Questions,questions...

**nell67** · 01-10-2013, 04:41 PM

SO, the president and Mr. Biden are considering a "universal" background check ,and strengthening Mental health checks ,just how is that going to work in the case of "aliens" who may legally buy a gun in the US IF they have lived here for 90 days and have an address in the state they are applying in,question here is will the background checks run by the Government pick up on crimes,etc. that the person may have committed BEFORE coming to the US? What about if they were treated for a mental disorder/epression before coming to the US??? Will these "checks" pick up on things that occured BEFORE this person moved to the US?

**BENESSE** · 01-10-2013, 04:57 PM

IMO, non US citizens shouldn't be allowed to purchase guns. Period.

**nell67** · 01-10-2013, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by BENESSE

IMO, non US citizens shouldn't be allowed to purchase guns. Period.

I agree,but sadly that is not the case according the the ATF website http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unli...liens-purchase

May aliens legally in the United States buy firearms?An alien legally in the U.S. may acquire firearms if he has a State of residence. An alien has a State of residence only if he is residing in that State and has resided in a State continuously for at least 90 days prior to the purchase. An alien acquiring firearms from a licensee is required to prove both his identity, by presenting a government-issued photo identification, and his residency with substantiating documentation showing that he has resided in the State continuously for the 90-day period prior to the purchase. Examples of qualifying documentation to prove residency include: utility bills, lease agreements, credit card statements, and pay stubs from the purchaser’s place of employment, if such documents include residential addresses.See also Item 5, “Sales to Aliens in the United States,” in the General Information section of this publication.[18 U.S.C. 921, 922(b)(3), (d) and (g), 27 CFR 478.11 and 478.99(a)]

**Cement Blonde** · 01-11-2013, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by nell67

SO, the president and Mr. Biden are considering a "universal" background check ,and strengthening Mental health checks ,just how is that going to work in the case of "aliens" who may legally buy a gun in the US IF they have lived here for 90 days and have an address in the state they are applying in,question here is will the background checks run by the Government pick up on crimes,etc. that the person may have committed BEFORE coming to the US? What about if they were treated for a mental disorder/epression before coming to the US??? Will these "checks" pick up on things that occured BEFORE this person moved to the US?

That exBrit, Martin was just asking about this.

**ryaninmichigan** · 01-11-2013, 04:34 PM

I thougt we already had a background check? How would this have stopped the shooting in Newtown?

**nell67** · 01-11-2013, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by ryaninmichigan

I thougt we already had a background check? How would this have stopped the shooting in Newtown?

We do RIM,we do,but my question is,if someone from out of the country can come in and in 3 months have the "right" documents get a gun because they can pass a background check and a mental illness check,what good is the checks they are running if those people were guilty of crimes in their home country or deemed mentally ill,would checks run in this country pick up on what happens in another country that would cause and American citizen to be denied purchase of a gun.

And I agree,how WOULD these checks have stopped the Newtown shooting,the simple and truthful answer is,they would not,the young who committed this crime never under went these checks.

**Geek** · 01-11-2013, 05:22 PM

The OP has not distinguished between legal permanent residents, which would be able to purchase a firearm, tourists, or illegal aliens, who would not be able to purchase a firearm. One of the problems with having any sort of rational discussion about immigration is the failure to make those important distinctions.

Let's say you have a person who was born in Switzerland and has been living in the US as a legal permanent resident for 10 years and has not broken any laws. Is there any reason to deny that individual the opportunity to own a gun and go to the range or go hunting?

Instead the question brings to mind illegal aliens with criminal records in their home countries. It is highly prejudicial to law abiding immigrants to lump these groups together.

**nell67** · 01-11-2013, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Geek

The OP has not distinguished between legal permanent residents, which would be able to purchase a firearm, tourists, or illegal aliens, who would not be able to purchase a firearm. One of the problems with having any sort of rational discussion about immigration is the failure to make those important distinctions.

Let's say you have a person who was born in Switzerland and has been living in the US as a legal permanent resident for 10 years and has not broken any laws. Is there any reason to deny that individual the opportunity to own a gun and go to the range or go hunting?

Instead the question brings to mind illegal aliens with criminal records in their home countries. It is highly prejudicial to law abiding immigrants to lump these groups together.

I clarified that when I posted in my second post,the body of which is a question and answer taken from the ATF website,the link to that page is given. My belief is that if one wishes to purchase a gun in this country,one should be a citizen of this country,legal or illegal alien,it makes no difference to me,I do not beLIEve that background check ran in this country is going to pull all records of an individual from another countries past. Just because an individual has lived in this country for 10 years and not committed a crime in THIS country,does not mean that person did not commit a denial offense in his/her country,or that they have never been treated for a mental illness that would keep a citizen of this country from purchasing firearms.

I posted a question in the OP,I did not state my opinion in that OP.