The so-called gun control crowd can be hard to read. Do the peddlers of these discriminating policies and ideas actually believe that they’re going to make the U.S. safer? Are they straight up proponents of disarmament because they know the American gun owner is the last thing standing between complete totalitarianism in the world and some level of freedom? Based on the idealistic way some disciples of anti-civil rights policies seem, let’s consider it a mix of both. The reintroduction of a bill creating more barriers for Federal Firearms License holders to sell firearms might be cut from the cloth of the former, rather than the latter.

Congressman Jason Crow, D-Colo., reintroduced the Firearms Retailer Code of Conduct Act. The last time we reported on Crow introducing the bill, he rolled it out in October. Not this year. No, this year Crow decided to use the anniversary of the Columbine shooting, April 20, 2023, as a political springboard, and to distastefully exploit the blood shed 24 years ago.

Today, Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), former Army Ranger and member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, reintroduced the Firearms Retailer Code of Conduct Act, legislation to create a code of conduct for firearm retailers, prevent the diversion of firearms into the illegal market, and help promote safer business practices to keep illicit guns out of our communities. Crow’s legislation is being reintroduced today, 24 years after the Columbine High School massacre which took the lives of 12 students and one teacher.

The Firearms Retailer Code of Conduct Act is endorsed by gun violence prevention organizations including, Brady, Orange Ribbons for Gun Safety, Newtown Action Alliance, March For Our Lives, and Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence.

“Twenty-four years ago today, a horrific mass shooting at Columbine High School claimed 13 lives. Twenty-four years later, gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the US. We are failing our children and failing our communities,” said Congressman Crow. “I’m introducing this legislation because it’s a commonsense measure that would require firearm retailers to be trained to identify potentially unlawful firearms purchases and reduce the flow of illegal guns into the market. Our work is far from over.”

This is just disgusting. Not only is Crow exploiting death, he’s also sharing the inaccurate and purposefully wrong “statistic” that so-called “gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the US.” Reading Crow’s remarks, we have to wonder which camp he really is in? The one that wants to completely squish liberty, or the camp that believes the bull excrement that’s coming from his own mouth. Further, the statement that Crow was an Army Ranger, as if that’s supposed to make him some sort of “credible messenger” on such policies, is garbage. 

What’s this majestic bill supposed to do? From the rundown on Congress.gov in the place of the bill text:

As of 04/24/2023 text has not been received for H.R.2753 – To require federally licensed firearms manufacturers, importers, and dealers and their employees to undergo training to be eligible to sell a firearm, to require a notice to be posted at retail firearms locations that describes the signs of unlawful firearms purchases, to require such licensees to maintain physical security elements to prevent theft and a minimum level of business liability insurance, and for other purposes.

Crow’s release does not list the actual measures that the bill would implement, should it become law. From 2021’s reporting on the bill, which it’s probable that it’s going to be the same, we have the following:

What’s the quick take on the bill? Looking at the punch list from the release, this is the quick and dirty:

The Firearm Retailer Code of Conduct Act:

• Takes commonsense action to require gun dealers and their employees to undergo training every two years to identify fraudulent or potentially unlawful firearms purchases;
• Instructs gun dealers and their employees to refuse the sale of firearms to straw purchasers, gun traffickers, intoxicated persons, or those at risk of harming themselves or others;
• Mandates retailers’ posting of notices indicating the signs of fraudulent or potentially unlawful firearms purchases and displaying contact information to report suspected illegal transactions at all points of sale; and
• Requires that federally licensed firearms dealers maintain business and liability insurance throughout the life of the business.

We’ve heard the “gun safety” arguments from the progressive left, and I’m not buying or biting. Mandating training only creates barriers. Compulsory training is not one that is usually 1) embraced and 2) effective. The federal government, much like the states that mandate training for ownership/carry, should create a culture and program that would foster the desire for people to seek training. Non-compulsory training is always, by the numbers, going to be embraced over compulsory training. Instead of mandating, encourage. Those who wish to take it, may. Those who wish to leave it, may.

This measure is not likely to see its way to the Biden-Harris desk. Many of the feel-good, “I’m doing something” measures that our Congresscritters introduce won’t make it out of committee, nevermind find full passage. The notable thing with this bill is its reintroduction, and reintroduction is part of the paving of the way to  becoming law. We’ll keep an eye on this bill and report back if there are any appreciable advances.