Here's why:
http://reason.com/blog/2015/10/08/4-reasons-universal-background-checks-ar
Bottom line it's a feel good measure that accomplishes absolutely nothing in reality.
Thanks for giving me this info! I'm sorry I'm late in answering, but I have a couple of follow-up questions, if you don't mind.
From the article:
3. Expanding the background check requirement, especially if it is coupled with "improved" databases, compounds the injustice of disarming millions of people who pose no threat to others but are nevertheless forbidden to own guns because they use illegal drugs, overstay a visa, were once subjected to court-ordered psychiatric treatment, or have felony records, even if they have never committed a violent crime.
Why should people in the US illegally (visa overstays) be allowed to buy guns? Or felons -- I thought that was pretty well accepted? Or crack-heads (yeah, the changing attitudes about marijuana complicate this)? Mental illness and medication is currently up for discussion, I thought. 4. Expanding the background check requirement is not the same as actually compelling people to perform background checks for private gun transfers. Many gun owners will balk at the inconvenience and expense of finding and paying a licensed dealer who is willing to faciliate a transaction....The federal government has no such registry either, so how can it possibly hope to track transfers and make sure background checks are performed? Even with hefty criminal penalties, widespread noncompliance is a certainty.
I know people don't want to have to go through a broker to sell their guns; but I really don't see that as an excuse -- especially if we don't want felons, visa overstays, crazy people, drug addicts to own guns. Why would anyone be okay with selling a gun to an illegal alien? Or someone who just got out of prison for beating up his neighbor and now wants revenge? John Hinckley Jr. is now out of stir; would it be okay to sell a gun to him? Why isn't that irresponsible?
As I just read on another thread, aren't the serial number-owner records kept by gun dealers effectively a national registry that can only be accessed by the ATF? If private sales go through a dealer/broker, the records would be updated.Consider: