Support Your Local Gangsta

Here's a writeup on a bill, introduced at the Federal level, appearantly intended to make life easier and safer for the average gangster, thug, whatever.

Among the more controversial provisions of the bill are requirements that all handgun owners submit to the federal government a photo, thumb print and mental heath records. Further, the bill would order the attorney general to establish a database of every handgun sale, transfer and owner's address in America.

The bill claims its purpose is "to protect the public against the unreasonable risk of injury and death associated with the unrecorded sale or transfer of firearms to criminals and youth."

The definition of "youth" varies somewhat. If a 19-year-old thug is shot by a cop while attempting to rob a bodega, this is reported as "the unnecessary firearm death of a youth".

There are a bunch of assaults on the rights of otherwise law-abiding citizens in this thing, but one of my favorites is the part that says that if a burglar steals your gun and sells it to a 17-year-old crack dealer who uses it to reduce the competition on his favorite corner, the gun will be quickly and easily traceable to the former owner, who will be charged and jailed. No word on what will be done with the shooter, presumable 30 days at county.

Rep Bobby Rush is transparently looking out for the well-being of the criminal culture. Being himself from Chicago, this is likely a large part of his constituency.

In some states, one-gun-a-month legislation is a popular way for politicians to suggest that they're actually doing something, about something or other. Perhaps the Republicans could model some legislation on this, limiting people to one vote per election. And defining people as organisme with a functioning metabolism.