Went to purchase a little 12-gauge pump-action peace of mind Saturday, and had to fill out some forms in triplicate as part of a new 14-day waiting period thing.

I was told it's a new federal law, in effect since last fall or thereabouts.

I guess nowadays that 2nd Amendment phrase "...shall not be infringed," is kind of like arguing about what the definition of is, is. Words no longer mean what they plainly say.

I don't know about you, but I sure felt infringed upon when they told me I could come back on Mar. 13 to pick up 'Ol Blue (assuming, of course, that the background check doesn't discover that I hang out on Yourdon's NG -- I'm sure that's grounds for automatic rejection.)

-- rick blaine (y2kazoo@hotmail.com), March 01, 1999

Answers

Rick - Buddy - Where Ya Been???

This is the new National Instant Check System (NICS).(Instant - LOL!) Of course it depends on how it is implemented in your state. I hav'nt heard of a 14 day wait yet, you must live in one of them eastern liberal states. Are'nt you happy that your goverment is helping you out so much! And you'll be happy to know that although the law that that authorized the NICS system explicitly calls for the FBI to NOT keep records on who was approved, they (FBI) decided to keep the records of who applied for a gun purchase for 18 months anyway. Hmmmnn - let's see - NICS started in 11/98 + 18 months = 5/2000!!! Nah - I'm not parinoid - how about you Rick??

BigFurDog - Already Locked and Loaded!

-- BigFurDog (BigFurDog@snazzle.com), March 01, 1999.

"What's this 14-day waiting period crap???"

Another fine example of your tax dollars at work.

-- Greybear, course apathy, laziness, and general tendency to want to hang on the government teat don't help any either.

- Got You BB gun? (they'll be next, or maybe knives like DownUnder)

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), March 01, 1999.

14 days??? Bought a shotgun at Walmart in January, NICS check, walked out with it immediately. Bought a handgun last month, NICS check, picked it up 3 days later.

What state was that in? When the law was passed, there was to be NO MORE then a 5 day waiting period, less if a shorter state waiting period was already in place.

Kinda makes me glad I live in the Gunshine...ummm... Sunshine state.

-- Online2Much (ready_for_y2k@mindspring.com), March 01, 1999.

You're surprised? Welcome to full consciousness in the fascist dictatorship called "the freest place on the planet". (not)

Sorry for your inconvenience. Glad for your awakening!

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), March 01, 1999.

"you must live in one of them eastern liberal states."

Bingo.

-- rick blaine (y2kazoo@hotmail.com), March 01, 1999.

They lied to you about the federal law. The new instant check system works like this: you fill out the paperwork for your firearm. The dealer then calls in the info to the FBI, who then may or may not approve instantly (mostly they don't and they have THREE DAYS in which to respond). At the end of the Three days, if the FBI hasn't notified the dealer that there's something wrong, the sale can go through, even if they haven't told him it's okay. The default is that you're innocent until proven guilty - an odd concept to the antigun crowd, by the way.

The thing is that some states have their own laws that extend the waiting period beyond the three days, and I'd guess that's what you've run into. CA, MA and NY are notorious for that. Here in VA we picked up my fiancee's new revolver a couple of weeks ago and it took about five minutes for the Virginia instant check, since we had it before the fed requirement and are exempt from dealing with the fbi since the state police do the checks here.

Arlin [who must be in love, 'cause he's teaching his fiancee' proper firearms handling!]

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), March 01, 1999.

I would find a new gun dealer. I bought a 12 ga semi, 22 semi, and a 44 mag last fall, right after the new law went into effect. In all cases the man picked up the phone after I filled out the papers and I was on my way with the goods in 10 min.

-- Scotty (BLehman202@aol.com), March 01, 1999.

Scotty,

which .44 did you get?

Arlin [fan of SuperRedhawks]

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), March 01, 1999.

rick,

Signed up for gun cards this past weekend. EIGHT weeks. I swear. Also here are some of the true real life questions from the form, do you guys have these too?

Are you addicted to illegal narcotics?

Are you retarded?

Have you been institutionalized in a mental facitlity in the last five years?

