At The Wall Street Journal, Kimberley Strassel correctly describes Democrats’ gun control proposals as reflexive and predictable. The so-called “solutions” being offered by Democrats have nothing to do with the recent shootings or even most shootings for that matter. But to Democratic voters these proposals sound good, and therefore to the 25 Democrats running for the party’s nomination for the 2020 presidential race, they sound good too.
Here’s Strassel describing some of the candidates’ plans to infringe on your Second Amendment rights:
Texas’ former Rep. Beto O’Rourke said he is now “open” to a “mandatory” government gun-buying program—a polite way to describe confiscation of entire classes of firearms. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker highlighted his plan to require every American to obtain a federal “license” to purchase a firearm. Responsible gun owners would have to submit fingerprints, pass an interview, and take safety courses to obtain even a .22-caliber long rifle. And they’d have to repeat the process every five years.
California Sen. Kamala Harris has vowed to ignore Congress and impose gun regulations via executive action. She’d ban certain firearm imports and sue gun manufacturers for “negligence,” among other things. As for former Vice President Joe Biden, CNN asked him if gun owners should worry that a Biden administration “is going to come for my guns.” He answered: “Bingo. You’re right if you have an assault weapon. The fact of the matter is, they should be illegal, period.”
The major proposals gaining steam are background checks for private gun sales and red flag laws. The first wouldn’t have applied to any of the recent shootings, and the second ignores the constitutionally guaranteed principle of due process.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of today’s gun control debate is that many Republicans, including the president, sound open to these measures. For that reason, I encourage you to get your guns and your training now.
