Man: I'm in favor of doing background checks...
Man: To prevent courageous moderate Republicans from infiltrating the GOP!
NRA's Most Wanted
Pat Toomey
First off, be advised I am all for replicating California’s very restrictive background check laws on a federal level. BUT, Mikefive posted an interesting comment about this bill that I totally agree with. This bill was 45 pages (or so) for a supposedly simple banning of private sales at gun shows and a few other public venues. Instead of just putting this into a 2 page document the politicians had to load it up with other conditions and confusing language that did nothing but clutter up an otherwise useful document and conceivably could have gathered more support.
Many have also complained that the bill could have passed with a simple majority (which it had), except then it would be subject to filibustering. My understanding of this was Harry Reid knew this and required the 60 votes under the “cloture” rules to avoid a filibuster. Welcome to the convoluted rules of governing.
First off, be advised I am all for replicating California’s very restrictive background check laws on a federal level. BUT, Mikefive posted an interesting comment about this bill that I totally agree with. This bill was 45 pages (or so) for a supposedly simple banning of private sales at gun shows and a few other public venues. Instead of just putting this into a 2 page document the politicians had to load it up with other conditions and confusing language that did nothing but clutter up an otherwise useful document and conceivably could have gathered more support.
Many have also complained that the bill could have passed with a simple majority (which it had), except then it would be subject to filibustering. My understanding of this was Harry Reid knew this and required the 60 votes under the “cloture” rules to avoid a filibuster. Welcome to the convoluted rules of governing.
http://uspolitics.about.com/od/usgovernment/a/filibuster.htm