Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick attacks NRA and Supports expanded background checks

[mbschne]

Well, Dan Patrick has lost my vote.

Well, the time for us to vote against him is in the primary. If Dan Patrick is this bad, what do you think the Democrat who will run against him will want to do? Keep in mind people like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Corey Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Francis Patrick O'Rourke, and the rest of crazy socialistic statists running for POTUS on the Democrat side.

This not voting for a Republican as they are the least of evils needs to stop, IMO. I don't totally agree with any Republican I vote for, but I figure I can work to change the things later, that I do disagree with. But, this Nation is now on a precipice, teetering on being Venezuela (Communist) or maintaining the line.

[Papa_Tiger]

Currently, 80% of all gun sales include a background check. Of the 20% that don't go through a background check, we believe about half are transfers between family members. Federal officials estimate that the remaining 10% of guns sold are involved in more than 80% of gun crimes. It is just common sense that we try to close that that ten percent gap.

We know background checks work because over 750,000 felons have been rejected — stopped from buying a gun — because they couldn't pass a background check.

I'm not naïve enough to believe that background checks will stop bad guys from getting guns

Which is it Dan? In one sentence you say that background checks work. In the next you say that they won't stop bad guys from getting guns. If they won't stop bad guys from getting guns, WHY SHOULD WE BE FORCED BY LAW TO DO THEM?

— but expanding background checks to include stranger-to-stranger gun sales is one of dozens of steps we are looking at to reduce shootings (read below about my Select Senate Committee on Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety). Frankly, expanding background checks is too easy not to do — the process takes just a few minutes at a gun store.

"We just need to DO something" Great kneejerk reaction from a politician.

The Right Thing to Do

Let me be absolutely clear about this. There is a lot of misinformation out there. I believe gun transfers between family members should continue to be allowed without a background check. What I am proposing is that anyone who wants to sell a gun to a stranger simply go to a gun store and fill out the background check form.

Define stranger to me Dan.

Then the gun can be exchanged and the deal is closed. This is NOT a ban on private gun sales and this change in the law will NOT lead to a gun registry.

If you believe that, I have ocean front property to sell you in Arizona.

That is utter nonsense. I don't support banning private gun sales or a national registry, and I never will. I am sorry that some of my allies in the battle to protect our Second Amendment rights are angry about this — but as I say in this Fox clip, the National Rifle Association is just wrong on this. Their refusal to compromise on this issue will only hurt our long-term defense of the Second Amendment.

Every public poll I have seen in the past year shows there is broad support for expanding background checks. After the El Paso shooting, a Fox News poll showed that 90% of Americans support expanding background checks, including strong majorities among Republicans and gun owners. If those of us who support the Second Amendment won't begin a discussion on this common sense change in our current laws, we risk losing everything. The crazed gun control crowd— from Biden to Beto — will sweep in and destroy our rights. They want to take away our guns — and even remove the Second Amendment from the Constitution. Some have proposed "buy back" programs — which is absurd — you can't buy back something you don't own — our guns belong to us and we have a constitutionally protected right to have them.

"We need to do something so that the 'bad guys' don't do something worse!" Great call to action Dan! Let's see, the last time we needed to "do something" we wound up with the Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Safety Administration (A.K.A. Thousands Standing Around) that increased governmental bureaucracy and destroyed freedom. Yeah, we should TOTALLY do something about this that will lead to the ultimate destruction of the Second Amendment and the Constitution. Right there with you... NOT!

[carlson1]

Obvious there are more people killed my drunk drivers. So the analogy would be then that every car sold should have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed even thou there are people like me that do not even drink.

More intrusion from the government on law abiding citizens.

[Texas_Blaze]

Obvious there are more people killed my drunk drivers. So the analogy would be then that every car sold should have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed even thou there are people like me that do not even drink.

More intrusion from the government on law abiding citizens.

I understand the sentiment. But without laws there can be no law abiding citizens. Ironically, the converse can be true as well. All laws are an intrusion onto those that, given the absence of laws, would still behave in an ethical manner. Personally I’d rather refer to ethics than to law abiding since one day I may no longer be law abiding, forced into such a position by the laws imposed, and yet still ethical. My detractors would then mock my prior proclamation of being law abiding.

My point is mainly that the law abiding citizen term is rather dependent on circumstances, ethics isn’t.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Patrick must be feeling some heat. I received an email he sent to his email list trying to justify his position. He still contends he's right and the NRA is wrong. Like Bonnen, he touts his NRA rating (A+) that was based upon his track record, but apparently thinks that can't change.

Chas.

[carlson1]

Patrick must be feeling some heat. I received an email he sent to his email list trying to justify his position. He still contends he's right and the NRA is wrong. Like Bonnen, he touts his NRA rating (A+) that was based upon his track record, but apparently thinks that can't change.

Chas.

I was hoping that NRA rating might change. I don’t know what the outcome of all of this will be, but it sure gives us a glimpse of who is really on our side. All of the mayors and folks that met today including the Ft. Worth mayor and Police Chief are on the same page as Patrick.

[thatguyoverthere]

Here is most of an email I received from Dan Patrick today.

<snip>
Currently, 80% of all gun sales include a background check. Of the 20% that don't go through a background check, we believe about half are transfers between family members. Federal officials estimate that the remaining 10% of guns sold are involved in more than 80% of gun crimes.
<snip>

I was recently involved in a private gun sale with a stranger.

