Alex Dunker is author of next 2015-2016 MLHS senior student editorial
The Fight for Background Checks
Background checks are needed when purchasing guns to help prevent killings by people who are mentally unstable. A background check usually only takes a few minutes to complete, so it should be done for every gun being sold. I feel that if a person has murdered someone or been convicted of a felony of any kind, that he/she should not be able to purchase a gun. Also, a mental disorder or admitting to being addicted to a controlled substance, such as drugs, should prohibit the purchase of a gun.
In order to prevent murders by mentally unstable people or criminals, background checks are necessary when purchasing firearms. The same goes for those who have been dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces, or are subject to a restraining order.
I also feel that if someone purchases a gun from any retail store, that it should be put on a national check system, so that if you get yourself into any serious trouble, such as a felony, the government can come and temporarily or even permanently, take your gun away.
Most states don’t require background checks for firearms that are purchased either at gun shows or from a private seller. Federal law only requires licensed dealers to conduct checks, which accounts for about 60% of guns sold. this means that only two out of every five guns being sold goes through a background check.
According to the Gun Control Act of 1968, private sellers were clearly defined by federal law as anyone who sold at most firearms per year. The 1986 Firearm Owners Protected Act lifted that restriction and loosely defined private sellers as people who don’t rely on gun sales as the main way of obtaining their income.
Some states have decided to go further than federal law by requiring background checks at gun shows for any gun transaction. Only five states require a background check on just handguns, and seen states require universal background checks on almost all gun purchases, including those over the internet.
All states require a check on all guns sold from a licensed dealer. I feel that there should be a background check required on all guns of any kind being bought or sold from anywhere, and not just licensed dealers. This is a big loophole where people that don’t pass the federal check can purchase a gun.
Background checks are done in order to guarantee that criminals, or someone with a mental disorder are denied unchecked access to guns.
The United States government needs to enact a federal law requiring universal background checks on all sales of firearms, including private sales at gun shows. I feel that if we make background checks necessary for every gun purchase, this will greatly lower crime because criminals won’t be able to access to guns. It won’t stop all criminals; no law can stop all crime. It is just simply common sense to block as many sales as possible to criminals.