Oh, look, another case of Do-Something-Itis as regards guns...
Senators Strike Compromise to Ban Suspected Terrorists from Buying Guns.
Considering the fact that you can be placed on the no-fly list without even knowing it, and having violated no law, I don't see how it's in Congress's power to deny someone a Constitutional right without any due process whatsoever. Are you going to deny them free speech? How about unreasonable search and seizure? How about the Fifth Amendment?
I do not trust this Administration to not abuse the power of the no-fly list. And if you do trust them, well, good for you, but... what about future Administrations? Would you trust Donald Trump not to abuse it? Oh, he won't win, you say. Are you sure? If you wouldn't trust an Administration you oppose to abuse a power, then it's a bad idea.
Not to mention the fact that the Orlando Asshole wasn't on a no-fly list. He passed more than one FBI background check. It's super cute that the CBS article says at the end: The FBI had investigated the gunman, Omar Mateen, in 2013 and 2014 and interviewed him several times. He was still able to purchase and use in the shooting an AR-15-style rifle and a semi-automatic pistol.
That's because he hadn't actually done anything actually wrong yet. Idiots. "Investigation" is not the same as "convicted of an actual fucking crime." It's not even the same as "indicted."
I realize that we would all like to be "safe" (whatever that means) from terrorists, but this is the world we live in: a world where someone can be a total law-abiding citizen until they go off the rails and do something completely terrible.
The last thing we need to do is hamstring other law-abiding citizens. Or fly into a hoplophobic panic and start up with "presumed guilty (and on our List) until proven innocent." Due Process should come before the fact, not after it.
Considering the fact that you can be placed on the no-fly list without even knowing it, and having violated no law, I don't see how it's in Congress's power to deny someone a Constitutional right without any due process whatsoever. Are you going to deny them free speech? How about unreasonable search and seizure? How about the Fifth Amendment?
I do not trust this Administration to not abuse the power of the no-fly list. And if you do trust them, well, good for you, but... what about future Administrations? Would you trust Donald Trump not to abuse it? Oh, he won't win, you say. Are you sure? If you wouldn't trust an Administration you oppose to abuse a power, then it's a bad idea.
Not to mention the fact that the Orlando Asshole wasn't on a no-fly list. He passed more than one FBI background check. It's super cute that the CBS article says at the end: The FBI had investigated the gunman, Omar Mateen, in 2013 and 2014 and interviewed him several times. He was still able to purchase and use in the shooting an AR-15-style rifle and a semi-automatic pistol.
That's because he hadn't actually done anything actually wrong yet. Idiots. "Investigation" is not the same as "convicted of an actual fucking crime." It's not even the same as "indicted."
I realize that we would all like to be "safe" (whatever that means) from terrorists, but this is the world we live in: a world where someone can be a total law-abiding citizen until they go off the rails and do something completely terrible.
The last thing we need to do is hamstring other law-abiding citizens. Or fly into a hoplophobic panic and start up with "presumed guilty (and on our List) until proven innocent." Due Process should come before the fact, not after it.