There is one thing not mentioned I like about having a background check, it is a lasting incentive for folks NOT to do Felon things. It is a lasting punishment, and though some people reform, most Felons don't (and are repeat offenders).. It is something that sticks in their gills even if they murdered someone and got out of jail 4 years later due to liberal judges. Is is always fair to the rare truly reformed person, well no, but they should of thought of that before hand, If I can go 40+ years without so much as a speeding ticket, they can go without selling drugs.
And at the risk of ticking a few off here, I don't care for people taking drugs with guns either. Now days it is too easy to get a doctor to give a prescription for anything and everything (heck, with the right doctor some have avoided the draft). My back hurts nearly constant too, I get headaches too and a dozen other things, but I don't smoke something that alters my senses and shoot a gun.
That said, the right to defend oneself comes from God, not the government. If you are of right mind, if I was a free former felon, I probable would break the government's law in keeping a gun at home, but I damn sure wouldn't advertise it. But I won't cry if every crack house ex-Felon still selling out of their home is arrested and given extra time because of illegal guns. The problem is how many folks now days have no problem risking being a felon, because they don't see any real time doing bad stuff, it is worth the risk. Make it "not" worth the risk to the wiser, and at least losing gun rights (and voting) is a long term deterrent.
There goes the Christmas cards... but there it is.