Not content to make purchasing firearms as difficult as possible, Democrats in the U.S. Congress have reintroduced a bill that would require lawful gun owners to pass a background check every time they purchase ammunition.
On February 19, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, and U.S Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, reintroduced what they call Jaime’s Law, which would require ammo purchasers to undergo a National Instant Background Checks System check by the FBI in order to purchase ammunition—a direct infringement of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
“Under current law, dangerous individuals such as violent criminals and domestic abusers are prohibited from purchasing a firearm as well as ammunition,” a news release from Sen. Blumenthal stated. “However, unlike firearms, federal law does not require a background check to prevent the illegal purchase of ammunition. Jaime’s Law would close this loophole by requiring buyers to either provide a license for the firearm or undergo an instant background check using the FBI National Instant Background Check System (NICS) before purchasing the ammunition.”
While Sen. Blumenthal tries to make the proposal sound reasonable, it’s just another attempt to close a “loophole” that doesn’t exist. And like firearm background checks, it would only affect law-abiding citizens, since criminals by definition don’t obey laws.
Still, both Sen. Blumenthal and Rep. Wasserman Schultz are hoping to push their measure through the Republican-controlled Congress.
“This legislation closes a dangerous loophole by requiring background checks on purchases of ammunition—a commonsense solution to combat the epidemic of gun violence in our country,” Sen. Blumenthal said, not mentioning that violent crime is at a near all-time low under President Donald Trump. “Eight years ago, Jaime Guttenberg’s mom and dad received a phone call that is every parent’s worst nightmare. Named in her honor, this legislation imposes life-saving background checks on ammunition purchases to prevent more senseless tragedies from devastating American families and plaguing our communities.”
It’s interesting how, in this case, Sen. Blumenthal is blaming bullets when he and his gun-ban cronies generally blame guns for violent crime. Unsurprisingly, Rep. Wasserman Schultz doubled down on that illogical concept.
“No family should endure the heartbreaking agony of losing a loved one to gun violence,” Rep. Wasserman Schultz said. “Yet every day, families across America still endure this torment, and the lifetime of anguish it brings. Thankfully, more of those impacted by it are joining courageous parents like Fred Guttenberg and other gun safety advocates to demand that Congress confront this public health crisis.
“That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce Jaime’s Law, named in honor of Fred’s talented and compassionate daughter. This crucial legislation is part of the multifaceted legal approach we need to finally end the gun violence epidemic. A required background check to buy ammunition is already in place. But closing this loophole, to actually enforce that law, can and will save lives.”
Ultimately, the proposal is simply a solution looking for a problem. The real answer to violent crime is to arrest, prosecute and jail violent criminals, not make it more difficult for lawful Americans to purchase ammunition.
