Hunter Biden Was Shafted by the Federal Gun-Control Quandary
REMINDER: For 35 years, you all have kept us going with your generous (tax-deductible) donations. We need your generous end-of-year support for the coming year. I hope we have earned your confidence and your support with our hard-hitting, principled, uncompromising approach toward advancing liberty. You can help us out by donating here.
************
The federal government has laid out a nice little gun-control quandary for certain people who wish to purchase a gun from a licensed gun dealer. The feds require the buyer to fill out a form as a condition for buying the gun. If a person refuses to complete and sign the form, he can’t buy the gun. Here is a copy of the form — Form 4473. The quandary laid out by the feds is contained in Question 11(e): “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted, to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?”
At the risk of belaboring the obvious, if a person answers “Yes” to that question, the dealer cannot legally sell him the gun.
The first question that arises is: Why should a person’s personal drug use be of any business to the U.S. government? Why shouldn’t drug use be someone’s own personal business?
The second question is: Why shouldn’t a person who uses drugs have the same right to keep and bear arms and the same right of self-defense as a person who doesn’t use drugs? The last time I checked, the Second Amendment did not state: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed unless a person is using drugs.”
The third question that arises is: Why should a drug user be required to incriminate himself as a condition for purchasing a gun? After all, don’t forget: just because possession, use, and distribution of marijuana has been legalized by a state doesn’t alter the fact that such actions are still illegal under federal law. If a gun
Article from The Future of Freedom Foundation
The Future of Freedom Foundation (FFF) is a leading voice in libertarian thought, tirelessly advocating for individual liberty, free markets, and limited government. Established in 1989, the FFF is more than just a think tank; it’s a hub for intellectual exploration and policy advocacy that draws on the classical liberal tradition and Austrian economics. Through insightful articles, videos, and events featuring top libertarian minds, the organization provides a robust critique of mainstream politics and policies, championing instead the principles that underlie a truly free society. For anyone seeking a principled stand for freedom and limited government, the Future of Freedom Foundation serves as an invaluable resource and an inspiring beacon.