Here’s one for the books: The National Rifle Association and gun-control proponents actually agree on something. The common ground is in cyberspace, where the federal government has created a Web site called eZ Check. There, licensed gun dealers will be
Here’s one for the books: The National Rifle Association and gun-control
proponents actually agree on something.
The common ground is in cyberspace,
where the federal government has created a Web site called eZ Check. There,
licensed gun dealers will be able to verify whether other dealers are legal,
including the reported 4,000 gun sales-related sites on the Internet. The
intent of the Web watchdog is to ensure compliance with laws that require
firearms traders to only do business with other licensed dealers. Beginning
next year, dealers will be required to use eZ Check and to report anyone trying
to buy and ship guns without valid licenses. If the checking system works
properly, corrupt dealers who get around the law by using forged licenses will
run out of ammunition one day soon.
The NRA, which usually doesn’t like
any kind of infringement on firearm ownership, sees the wisdom of the new
system. A national spokesman, reacting to President Clinton’s comments last
weekend on the new rule, says the group supports it.
This is one of those
rare times when gun-control interests and the NRA can agree on regulating
access to firearms. In the process, both sides come out on top. The public
becomes safer from unscrupulous gun dealers, and the NRA proves it can yield to
common sense.
