Better communications by police could have reduced gun-sales di...

Up-to-date data is the key to making sure that the instant background check system keeps guns out of the hands that shouldn't have them.

[SimpleMindedTwit]

I said it once, now again, your tax dollars at work with Uncle Eddie at the helm! Never was like this before!

[American]

THERE GOING TO TAKE MY GUNS!!! WAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

[hmmm]

So let me get this straight, the police won't be able to do background checks either during this period. So if a someone who has a history of violence or is a registered sex offender the state police won't have that information available to them in the event they suspect someone of something? Let's say they pull over a registered sex offender with a child that appears to be sleeping in the back seat.
Help me understand pelase.

[DHard3006]

Funny how the gun haters never want to take people that are to dangerous to be trusted with their rights off of the streets of America. Instead gun haters would rather infringe on the rights of law abiding citizens in a moronic attempt to keep firearms away from the dangerous criminals the gun haters want out of prison.

Why is it that the gun haters cannot give you the data or the number of arrest from the background checks?
After all if a dangerous criminal is refused a gun when they attempt to purchase one they have once again violated the law. Why are these dangerous criminals not arrested? Why do the gun haters allow these dangerous criminals to once again violate a law then go free? When did it become the law abiding citizens job to enforce the laws?

[Drmmkr]

I am a proud responsible gun owner who would have no problem registering all my weapons! Because I have nothing to hide and I don't view owning my guns as a right, but a privalege..I guess I must be a gun hater
It amazes me of the mentality and power of the gun lobby that shutting down gun sales for a mere 5 days has caused such an uproar! New roads and bridges are built and buisnesses are shut down and inconvienenced for months and hardly anyone blinks an eye.
If you try to buy a gun and are not "qualified", you are arrested...you are not set free. And as for statistics..ask any law enforcement officer and they well tell you that they totally support background checks and the statistics are readily available on numerous data bases as to how many illegal gun purchases were prevented in Pa. and nationwide. AND these same data bases will tell you that many crimes that involve guns were committed by criminals who obtained guns from irresponsible gun owners who did not have their guns properly "stored" and thusly were stolen, not purchased. The NRA gun finatics should police their own ranks first!

DHard3006 wrote:

Funny how the gun haters never want to take people that are to dangerous to be trusted with their rights off of the streets of America. Instead gun haters would rather infringe on the rights of law abiding citizens in a moronic attempt to keep firearms away from the dangerous criminals the gun haters want out of prison.
Why is it that the gun haters cannot give you the data or the number of arrest from the background checks?
After all if a dangerous criminal is refused a gun when they attempt to purchase one they have once again violated the law. Why are these dangerous criminals not arrested? Why do the gun haters allow these dangerous criminals to once again violate a law then go free? When did it become the law abiding citizens job to enforce the laws?

[Alex]

No matter which side of the issue you may be on, what is totally ridiculous about this is the length of time involved.
Now, I'm not a systems administrator, or network genius, but I know enough to get around.
I find it stunning that, from all appearances, they are "upgrading" the old system, rather than mirroring/importing the data onto a new system.
All of the details, problems, fixes, etc., could be worked out, on new hardware, off-line, then the switch over is, well, exactly that. Simply change the network routing to connect to the new system.
This would minimize the system downtime, for both law enforcement and the retailers.
Instead, with five days of downtime involved, it appears, to me at least, that they are taking the old hardware and upgrading the software involved, then restoring/importing the database. At least, thats the impression I get.
Of course, I could be wrong about this, but something just doesn't seem right, to me. Now, if I, a lowly armchair computer guy, can figure this out, why can't the State?

[FilthyMcNasty]

Drmmkr wrote:

I am a proud responsible gun owner who would have no problem registering all my weapons! Because I have nothing to hide and I don't view owning my guns as a right, but a privalege..I guess I must be a gun hater

No, just someone who doesn't know the difference between a right and a privelege.

