5 Gun Control Lies Explained
Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you know the United States is electing a President on November 5, 2024. One of the major issues in this election is gun control. Although we here at Better Protectors have some strong political opinions, we usually keep them to ourselves. Gun control, however, is something that directly impacts people’s personal safety and that is something we’re all about.
The trend is to call gun control measures “common sense gun safety measures”. One of the big problems in this debate is that those who favor gun control measures aren’t being honest. They invent problems, exaggerate the issue and offer “solutions” that don’t solve the problem. In fact, some of those “solutions” can make you less safe. Let’s take a look at some of these falsehoods.
Lie #1: We Need to Ban Assault Weapons
If you listen to gun grabbers, you would think that you’re more likely to be murdered with an AR15 as you are to have a flat tire. The truth is, murders by rifles are statistically rare and so-called assault rifles are an even lower number. According to the FBI, Less than 3% of homicides list a rifle as the murder weapon. You are 3 times more likely to be killed by a knife than a rifle.
Lie #2: AR15s are the ‘Weapon of Choice’ for Mass Shootings
If you listen to the media and certain politicians, you would think that Ar15s are self-aware and can murder on their own. True, mass shootings with AR15s tend to get a lot of attention. But according to the FBI, only about 25% of them involve rifles of any kind. About ¾ of the time, the primary weapon is a handgun.
Lie #3: We Need to Close the Gun Show Loophole
This is a lie primarily because there is no such thing as a gun show loophole. Gun control advocates would have you believe that there are no background checks for sales at gun shows. They’d have you believe the same from online sources.
The truth is, all commercial sales, have required a background check and a ATF form 4473 for decades. Online sales have to be shipped to a Federal Firearms Licensed dealer. The dealer then does the background check and completes the 4473. The only sales that have gone without a background check have been private sales between individuals, selling private property. This is a fraction of sales in the US.
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Lie #4: We Need Universal Background Checks
This is closely related to Lie #3. Again, all commercial sales have required a background check for decades. What they bury in this proposal is the word “transfer”. What this means, in practical terms, is that if you wanted to borrow my shotgun for duck hunting, we would have to go through a transfer process that includes paying for a background check. Then, when you returned the shotgun to me, I’d have to submit to a background check to get my own property back.
Universal background checks wouldn’t stop the 14-year-old who brought a rifle to Apalachee High School in September 2024 because he didn’t purchase the gun. Nor would it have stopped most criminal uses because the shooter either obtained the gun illegally or because they obtained it legally before they became criminals and passed a background check.
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Lie #5: We Need Red Flag Laws
On the surface, red flag laws sound like a good idea. Unfortunately, they aren’t what they seem. The way these laws work deprives people who haven’t done anything wrong of their rights without due process. A complaint is made, and a judge makes a decision about your fitness to own firearms without your knowledge or even being able to defend yourself. You are then deprived of your property and the means to protect yourself without due process. That’s not how the system was designed to work. Just ask the Constitution.
Don’t think that is a problem? There have been cases where a disgruntled relative in California filed a petition against their cousin living in Texas because they thought the cousin had “extremist views”. Despite not living in California, the judge issued the order. This immediately prevented the Texas resident from being able to pass a background check and the local police were asked to confiscate his guns on behalf of the CA court. He eventually cleared himself, but it required time, expense and being defenseless for months. Imagine if an ex decided to do that. Or some random troll you made angry on Twitter.
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These are just 5 of the big lies told to us by politicians who want to infringe on our 2nd Amendment right (and a few other rights along with it). There are many more.
When you go to vote, pick candidates who will protect your rights and preserve your ability to protect yourself and your family.