National Groups Weighing In On Controversial Gun Policy, Social Security Idea
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The issue of gun control has been in the news since a Los Angeles Times article hit the stands more than a week ago.
This time, the Obama Administration is suggesting that some Social Security beneficiaries be prevented from buying guns if they don't or can't manage their own financial affairs and a fiduciary does it for them.
This is a suggestion that doesn't sit well with some.
"I think the government is trying to control too many aspects of our life. It's not the way it was set up," John Kish of Green Tree said. "Those people have caretakers and fiduciaries and guardians and responsibilities of those people."
The goal is to integrate data from the Social Security Administration into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
"You see these random shootings. People are shooting up movie theaters, are they okay in the head? I mean what do you use as a determinant? You can't look at a person and figure it out," Sylvia Williams of Penn Hills said.
"It only should be held for people trained to do so like the military, police enforcement, law enforcement," Dan Hershtig of Crafton said.
Rob Conroy with CeaseFire PA says the National Rifle Association is blowing what's not even being considered a proposal, out of proportion.
"They do the fear mongering, driving up their membership, driving up their fundraising. Issuing an alert on this thing as though suddenly this is biggest gun grab ever," Conroy said.
However, the National Rifle Association says their concerns are real.
"Through this memorandum, the Obama Administration will add more than four million people to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System just because someone else is running their finances," NRA Spokesperson Lars Dalseide said.
The NRA says that not everyone who has a fiduciary has some sort of disability.
"We heard from a military widow who is her 16-year-old son's representative payee. Under these guidelines this teenager would be prohibited from purchasing a firearm once he becomes eligible," Dalseide said.
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