Drmmkr wrote:

It amazes me of the mentality and power of the gun lobby that shutting down gun sales for a mere 5 days has caused such an uproar! New roads and bridges are built and buisnesses are shut down and inconvienenced for months and hardly anyone blinks an eye.
If you try to buy a gun and are not "qualified", you are arrested...you are not set free. And as for statistics..ask any law enforcement officer and they well tell you that they totally support background checks and the statistics are readily available on numerous data bases as to how many illegal gun purchases were prevented in Pa. and nationwide. AND these same data bases will tell you that many crimes that involve guns were committed by criminals who obtained guns from irresponsible gun owners who did not have their guns properly "stored" and thusly were stolen, not purchased. The NRA gun finatics should police their own ranks first!
<quoted text>

And yet YOU posted no statistics to back up your claims. Typical fanatic.

[Mr_Conservative]

Responsible firearm owners do not want felons getting guns. It is a major inconvenience, more of a pain in the gluteus maximus. I wish other states would get their act together. The idea is that you can get an instant background check and not be hampered in exercising your 2nd amendment rights. With overzeaous BATFE enforcement for minor bookkeeping errors and closing down 1/3 of the gun shops, they do not need any more hassles. It is a wonder they are still able to conduct their legal business to sell a legal product.

[crimefighter]

Drmmkr wrote:

I am a proud responsible gun owner who would have no problem registering all my weapons! Because I have nothing to hide and I don't view owning my guns as a right, but a privalege..I guess I must be a gun hater
It amazes me of the mentality and power of the gun lobby that shutting down gun sales for a mere 5 days has caused such an uproar! New roads and bridges are built and buisnesses are shut down and inconvienenced for months and hardly anyone blinks an eye.
If you try to buy a gun and are not "qualified", you are arrested...you are not set free. And as for statistics..ask any law enforcement officer and they well tell you that they totally support background checks and the statistics are readily available on numerous data bases as to how many illegal gun purchases were prevented in Pa. and nationwide. AND these same data bases will tell you that many crimes that involve guns were committed by criminals who obtained guns from irresponsible gun owners who did not have their guns properly "stored" and thusly were stolen, not purchased. The NRA gun finatics should police their own ranks first!
<quoted text>

Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.

[dlyn]

OK--So the bridges in America are in need of inspection and repair. Tonight we are announcing that all the bridges you must use to get home from work will be closed for the next 5 days. How dare you whine about inconvenience and lack of notice when lives are at stake !
“Even though the upgrade has been in the works since 2001, the state police didn't send letters informing the commuters about it until Aug. 8. If there had been better communication, the state police could have coordinated the shutdown in a less disruptive way.�
Fact is, if it were any other segment of the public being affected, you Libs would be complaining. This is nothing but another petty harassment of people you despise. The shameful thing is you don’t have the gumption to admit it.

[Stu Strickler]

To the poster that thinks firearm ownership is a privilege: It's a right! It's none of anyone's business how many firearms you own.

[Jack Lewis]

To correct some misinformation in the letters posted to date: The period of time during which gun sales will not be approved is Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. until Sept. 6 at noon; law enforcement will have access to all prior criminal history information during that period, with the exception of updated arrest information for the period of the upgrade; during the past six years, the average number of requested gun sale approvals from dealers to system on Labor Day was 385, compared to 990 for the second Monday in September, 987 for the third Monday in September, and 1,035 for the fourth Monday in September. Obviously, Labor Day is not a busy time for gun dealers; anyone can make a purchase during the period in question, but will not be able to obtain the weapon until after noon Sept. 6; State Police is upgrading a system created in 1981. Large amounts of data must be entered into the new system and it must be tested thoroughly to ensure its accuracy. The computer consultants told the department how long the upgrade would take; the reason for not approving gun sales during the upgrade is to ensure that no one arrested during the period of the upgrade can purchase a weapon during that period. This is for the safety of the public.

[Jack Burton]

Drmmkr wrote:

AND these same data bases will tell you that many crimes that involve guns were committed by criminals who obtained guns from irresponsible gun owners who did not have their guns properly "stored" and thusly were stolen, not purchased. The NRA gun finatics should police their own ranks first!
<quoted text>

Locking your front and back door when you leave your home is now somehow "irresponsible" when a mope breaks in?

