The 'Loophole' Discussion

Private transactions of legal goods, subject to government intervention and approval of your commercial exchange.

On its face it doesn't sound pretty. Sounds Orwelian. It is a reality in a only a handful of states. But to hear anti self-defense politicians and shrill demonstrators trying to sell their version of reality, it is a tsunami of "common sense" that has somehow escaped the Old Dominion. Today, it is the root of a contentious argument in Virginia's state capital, Richmond. Below are editorials and a letter-to-the-editor regarding the battle over the so-called "gun show loophole." So far, the victim disarament/close-the-loophole crowd is not faring too well. Thus, the push in the media attempting to win over public opinion with statements that are . . . well, questionable in their accuracy.

Anti editorial from the Daily-Press
Anti editorial from the Virginian-Pilot
Anti column from the Richmond Times-Dispatch
LTE in Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star

Note: The columnist from the Times-Dispatch asked the following: "And why should unlicensed gun dealers have liberties that licensed gun dealers don't?"

Answer -- Because the young lady who comes in to sell the rifle that was her Daddy's, and who perhaps carries a concealed handgun for personal protection on the mean streets of Richmond, is not an unlicensed gun dealer. In fact, she is not a dealer at all.

She is a private citizen, selling an item privately in a transaction that is no different than selling a used car herself, or selling an old chain saw she doesn't need. She is NOT a dealer. She does NOT make her living buying and selling firearms. As such, to call her a "dealer" is intellectually dishonest.

Quit playing word games. You don't do it very well.