UPI says that “Beto” O’Rourke’s plan would “remove all banned assault weapons from private ownership – a proposal that goes further than any presented so far by the Democratic field.”
Let’s see if UPI’s right about it being the most confiscatory (which, given the competition, would stand as something of an accomplishment). To review the proposed infringements on Americans’ right to self-defense:
“Create a nationwide gun licensing system that will ensure individuals seeking a gun undergo an assessment by law enforcement and a background check… will need to renew their licenses every five years… required to register their guns through a registry and all new handguns will be microstamped… Where a state does not have a system in place, the federal government will administer the system…” Question: What happens if an otherwise law-abiding gun owner fails to register?
“In order to receive a gun license, individuals would be required to undergo a background check…”
“mandatory buyback program for assault weapons and a voluntary buyback program for handguns… Individuals who fail to participate in the mandatory buyback of assault weapons will be fined…” Question: Only fined, not locked up in a cage? UPI indicates the cage option is supposed to happen. If it is a fine, presumably such a fine would be crippling. Never mind Grosjean v. American Press, which invalidated a discriminatory tax on people exercising another fundamental constitutional right.
“ban the manufacturing, sale, and possession of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines…” Question: What happens if an otherwise law-abiding gun owner fails to comply?
“Beto will also work with Congress to close loopholes that allow dangerous individuals… from accessing guns…” Question: That means any white men holding political views right of Bernie Sanders, right?
Let’s take a look at the non-gun sections of this plan:
“Beto will make cracking down on white supremacy a top priority… FBI and DOJ prioritize right wing violence… fight domestic terrorism…” Fact check: White men and women are under-represented in mass shooting cases, according to the actual data. Middle Eastern, Asian, Black, and American Indians are overrepresented. Hispanics, like white men and women, are under-represented.
“Identify white nationalism as a threat in counterterrorism strategy and create dedicated domestic terrorism offices within DHS, DOJ and the FBI…” Fact check: See above. Also if white men and women are less likely to commit violence, and presumably this guy’s research crack staff knows this, why a new police agency focused on them? What’s the true motive here?
“Block terrorist content online… Beto is calling on internet hosting companies to follow Cloudflare’s lead to not allow 8chan back online and supports the closure of 8chan, Stormfront and other white nationalist communities housed on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter…” Fact check: The First Amendment protects the freedom to be a racist or say racist things (and if you say such things, we are free to make our own decisions to associate with you or not). Is this proposing a new federal law? Or is it simply virtue signaling for the left?
“Require large social media platforms to create systems designed to remove hateful activities… Beto would require large internet platforms to adopt terms of service to ban hateful activities… defamation targeting an individual or group…” Fact check: Yep, he’s proposing a new federal law.
UPI says that “Beto” O’Rourke’s plan would “remove all banned assault weapons from private ownership – a proposal that goes further than any presented so far by the Democratic field.”
Let’s see if UPI’s right about it being the most confiscatory (which, given the competition, would stand as something of an accomplishment). To review the proposed infringements on Americans’ right to self-defense:
“Create a nationwide gun licensing system that will ensure individuals seeking a gun undergo an assessment by law enforcement and a background check… will need to renew their licenses every five years… required to register their guns through a registry and all new handguns will be microstamped… Where a state does not have a system in place, the federal government will administer the system…” Question: What happens if an otherwise law-abiding gun owner fails to register?
“In order to receive a gun license, individuals would be required to undergo a background check…”
“mandatory buyback program for assault weapons and a voluntary buyback program for handguns… Individuals who fail to participate in the mandatory buyback of assault weapons will be fined…” Question: Only fined, not locked up in a cage? UPI indicates the cage option is supposed to happen. If it is a fine, presumably such a fine would be crippling. Never mind Grosjean v. American Press, which invalidated a discriminatory tax on people exercising another fundamental constitutional right.
“ban the manufacturing, sale, and possession of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines…” Question: What happens if an otherwise law-abiding gun owner fails to comply?
“Beto will also work with Congress to close loopholes that allow dangerous individuals… from accessing guns…” Question: That means any white men holding political views right of Bernie Sanders, right?
Let’s take a look at the non-gun sections of this plan:
“Beto will make cracking down on white supremacy a top priority… FBI and DOJ prioritize right wing violence… fight domestic terrorism…” Fact check: White men and women are under-represented in mass shooting cases, according to the actual data. Middle Eastern, Asian, Black, and American Indians are overrepresented. Hispanics, like white men and women, are under-represented.
“Identify white nationalism as a threat in counterterrorism strategy and create dedicated domestic terrorism offices within DHS, DOJ and the FBI…” Fact check: See above. Also if white men and women are less likely to commit violence, and presumably this guy’s research crack staff knows this, why a new police agency focused on them? What’s the true motive here?
“Block terrorist content online… Beto is calling on internet hosting companies to follow Cloudflare’s lead to not allow 8chan back online and supports the closure of 8chan, Stormfront and other white nationalist communities housed on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter…” Fact check: The First Amendment protects the freedom to be a racist or say racist things (and if you say such things, we are free to make our own decisions to associate with you or not). Is this proposing a new federal law? Or is it simply virtue signaling for the left?
“Require large social media platforms to create systems designed to remove hateful activities… Beto would require large internet platforms to adopt terms of service to ban hateful activities… defamation targeting an individual or group…” Fact check: Yep, he’s proposing a new federal law.