRE A FEDERAL NICS BACKGROUND CHECK.
The additional Maryland background check not only violates Free State residents’ natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms, but it’s become one of those “a right delayed is a right denied” deals. And how. To wit:
An unprecedented surge of applications to purchase guns has overwhelmed Maryland’s system for checking out the buyers. Dealers are required to wait seven days before releasing a firearm — which in the past has been enough time for the state police to complete the background check.
Lately, though, it’s taken two months or more. Citing state law, some dealers have stopped waiting.
“There’s a big frenzy out there,” said Fred W.J. Kirchner, vice president of the Maryland Association of Firearms Retailers and owner of Fred’s Firearm Service in Chestertown.
“I’ve got a stack of papers here I’m waiting to hear from the state police on, but I’ve already transferred the firearms. There’s nothing they can do about that,” said Kirchner, who like Loane said he gives guns only to people he knows have passed background checks before.
Again, let’s be clear: ALL MD GUN SALES REQUIRE A FEDERAL NICS BACKGROUND CHECK. So the background check to which these gun dealers refer is the state background check.
And what’s this little piece of info lingering at the end of the BS article about paperwork processing delays that are costing the state millions in overtime and lasting 85 days or more?
Attorneys for the state police declined to comment publicly on the lawsuit or what liability the dealers may face for selling guns to people before background checks are complete.
“The law states that the firearms dealer must hold that weapon for seven days,” said Shipley, the state police spokesman. “After that, the law is silent.”
He added, “We believe that firearms dealers share our concern for public safety. We certainly hope that firearms are not being released until those background checks come back.”
This is what happens when “well-meaning” politicians enact gun control legislation: they destroy the rights they pretend to protect. How ironic is that?
