What gun registry?
According to Melhman, some states keep records on who purches (sic) guns, and the RNC then purhcases (sic) the data to target potential voters. Why is this hypocritical? Because the Republicans, via John Ashcroft, refused to allow the FBI to cross check potential terrorists against the list of names given for criminal background checks used to purchase guns. Ashcroft even wanted to destroy records of background checks, rather than have them be used to fight terrorism
Federal law prohibits ATF from establishing “any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions and dispositions.” Instead, ATF relies upon federal firearms licensee (FFL) records to trace firearms recovered in crimes through its National Tracing Center. Inaccurate or incomplete record keeping makes the tracing of firearms involved in violent crimes virtually impossible.
Sean is comparing apples to oranges (feds v. state). I guess the state can do it but I know the Feds cannot (even though they do any way just in a roundabout way).
Still: States are selling info on your gun purchases to political parties. Be afraid.
October 26th, 2006 at 5:02 pm
This also assumes that Melhman wasn’t simply Full Of It.
Do we have any documentation for this occurring other than some guy saying it on NPR? Or even a list of which states are supposedly doing it?
(For the record, I’m accusing him of possibly being mistaken (or gullible), not of trying to deceive – until I get evidence to the contrary.)
October 26th, 2006 at 5:34 pm
I think he is mistaken. Very mistaken.
I wouldn’t doubt that the RNC purchases marketing lists from gun dealers (Cabelas, Bass Pro, etc – in fact I know they have in the past) and the NRA and from Gun Manufacturers (ie: those people who send in their warranty cards) but would be very very very very very very shocked and surprised to hear they were able to pull this off (and keep it quiet).
October 26th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
The audio is available on NPR. Was Melhman full of it? I don’t know, I wouldn’t even know where to begin to fact check that. I was just basing my post on his words.