I donated to the Brady org, and they sent me the full text of their policy re...

I donated to the Brady org, and they sent me the full text of their policy recommendations. Sharing here. All seem exceedingly reasonable to me:

Policy recommendations:

Our top policy priority is closing the massive hole in the background check system that enables 40% of all gun sales to take place without background checks, not only at gun shows, but also with the added anonymity of the internet. As a result convicted felons, domestic abusers, the dangerously mentally ill and other prohibited purchasers can easily purchase guns with no questions asked. Calling it a “gun show loophole” trivializes the problem. “Universal background checks” on all gun sales would have a clear positive impact on public safety, and is also clearly compatible with the rights of law-abiding citizens to own guns. These policies also tend to enjoy the greatest public support. For example, 92% of Americans and 74% of NRA members support background checks.

Examples of additional policies that should be implemented include:

Strengthen the background check system that already exists to ensure, for example, that mental health and other relevant records are in the background check system and readily available within the states.

Improve the ability to identify dangerous people who present the most risk, especially among the mentally ill.

We should provide legal mechanisms to prevent those dangerously mentally ill who present the most significant risk from possessing guns, while carefully protecting the rights of those who are mentally ill but do not pose a risk.

Other dangerous people who are currently not prohibited from purchasing firearms include: terrorists, violent misdemeanants (not involving domestic violence), violent juvenile offenders, and some substance abusers.

Support law enforcement by giving them the tools to crack down on gun trafficking and prevent straw purchases.

Limit the number of guns that can be purchased in a short period of time.

Make gun trafficking a federal offense.

Allow the ATF to conduct more than one spot inspection a year for dealers (currently prohibited).

Eliminate legal loopholes that unfairly protect dangerous practices that contribute to gun deaths and injuries.

Guns are the only consumer product exempt from federal product safety regulations, so feasible safety features are not required.

Negligent gun companies are the only businesses shielded from state civil justice laws, so corrupt gun sellers are not held accountable.

Crime gun data is the only special industry exception to public disclosure under FOIA, so officials, law enforcement and researchers are kept in the dark.

Department of Health and Human Services agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control, are prevented from studying guns as a public safety risk, so important public health data on policies and programs to prevent gun injury are unavailable.

ATF is prevented from requiring basic store inventories that would prevent thefts and expose corrupt dealers, and minimal punishment and excessive evidentiary hurdles make it unduly difficult to punish traffickers and corrupt dealers.

Limit the availability of military-style weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines that are designed for mass killing.

These policy recommendations are presented to our elected leaders and to the American public who can work together to make our nation safer.

Originally posted on Facebook on January 11, 2013.