One of Ms. Cleland's chief concerns, however, is what happens after the initial sale.
The same gun that she sells to a customer can be resold virtually without scrutiny and without a trace in five minutes, five days, or five years.
A private individual also can sell a handgun at the ever-popular gun shows around the state without paperwork or scrutiny. Federal firearms license holders and dealers at the same shows, however, do have to fill out the forms.
"It's a loophole. We do all this paperwork, but to me that is the big loophole. We're regulated to the teeth, but then we have this huge gray area where people just go out and sell them without keeping any records," Mrs. Cleland said. "It makes it look like we're controlling guns, but we're not. That's what we're dealing with, with the Virginia Tech thing. It's not the gun issue but that the system failed."
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here, Mrs. Cleland, that your statement was taken out of context, or you didn't mean what it sounds like you're saying.
Because if I thought for a minute you're endorsing for what it sounds like you're calling for, I'd be making some recommendations to my friends about where to shop...
[Via Nathan F]