MAPLight.org

The National Rifle Association has misgivings about the Foreign Felon Gun Prohibition Act of 2007, and it has a point that both anti-gun advocates and their NRA arch-nemeses ought to examine more closely. Under current U.S. law, convicted felons are subject to a firearm prohibition. If H.R. 1168 were to be passed, this prohibition would extend to individuals convicted in foreign courts. Halt the dispute over second amendment rights for a moment and examine this legislation as a judicial sovereignty issue. Do foreign courts provide the due justice that people of the U.S. expect of United States courts, and can a court decision from foreign judicial authority be satisfactorily equated to a U.S. court decision? One may certainly argue that an individual convicted of a felony in any country is certainly too dangerous to be entrusted with a firearm in the United States. Indeed, dangerous persons should not be given an enhanced ability to harm others. However, remember that not everyone in the world can be given a trial as fair as within the U.S., and using the decision of a foreign court to determine the domestic danger an individual poses to Americans becomes highly suspect. While it is arguable that there are better court systems than that of the U.S., there are certainly worse judicial processes oversees, and to pass this legislation may indeed be executing a disservice to U.S. residents in favor of foreign judicial authorities.

Reply to this comment

Reply to this comment

[ Tags ]

[ Tags ]

• HR 1168 (110th)

[ Spam ]

[ Spam ]