Drivers License use for Firearm Purchase


Firearm Purchase Drivers License Proposal

Why should any gun purchaser need any check on their background or have to prove that they are one of the good guys?

The majority of the public (including vast majority of those who are pro-gun) really don't want felons who have been convicted of violent crimes to have unfettered access to firearms. Many are very leery of people who have been adjudicated mentally deficient or unbalanced having unlimited access to firearms. This proposal will allow that proof to be made without endangering the purchaser with registration.

Why should the government care who has a firearm and how many they have?

They *shouldn't*!!! (as long as the possessor is not in the process of committing a crime). This proposal will work to satisfy that concern by not giving the government any of the purchaser's information at the time of the purchase.

Gunowners don't want to end up in any registration database!

They won't!! Under this proposal their name and vitals are only in the same databases that everyone else's are and that would be as valid possessors of a drivers license. The only separate database would be of those who are ineligible to possess a firearm.

Overall Advantages

No purchaser data added to any database.
Purchaser's age shown on drivers license.
All felons or mental adjudications previously noted as restrictions on the license.
Purchases may be made anywhere in the country as drivers licenses are recognized by all states.
License ensures visibility anywhere at the time of purchase.

Gun shops
Gunsmiths
Gun shows
Custom holster manufacturers
Any licensee location
Upon request from private individual seller at time of purchase

Other restrictive information could be shown by letter surrounded by a circle with a line through it such as these examples:

C=Purchase OK, but no public possession of a loaded firearm
F=No firearms may be purchased or possessed.
H=No handguns may be purchased or possessed in public when loaded.
M=Minor - No handguns may be purchased but rifle or shotgun OK (see state laws)
N=No NFA weapons without complete background check.
P=No purchase but possession of a firearm on private property OK.

Sale is quickly consummated.

OK, now let's get on with it.

The state would maintain a database (accessible from all other states and the federal government) that contains *ONLY* the names of those who have lost their RKBA through due process (criminal or mental adjudications) referred to as prohibited possessors. Those names would also match the symbols on the drivers license. It will *not* contain any personal data from purchasers of firearms.
What are the advantages of this method?
No registration database!! None of the personal data from the 4473's or from any private sale is kept other than what is currently required by law. The dealer could also access the prohibited possessor database for a further check if there is any doubt about the authenticity of the purchaser.
How about gunshows? All that would be needed at weekend gunshows would be for the seller to see the drivers license. A dealer would follow the current laws regarding 4473's (as they must do today)and could also access the prohibited possessor database if he/she needed to in order to really feel at ease.
How about being able to purchase a firearm anywhere in the country? This would be the same database available to all dealers. There would be no (background) reason why you could not buy a firearm while physically anywhere in the country. If you happened to live in Arizona, but found super deal on a gun while vacationing in Virginia, why shouldn't you be able to buy it while you were there? The drivers license would be good in all other states just like it is today. The only limiting factor would be any state laws in the seller's state or the purchaser's state of residence that would apply to the sale.
Who wins in this scenario?
Both sides. It is a benefit to both gunowners and the public. The gunowners get a process that will not lead to a registration database and the public gets assurances that there is a process in place to stop prohibited possessors from purchasing a firearm through a dealer, a gun show or an individual sale.

This would seem to be a win-win situation. The government and the anti-gunners say that a national database for confiscation purposes is not on their agenda...the pro-gunners do not want their names and firearms data entered into a database....both sides state that they want to reduce crime by keeping criminals and mentally adjudications from going into a dealer's shop or gun show and purchasing a firearm. This proposal accomplishes the things that both sides want.
It allows dealers to ensure that they are doing all that they can to keep firearms out of the wrong hands by requiring a picture ID (drivers license). It allows them to participate in gun shows and to compete nationally on sales. (Those sales still have to be in person, however.)
It allows purchasers of firearms to make their purchase and be on their way. It could allow them to buy a firearm anywhere in the country. It does not put their name in a database to be used later for nefarious purposes.
Let us know your feelings and comments.

[ Top | Home Page ]

Most recent revision: March 22, 2001
Copyright © 2001 Sundance Computing.
All Rights Reserved.

E-MAIL: The Sandman

Note: Sundance is a copyrighted trademark of Sundance Computing, Tucson, AZ.

Created/maintained with the CoffeeCup HTML Editor