According to Firearm Chronicles
Sen. Doug Jones won in Alabama six years ago because, well, he was running against a joke of a candidate, really. Oh, his opponent had a lot going for him, but he was scandal-ridden and there just wasn’t much reason for many in the state to get excited about him.
Jones, however, was inoffensive, all things considered. Oh, he was a Democrat and had some progressive politics, but he didn’t have anything close to the same baggage. As a result, he won, thus convincing every Democrat in the country that the Deep South was really in play.
Now, he’s running for reelection, and one thing is very clear about Jones. He doesn’t understand the Second Amendment and its supporters at all.
Do Americans have a right to own a gun?
Especially if they say there are “common-sense steps we can take to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.”
What restrictions, if any, do you support on gun ownership? Are you satisfied with the current federal background check system, and if not, what steps do you think should be taken to change it?
Jones: I am on-record opposing gun confiscation, mandatory buybacks or other such programs. On the other extreme, there are those in Congress who oppose even the most common-sense gun safety measures simply because they’re more interested in the campaign contributions from the NRA than they are in preserving our hunting traditions or the safety of Alabamians. I am certainly in favor of maintaining the current law that prohibits convicted felons, those convicted of a domestic violence crime, and other restrictions that have been on the books for a long time. I think background checks for gun sales serve an important purpose and should be expanded. For instance I have been to too many gun shows where I walk past a table full of new guns in their boxes but the vendor has a little sign that says “private collection” and can sell to anyone who walks up without any check at all on the purchaser. This is not only dangerous, but is also unfair to the licensed firearms seller at the next table that is required to run background checks on all purchasers. I believe there should be exemptions for law enforcement officers, individuals with a current state-issued concealed carry permit that has to be periodically renewed, and transfers between family members.
First, just because they’re in boxes doesn’t mean they’re brand new guns. In fact, I’d argue they’re not. Many collectors simply hold onto the boxes their guns came in. I’ve done that with my new firearm purchases.
Second, a table full of new guns? That would likely surpass the limit of gun sales the ATF is willing to accept.
Frankly, I haven’t seen those tables when I’ve been to gun shows. While they certainly happen, I’m simply going to argue that they’re nowhere near as prevalent as Jones tries to claim they are.
There have been proposals in Congress to extend the three-day waiting period to a seven-day waiting period; raising the minimum age on all gun purchases to 21, and strengthening gun storage laws. Do you support any of these measures, and why or why not?
While it’s not formatted as such, this appears to have been a question directed to Jones and not a response by Jones.
I do not support raising the minimum age on all gun purchases, but would support raising the age for purchasing certain semi-automatic weapons to 21. I say certain semi-automatic weapons because I would not include semi-automatic rifles or shotguns that have limited magazine capability or pistols that are semi-automatic. I support at least a three-day waiting period for the purchase of pistols and certain semi-automatic long guns as I do not believe that places an undue burden on law abiding citizens, but has the potential for saving lives, especially of those who are contemplating suicide.