Congress and State Assemblies rack up many hours trying to conjure up laws and regulations that are supposed to be used to protect the citizens of their jurisdictions. We taxpayers shell out millions of dollars a year to fund them to do this job. Committees are formed and thousand of man-hours are spent to pound out the details that help them make these laws. They gather evidence from which they issue reports called findings. Supposedly, they look into every angle concerning the subject they are going to mold into law. So, why can a felon who can't have a gun purchase ammunition for a gun? In fact, a three year study by The State Commission of Investigation (SCI) found the in one store alone, over 45,000 rounds of ammo was sold to felons.
This is just one very good example of lawmakers at work that leaves us, their constituents, scratching our heads in disbelief. It is bad enough there were studies and debates that chewed up the legislative clocks; we spent thousand of dollars to study the flaw over a period of three years. Now, in Jersey it is illegal for a felon to have a gun the instrument that fires the bullets that maims and kills people. Yet, they can buy as many bullets a year they want. While this commission was watching this atrocity in action, did anyone bother to say, "Hey, there's something wrong here." Let's face it Mrs. Felon didn't stop Mr. Felon who was on the way the door and say, "Hon, if you're going out could you stop at the store and pick me up a quart of milk and several hundred rounds of bullets?" What thrills me the most those 45,000 rounds were sold from one store alone. It's likely that they had more than one location under watch and are too embarrassed to reveal the overall number purchased. As they have not exposed the store name the fact they sold that many it should not make it hard to find. Just look for the shop with the sign "Felons Welcome" under the flag. How did those transactions take place? I imagine the some of the conversations must have been real mind blowing. The owner looks up to a see a familiar face from years past, "Hey Bob, it's been a long time, where you've been." The customer smiles, "Been away, just got out for good behavior. Lou, do you think you can hand me a couple boxes of 44s. It's a present for my Mom."
As I stated before this is just a very good example of our governing bodies workmanship and detail in lawmaking. There are many more laws like this clogging up the books. Unfortunately, we will only find out about when something bad happens and there is nothing that can be done abut it because it falls into a loophole. Of course, that will give some political opportunist a chance to ride to the rescue on his faux white horse.
One disturbing piece of information seems to not be mentioned. Did anyone bother to follow up on the felons buying the ammo? I hope this commission didn't assume these people were just stocking up to sell them as collectibles on Ebay. Better yet, maybe we should sanction another three year study to see where they went. What's another few hundred thousand or so going to hurt.
