FBI says record number of background checks performed in December
Now that Congress is in session, you can expect your right to arm yourselves to be a hot topic of discussion.
The debate will be heated because of the school shootings in Connecticut a month ago. Marsha McCartney of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence told KTRH tougher gun laws are coming.
“I think people are not going to have short memories. I think people realize we have a gun epidemic in our country and they are going to demand change,” she said.
Some looking for tighter gun control laws want to see the ‘gun show loophole’ closed, but Mike Clark of Collectors Firearms in Houston says that isn't necessary.
“That’s such a miniscule, and I do mean miniscule, part of the gun business,” Clark said.
While Congress debates tighter gun control laws, the FBI said a record 2.8 million background checks were performed in December on people wanting to buy guns. Danny Coulson, the former Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI, told KTRH people are preparing for the possibility of tougher gun laws.
“People are concerned that they won’t have the ability to buy firearms,” Coulson said. “We live in a very lawless society right now. People want to be able to defend themselves and protect themselves against criminals and bad guys.”
McCartney agrees with Coulson on that point, but says those fears aren't reasonable.
“They fear that someone is going to knock on their door and take their guns. We all know that’s not going to happen,” McCartney explained.
Some of the possible new laws could make the names of gun owners public. A New York newspaper recently published names of gun owners in two counties in the state. Lawmakers in Connecticut want to do the same thing.
Hear the podcast with Matt Patrick and Houston's Morning News as he talks with Danny Coulson:
Stay Connected!
