“stronger gun-control laws, right now, if not yesterday”

Every day I see one call or another for gun control, but this one is unusual.

Bill Quick commented over at Ace about the Kenya carnage (in which Muslim gunmen massacred dozens of Christians at a shopping center):

We’ve simply got to have stronger gun-control laws, right now, if not yesterday – it’s the only thing that will stop this awful carnage!! We must have universal background checks, just as soon as possible, to begin with!!…

I hate to sound nit-picky, because I understand Bill’s desire to save the world. But Kenya already has “the most strongent of background checks,” as well as licensing. Any applicant for a gun license must apply and state reasons, and the granting of permits is not mandatory but discretionary:

It is illegal in Kenya to own any type of firearm without a valid gun ownership license as spelled out under the Firearms Act (Cap. 114) Laws of Kenya. Anyone who is 12 years or older can apply to privately own a gun. However, such persons must provide in writing to the Chief Licensing Officer (CLO) stating genuine reason(s) for their need to privately own and carry a firearm. It remains at the discretion of the CLO to make a decision to award, deny or revoke a gun ownership license based on the reason(s) given. Anyone seeking to hold a gun license must pass the most stringent of background checks that probes into their past and present criminal, mental health and well as domestic violence records. Failure to pass one of these checks automatically bars one from being permitted to own a firearm. These checks are regularly repeated and must be continually passed for anyone to continue holding the gun license. Failure to pass any of these checks at any stage, means an automatic and immediate revocation of the issued license. Once licensed to own a gun, no permit is required in order to carry around a concealed firearm.

Bill’s heart is in the right place, but Kenya already has strict gun control laws, and let’s face it, obviously they are working.

Hey, do you suppose Bill might have been sarcastic?


Posted

in

by

Tags:

Comments

5 responses to ““stronger gun-control laws, right now, if not yesterday””

  1. Bill Quick Avatar

    Wasn’t me, Eric. It was one of the DP editors, Joseph Bridges (JSB). And yes, JB’s forte is that he’s sarcastic pretty much all the time.

  2. Eric Scheie Avatar

    Sorry for the mis-attribution. When I read “My own contribution below,” I thought you were referring to what immediately followed.

  3. Bill Quick Avatar

    Nah, that whole post was put up by JB. It was him referring to “my own contribution.”

    Ah, who cares who posted it? Thanks for the link!

  4. Eric Scheie Avatar

    Oh shoot! (No, I don’t mean that!) Anyway, I enjoyed the post but you’d think after running a blog with multiple authors I would be more careful.

    Thanks!

  5. J.S.Bridges Avatar
    J.S.Bridges

    “Ah, who cares who posted it? Thanks for the link!”

    I strongly second the motion – and thank Bill for the continuing ability to be a sarcastic smart-ass publicly whenever the mood and the opportunity come together for me.

    Always good to have evidence that someone outside DP sees, understands and likes. Keep on keepin’ on, Eric.