What is the worry in this group with universal background checks for private sales?

[branford]

20. I would suggest a gradual and far less controversial approach to UBC's.

Many gun owners (I actually don't own any firearms) are more than amendable to checking to whom they sell their guns. If registration lists are a problem, and make no mistake, they are, the government could simply open up the NICS system to private parties, instead of just FFL's.

Such a system might not be as truly universal as some would like, but it would be better than the system now. It would also help condition the electorate to tolerate more extensive checks in the future. If everything is all or nothing when it comes to national gun safety legislation and policy, the outcome will almost always be nothing.

I also believe far more would be accomplished by focusing on improving the NICS system we have, including more funds to coordinate and modernize data entry and reporting. Something along these lines might have actually prevented the Charlestown shooting and would be unlikely to trigger conservative ire, particularly because much of the focus would be reporting those who have been adjudicated mentally ill or are convicted felons, and thus unable to own guns.