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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Cornyn's Republican Proposal (backed by NRA): Under Republican legislation, the federal government may delay the sale of a firearm to someone on the watch list for up to 72 hours. During that time, if the government can show a judge there's "probable cause" that the individual is plotting terrorism, then the gun sale is denied outright.  But if the government cannot show that the individual is plotting terrorism within 72 hours, the individual gets the gun.

Dem Proposal: The Democratic bill allows the federal government to block anyone on the government's watch list from buying a gun. The gun buyer can challenge the block in court.  The government's decision will be sustained only if a "preponderance of evidence" [i.e., more likely than not] indicates that the attorney general has a "reasonable belief" that the prospective gun buyer may be engaged in terrorism.[/quote]

I do not understand what is so wrong in Dem's proposal. [u]Why should gun buying within 72 hours is critical?[/u] [/quote]

I suspect the Republicans' 72-hour time window is meant to mirror the current background check law, which says that FBI background checks must generally be instantaneous and cannot delay anyone from obtaining access to a gun immediately.  The exception is that if the FBI says it needs extra time to complete the background check, then it can delay the purchase for up to 72 hours to do more investigation.   But even if FBI cannot complete its investigation within 72 hours and block the sale, then the sale is allowed to proceed.  IIRC, this is how Dylann Roof was able to get his gun ... because the FBI did not manage to turn up an older police report on Roof within the 72-hour period.

In short, Republicans in Congress want the 72-hour time limit because then they can claim that they did not make the gun purchase process any longer than it already is now, so they cannot be criticized by Tea Party challengers as doing anything to weaken "gun rights."  [/quote]

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