Monday, March 22, 2010

Here's How They've Wounded Us

Tam would freely admit she is a collector of guns. She can go to a gunshow and pickup something cool, agree on the price, wait for 15 minutes as the paperwork gets hashed out, and then leave with piece in her pocket. A handgun. She is in Indiana (or, previously, Tennessee, and I think she bought guns in Georgia too.)

My Buddy The Gun Enthusiast can do that too. He's a different sort of accumulator from Tam, but he's still collector in his own right. He has a CCW permit in Virginia. Which means he can do that more than one time a month unlike the rest of the people in the state. (this is changing, now)

I cannot do this in Maryland. You have to wait 7 days before you can take possession while the state police sit on your application. So big gunshows don't happen in Maryland because this is too much a hassle for out of state sellers. The hassle can be overcome by motivated sorts that want a transaction to go through, but in reality it is too inconvenient.

End result... Why be a gun collector while living in Maryland. Or New Jersey, Minnesota, Rhode Island, &c. The gun culture in these places is gimped.

Of course the laws related to waiting periods makes no sense to its stated purpose. It's to ensure a criminal the Feds didn't notice don't get through the State cordon, to allow angry folks to calm down and repent their murderous intentions. But the State authorities already have me in the system, so they know instantly I have a pistol or three already. Shoot, my state knows the model and serial number of my pistols. If I intended mayhem why would I need the new pistol? Just let me walk home with it.

Yes. The gun culture in these places is gimped. And that was their intention from the start. Busybodies.

9 comments:

Rev. Paul said...

The longest I've ever had to wait was 45 minutes, on a busy day at the gun shop. Most recent purchase took 10 minutes. If I'd spring for a concealed carry permit (not needed in AK, but useful for travel out-of-state), then no background check is required for future purchases.

That's the way it should be everywhere.

New Jovian Thunderbolt said...

Hear, hear, Reverend!

Ian Argent said...

I had 10-minute service in NJ (walked in at a quarter of closing, and they close when the NJSP stops answering the NICS-phone). It was on a rifle, and I had my FID, of course. Prior to OHGAM in NJ, once you have the paperwork (and yes, it can be delayed much longer than the statutory time), you go in, go out, get done. We even have private sale (both parties responsible for filing the paperwork afterwards) without a NICS check.

That said, I still can't impulse-buy a 4G Glock like a PA friend of mine...

Secesh said...

You're right about the exemption to the OHGAM law in VA if you have a CCW. But the law isn't changing if you don't have the exemption, the Dims formed a "Death Star" committee and killed that bill and a half-dozen others.

New Jovian Thunderbolt said...

well, CRAP, Secesh

Jay G said...

We may have a crappy "Approved Firearms Roster" and an "Assault Weapons" ban, but no waiting periods.

I think I'd switch if given the chance...

Tam said...

...and of course, all that paperwork folderol applies only if I'm buying from an FFL; I can still buy from private individuals like an American.

New Jovian Thunderbolt said...

Grrr!!!

aczarnowski said...

FWIW, Minnesota doesn't make you wait or have a buying limit per $UNIT_TIME that I've bumped up against.

It does require a permit to purchase for handguns which you have to get from your sheriff ahead of time, good for a year. That does suck. A CCW, good for five years, also works though.

But yes, that we have this crap to talk about in the first place is stupid.