Why is no one outraged over 60 Minutes last night?

[serryjw]

The SOB's frighten America with all this terrorist Bushit, they sell the country down the river and did you hear what Ashcrack did? (even I didn't know this).

quote........
"The real question here is we do not know who has these terribly destructive rifles," says Diaz. "No one in the United States government knows who has these guns."

"Aren't records kept when a gun is sold," asks Bradley.

"The answer is no," says Diaz.

Under the Brady Bill, sales records of guns used to be kept for 90 days, which enabled the FBI to check the names of gun purchasers against terror watch lists.

A year ago, at Attorney General John Ashcroft’s initiative, Congress reduced the period of record keeping from 90 days to 24 hours. That’s the policy that’s in effect today.

-------end quote......
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/06/60minutes/main665257.shtml

[ohioliberal]

1. This administration is just

doing more and more to make this country a target for any terrorist.

[Nikepallas]

2. I haven't listen to that show since the Bush papers were not shown on my

CBS station.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. So much for keeping us safer. Wonder how many people know that.

"A year ago, at Attorney General John Ashcroft’s initiative, Congress reduced the period of record keeping from 90 days to 24 hours. That’s the policy that’s in effect today."

[charlie]

4. I wonder how many know about

Ashcroft blocking the FBI from using purchase records to see if any of the 1000+ suspected terrorists he'd rounded up had bought a gun. It's okay to hold these guys without charge or trial, but he draws the line at invading their privacy w/regard to their weapons-buying habits :crazy:

[oldhippie]

5. I wouldn't get to excited about that last statement..........

since it is a blatant mis-representation and falsehood. I'm in the business, so I know a little about this (BATFE law). Fact is really that the statute that Congress passed stated that the "instant check" records be destroyed "immediately" after the check. The Justice Dept originally took that to mean 24 hours. Our old buddy Janet Reno decided, on her own, that 90 days would be better (prompting a number of lawsuits in different venues with conflicting results.) Ashcroft issued a decree returning the records retention to 24 hours, as in the original guidelines and in tune with the Congressional statute. Congress did nothing at Ashcroft's urging, contrary to what the last statement says.

And besides, Ashcroft's actions were about the "instant check" records, not sales records as implied. Sales records (BATF Form 4473) are kept on every new purchase for at least 20 years. After the initial purchase there are NO federal requirements for keeping track of sales between private parties nor any background checks.

There's plenty enough stuff to get outraged about concerning this administration without falling for half truths and mis-representation by ignorant reporters.

[Redneck Socialist]

7. Thank you, you saved me a lot of typing.

Regardless of your position on gun control there is so much misinformation (disinformation?) surrounding gun laws that any sort of rational discussion of the issue is extremely difficult.

[serryjw]

12. Thanks for the clarification

Based on the quoted statement you can see how I could be upset. I feel better now that we do know bought these guns for 20 years.

[MichiganVote]

6. Sorry. So much outrage. So many issues. So little time. Saving myself

[TreasonousBastard]

8. Actually, I was bemused by the whole thing...

even though I'm on the anti-gun nut side.

Everything's about the terrorists now. So, yeah, a terrorist could get one of these things and do some serious damamge. But they can get a lot of other stuff and do serious dmage, too. Seems they have already. You can't get on a plane with a Swiss Army knife any more, so BFG's seem kinda out there as a worry.

We've got our own militia types, crazed assasins, and serial killers to worry a lot more about, but none seem interested in figuring out how to carry a five foot long gun around without getting too much attention.

Dunno how these things actually work in practice as hunting weapons, but that kind of firepower could come in handy if you're face-to-face with a very pissed off moose.

[sevendogs]

10. Not used for hunting...

They really are for shooting targets. They are a sport gun, long distance rifle target shooting. Not used for crimes. Really.

I have a relative who does this for sport. These things are huge. Not carried around and aimed at people or animals, only paper targets.

[Redneck Socialist]

11. A few knuckle heads have (did, do?) use them for hunting,...

off the top of my head I think it was happening in Colorado and the state turned around and banned their use for hunting.

I'm relying on my not so good memory here so don't quote me on this. I'll try and find a cite later.

Edited for clarity.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi sevendogs!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[slackmaster]

16. They're great for taking out pumpkins at ridiculously long ranges

I've fired one. It's no problem hitting a gourd at 500 yards or more.

[corbett]

9. They Put The Hippo In Hypocrisy

Charlton Heston got his posthumous wish.

At least Moses is happy!

[slackmaster]

14. Even when they were kept for 90 days those records were of limited value

All they could tell you is 1) That a background check was conducted against a particular individual and 2) Whether or not the person was approved to buy a firearm.

At no time does a NICS record contain any information whatsoever about the type of weapon, not even whether it is a handgun, shotgun, or rifle.

The purpose of NICS is to allow expiditious sale of firearms to people who are not known to be prohibited from buying them. If someone is on a "terror watch list" I would hope that the FBI or other LE agencies would already be keeping tabs on that person's whereabouts.

As a matter of fact, the law requires records to be discarded immediately. There is no provision for the FBI or anyone else to use them for fishing expiditions.

[mattclearing]

15. People watched 60 Minutes? Did you not know 24 was on?

:D

[indie_voter]

17. Not enough time in the day

This administration has done so much to be outraged over. I personally have outrage fatigue.

When I hear things like this I can only think "of course they did"

The segment highlighted how shallow Ashcroft's committment is to fighting terror.

One can hope our fellow Americans wake up, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Image over substance seems to be the rule of the day.

I did email my dem senators/congresspeople to ask WTF?!!!

[w4rma]

18. That news is over a year old. Also, I dont have a problem with not keeping

records on gun transactions.

[txaslftist]

19. Uh...cause no one watches it anymore?