This was new to me. WE CRACKED UP at the counter. I am NOT making this up. I know this is not P.C., but, are alot of retarded people getting gun cards these days?

-- Deborah (info@wars.com), March 01, 1999.

Deborah: forgive this resident of a nonliberal Eastern state, but, uh, what's a gun card? If it's what I think it is, I wonder what the reaction would be if people needed speech cards before they could post in public forums?

-- Cash (cash@andcarry.com), March 01, 1999.

we don't have 'firearms cards' per se, here in Virginia, though you do need to fill out both the federal and state form when you purchase a firearm - they both have two columns of those sorts of questions.

My favorite is: have you ever been committed to a mental hospital against your will?

I have to wonder - has anyone ever actually answered 'yes' ??

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), March 01, 1999.

I believe the 'gun card' must be similar to Iowa's permit to purchase handguns (not to be confused with a permit to carry a concealed weapon). In Iowa you fill out the same type questionaire and in about a week, after they run a background check, you get your permit. Has to be renewed yearly.

The nice thing about them is that once you have it, it is good for all legal firearms (not just handguns) without bothering with the Instacheck.

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), March 01, 1999.

Cash,

But it's for the children! LOL I know it's insane.

Any person in my state who wants to legally purchase a gun must have a gun card. (and register their firearms in their local community & then there's the whole waiting period thing for actually purchasing the gun (sigh)

The eight week wait is supposedly due to the increased time needed for processing the large numbers of applications due to the way the wind is blowing. You see, hand guns are illegal in Chicago (yet gangs are better equipped than the Boys in Blue, go figure) Chicago's illustrious Mayor Daley is harrassing suburban dealers (that's guns not drugs ;-) ) and is currently suing gun manufacturers. A similar suit was won recently (in NY I think) and others are pending, so people are expecting prices to go up. If it's too much of a hassle to pass the legislation, well than just bleed the gun makers dry. I don't know if that's possible, but plenty of people are concerned enough to apply now.

The gun shop we were at was packed. From what I hear, it always is. Many more armed people around here than I ever imagined. It's just not a visible part of the culture here. (I wonder why)

Arlin,

ROTFL, I know, it's bizarre. 'Why yes! As a matter of fact I am a retarded drug addict who is commited against my will quite frequently. Now, may I have my gun please?'

BTW, Virgina ahh what a wonderful olde state rich with history & pride. A lovely place from what I hear. Was planning a long excursion five years down the road, eight weeks in an R.V. multi state tour, Virginia is in the plan. Wanted the kids to be old enough to appreciate the trip (& last that long in a R.V.) Don't think it will happen now. Here's hoping.

-- Deborah (info@wars.com), March 01, 1999.

GEE, IN Ohio, we just went to our local gunshow, wife filled out the form, guy called it in, got a number and we were outa there in about 5 minutes.

OOPS< don't tell the PC crowd, they'll ask what She needs a P89 for.

Chuck

-- Chuck, night driver (rienzoo@en.com), March 02, 1999.

Look up "Unintended Consequences" by John Ross on www.loompanics.com or www.amazon.com

I'm about 40% through it. Fascinating. History of gun control and gun use utilizing the vehicle of a novel. Starts with the Warsaw (Jewish) ghetto uprising, then the rest takes place in the U.S. (so far).

I want to thank whoever it was on this forum that previously posted their recommendation for the book.

-- A (A@AisA.com), March 02, 1999.

Stan Deyo was on Art Bell last night. He recently ordered a slingshot with a wrist support, a laser pointer, and a bug zapper off the internet. Never got the stuff. Lives in Australia. Reason he didn't get the stuff is because it was intercepted by Australian customs, AND HE GOT A VISIT FROM THEIR GESTAPO. If he hadn't been a somewhat respectable citizen, he could now be in jail.

He had a big sword, engraved with wedding stuff (some sort of military custom, I guess. He was formerly in U.S. armed forces years ago. If that had not had dulled edges, he would have been up the creek.

Make no mistake, that is the object of your rulers here in the U.S., as well -- a disarmed, docile, dumbed-down populace. All to be niggers (regardless of race) on the government plantation.

-- a (A@AisA.com), March 02, 1999.