Senate rejects background checks on gun purchases in 54-46 vote

Despite overwhelming support^[1] for universal background checks from the general public, it appears that Pat Oliphaunt’s recent offering was 100% on the mark.

Background checks are not a blanket solution, nor are they a first step towards an outright gun ban as many on the far left would like to see. They are, however, an important part of a comprehensive plan. I am a firm supporter of the second amendment to our Constitution, but unregulated and unrestricted sale of weapons makes no sense; cars must be registered and drivers licensed, and this seems to raise no hackles except at the very fringes of society.

As I posted elsewhere,

The problem of violence in our country has nothing whatever to do with guns, but with a fundamental breakdown of morals (note: not specifically religious, but human, which covers all of humanity) and human kindness. Mental illness, and not just “schizophrenia” or other readily-identifiable maladies, is growing unchecked; schools are breeding grounds for the most horrific kinds of cruelty, exclusion, and prejudice, and most boards, districts, and local administrations continue to turn a blind eye to the problem. Pockets of concerned citizens, parents, teachers, and the occasional anomalous legislator or government official are doing what they can to stem the tide, but without a national sea change, we might as well be piling dry leaves to stop Euroclydon.

With each passing day, I am more and more deeply ashamed of this country’s legislative bodies.

The Old Wolf has spoken.

[1] A CNN/ORC International survey released last week …indicated 86% of the public supports some form of background checks that are not currently required by law for gun sales. 86% of Americans questioned in an ABC News/Washington Post poll released Tuesday said they supported background checks for gun sales on the internet and at gun shows. [source]