Background Checks No Brainer

 It should be a no brainer. But, yeah, we're talking about Capital Hill here.

 We need to do everything in our power, within reason, to keep troubled individuals from getting guns. Period. That's what universal background checks for all gun purchases will do.

 No, the background checks won't stop the illegal street trade. And no, the checks can't guarantee an Uzi won't fall into the wrong hands. But if we can diminish the number of such instances, with required background checks at gun stores and gun shows, why wouldn't we?

 The "no guarantees" argument of course has been one of the more pathetic challenges from opponents to mandatory background checks. We should have been there and done that by now.

 Here we are four months after the Newton tragedy and the corrupt, greedy National Rifle Association lobby's influence still threatens to shoot down the background checks.

 The NRA's stubborn resistance to this most basic of gun violence control measures is arguably criminal, as it only helps fan the flames of paranoia in this country.

 To what extent has the NRA stonewalling -- hence, high profile media coverage -- contributed to the recent increase in gun violence reports since Newton?

 Let's do what we can. Even though the majority of Americans, some 92%, support the measure, the NRA gun lobby remains powerful and there's no telling what tricks it has concealed.

 The senate debates and votes on the Universal Background Checks bill in the next few days. Let's urge the Senate to pass Universal Background Checks for All Gun Purchases by signing the petition below.
 As the Iraq war veteran who started the petition points out, all U.S. armed service members are subject to background checks before being issued a gun. So why shouldn't the same be required of this country's civilians?

http://signon.org/sign/tell-the-senate-pass?source=s.em.cp&r_by=5564729