Everything you need to know about the most recent gun-control debate (but didn’t have anyone to ask), Part II

Still, how do you prevent the deaths of innocent people? More immediately important, how do you prevent attacks like those in Tucson, at Virginia Tech or Columbine — the ones that politicians continually use as reasons for expanded gun-control laws? How do you stop those determined to commit violent crimes with firearms in the first place?

“Well there’s little we can do to stop that,” said an aid for one of the Democrats pushing for gun-control legislation. “We can’t stop somebody from selling a gun in an alley out of a paper bag. But the folks at the gun shows, they’re not looking to break the law. They’re just working within the law, and if the law required them to do a background check, we’re sure that they would do it.”

A conversation with an aid of another gun-controlling Democrat went in a similar direction.

“It’s impossible to keep all guns … even this legislation isn’t air tight,” said the aid.

TheDC pressed. How would more legal restrictions on legal gun-owners affect criminals and their illegal possession of firearms?

A moment of silence.

“Did you ask this question [at the press conference]?

Yes, actually. In between the questions from some frantic, half-crazed woman. The aid wasn’t the first political flak to take interest in TheDC after the question was asked; a question that didn’t seem that weird. Did it?

“I just remember the question,” said the aid. “I sort of think it sort of speaks to a larger issue of guns in society. I guess the question is, if legislation affects people who don’t follow the law. I think, ultimately, more guns on the street isn’t the answer.”

But the problem — which Democrats kept hammering home during the press conference — isn’t about guns that kill people. It’s about the people that kill people.

“We have to be clear, we’ve been over and over again, this is not about telling law-abiding citizens that they can’t have a gun,” said Virginia Rep. Jim Moran at the Tuesday Bloomberg press conference. He continued, saying, “It’s about saying that some people in this country should not be anywhere near a gun and we have to close these loopholes.”

The second Democratic aid, still being pressed, said, “I guess the simple answer is, there is no place for them in society. What purpose do they serve?”

At least the aid didn’t say it was a “common sense” answer.

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