I am highly offended at Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's accusation that the gun in my transaction WILL be used in a crime! Apparently he believes I am so ignorant (or sinister) that I do not have enough sense to conduct a private transaction in a safe and responsible manner without the government being present to approve and hold my hand from start to finish.

Yes, I do realize from the quote that he is attributing that statistic to the Federal government. However, I am confident that he has misinterpreted the Federal information. My only question is: was his misinterpretation based on ignorance, incompetence, or malfeasance?

[crazy2medic]

Problems,with this, lying on a form 4473 is a felony yet few are prosecuted
If you have to take your gun sale to a licensed dealer what's to stop the dealer from taking an exorbant amount as his fee?
What about people who don't happen to live near a dealer?

[Oldgringo]

Here is most of an email I received from Dan Patrick today.

<snip>
Currently, 80% of all gun sales include a background check. Of the 20% that don't go through a background check, we believe about half are transfers between family members. Federal officials estimate that the remaining 10% of guns sold are involved in more than 80% of gun crimes.
<snip>

I was recently involved in a private gun sale with a stranger.

I am highly offended at Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's accusation that the gun in my transaction WILL be used in a crime! Apparently he believes I am so ignorant (or sinister) that I do not have enough sense to conduct a private transaction in a safe and responsible manner without the government being present to approve and hold my hand from start to finish.

Yes, I do realize from the quote that he is attributing that statistic to the Federal government. However, I am confident that he has misinterpreted the Federal information. My only question is: was his misinterpretation based on ignorance, incompetence, or malfeasance?

I too was recently involved in a private gun sale with a stranger. To my knowledge, that 'stranger' has yet to rob any banks or shoot up any gatherings.

Dan Patrick obviously thinks there are enough majority liberal votes in Texas' large cities to get him re-elected.

[Boxerrider]

Here is most of an email I received from Dan Patrick today.

<snip>
Currently, 80% of all gun sales include a background check. Of the 20% that don't go through a background check, we believe about half are transfers between family members. Federal officials estimate that the remaining 10% of guns sold are involved in more than 80% of gun crimes.
<snip>

I was recently involved in a private gun sale with a stranger.

I am highly offended at Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's accusation that the gun in my transaction WILL be used in a crime! Apparently he believes I am so ignorant (or sinister) that I do not have enough sense to conduct a private transaction in a safe and responsible manner without the government being present to approve and hold my hand from start to finish.

Yes, I do realize from the quote that he is attributing that statistic to the Federal government. However, I am confident that he has misinterpreted the Federal information. My only question is: was his misinterpretation based on ignorance, incompetence, or malfeasance?

Yep, 10% of firearm transactions occur between criminals and we need to create a law against it. That's a politician who is more worried about getting elected than defending the constitution.
I have kind of the same thoughts about, "just takes a few minutes at a gun store."
My county only has one gun store, which has limited business hours, and charges $35 for a transfer. Some dealers won't handle them at all. Is the Lt. Governor that out of touch with his constituency, or is it worse than just that?

[baseballguy2001]

If the Republicans do this, they will hand Texas to the Democrats, and then that will be that. I'll move to Florida, drink Gin & Tonics and look at the beautiful Emerald water.

[03Lightningrocks]

In the past ten years I have sold several firearms through gun broker which requires an FFL to complete so those are safe. I have also sold around four as private sales. All of which were members on this forum and I feel sure a LTC holder is not going to do evil with their purchase. But if for some reason any of them went nuts and shot an innocent person, it is definitely NOT something I should be held liable for. Heck, what about the Lightning I sold that ran 10 second quarter mile passes? I am not liable if the guy who purchased it runs over someone speeding. Or dies racing it at the track. These politicians are trying to have their cake and eat it too. We should not allow any give thinking it will cause the anti gun crowd to stop. Who really believes they will be happy with anything short of confiscation? The NRA and we the people need to say NO to any additional laws restricting the freedom of law abiding Americans. Nothing he proposes would have stopped any of these shootings.

[The Annoyed Man]

Mayor of Forth Worth is in DC right now, lobbying for expanded background checks and red flag laws. She’s trumpeting that ripe old cheese that 72% of Texas gun owners want this. And she’s GOP, all the way.

[Beiruty]

Obvious there are more people killed my drunk drivers. So the analogy would be then that every car sold should have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed even thou there are people like me that do not even drink.

More intrusion from the government on law abiding citizens.

Exactly. I debated the same point and one of cousin said he has no issue to install on all his cars if it is the law. If this ever happens, I file for an exception base on religious beliefs and practice.

[K.Mooneyham]

Problems,with this, lying on a form 4473 is a felony yet few are prosecuted
If you have to take your gun sale to a licensed dealer what's to stop the dealer from taking an exorbant amount as his fee?
What about people who don't happen to live near a dealer?

That right there, in red. All those laws, and yet how many of those laws are ever actually enforced, AS A PRIMARY CRIME? Sure, sometimes they use them as "tack-on charges" to run up the tally in court, but I mean prosecuting people who are breaking current firearms laws. We all know the truth, that very few ever face any trouble due to those laws...which really only burden those of us who aren't out committing any crimes. Lt. Governor Patrick needs to face reality about that, instead of trying to cover his political hide at the expense of the good people of Texas!