So If you lock your car and take your keys with you, and some thug pops the window and uses the car for a bankrobbery, the car owner is "responsible"?

[John Doe]

Rain checks!, some people have traveled hundreds of miles for certain sales, only to get there to find out the PICS system is down!

[dlyn]

Why do you guys keep trying to change the subject? No one has opposed upgrading the system. The issue is that it be done in such a manner as to minimize disruption of LEGAL activity. Part of that includes advance notification and selection of a time that effects the least amount of people.

[DHard3006]

Drmmkr wrote:

If you try to buy a gun and are not "qualified", you are arrested...you are not set free.

Well gun hater apparently you do not have the stats on the number of arrests. Do you know why? Because there are no arrests.
Hey gun hater who does the arrest? The FFL holder is not a certified law enforcement person. They have no power to arrest people.

Drmmkr wrote:

AND these same data bases will tell you that many crimes that involve guns were committed by criminals who obtained guns from irresponsible gun owners who did not have their guns properly "stored" and thusly were stolen,

Hey gun hater I guess you blame bank robberies on the “irresponsible” bank owner and employees.
Hey gun hater I guess you blame rape on the “irresponsible” rape victim.
Hey gun hater I guess you blame car theft on the “irresponsible” car owner.
Hey gun hater I guess you blame child abuse on the “irresponsible” child.
Hey gun hater I guess you blame home invasions on the “irresponsible”home owner.
If the gun haters would start demanding that people that are to dangerous to be trusted with their rights should not be released from prison the crime problem would go away. Oh wait the gun haters do not want to stop crime. The gun haters need dangerous people on the streets to push the gun hater agenda of banning the right to bear arms.

[Fargo007]

Why didn't they simply fail over to the Federal NICS system which is FREE????

There is also existing PA law which says they CANNOT INTERFERE WITH A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. Once again, an agency out of control attempts to legislate from the patrol car. I'm attaching it below. It's amazing that the police don't follow the law they are supposed to be enforcing.

§6111.1. Pennsylvania State Police
(2) In the event of electronic failure, scheduled computer downtime or similar event beyond the control of the Pennsyl­vania State Police, the Pennsylvania State Police shall immedi­ately notify the requesting licensee of the reason for and estimated length of the delay. If the failure or event lasts for a period exceeding 48 hours, the dealer shall not be subject to any penalty for completing a transaction absent the completion of an instantaneous records check for the remainder of the failure or similar event, but the dealer shall obtain a completed applica­tion/record of sale following the provisions of section 6111(b)(1) and (1.1)(relating to sale or transfer of firearms) as if an instan­taneous records check has not been established for any sale or transfer of a firearm for the purpose of a subsequent background check.(Chgd. by L.1997, Act 5(1), eff. 6/21/97.)

[dlyn]

I notice you give the sales data for the weeks AFTER Labor day, but not before. What is the sales data for say mid July ? If it has been in planning for years and is URGENT, why was it not done then ? In any other activity it is normal to pick the LEAST disruptive time--not just a time that is LESS disruptive than the next week would be.

[Examiner Reader]

There is absolutely no reason for this "shutdown". If law enforcement has access to the "old" database to check criminal records, then so should firearms retailers. That the state police were unable to find a vendor that had the capability to reduce downtime to a few hours is not the fault of those free citizens who wish to exercise their fundamental RIGHT (not privilege) to own firearms. This is probably another "test" by Gov. Rendell to see how much gun owners will tolerate. This time the "shutdown" will be for a few days. Next time, perhaps the "shutdown" will be for a few weeks, then months, then years. We should have zero tolerance for these anti-gun rights shenanigans. Criminals do not purchase their firearms from retail sources. The just released FBI 15 year study of law enforcement mortality showed that criminals primarily steal firearms from homes, have straw purchasers get them (who liberals never seem to want to prosecute), or buy them on the black market, where they are only "slightly" harder to buy than drugs!
Sales at retail stores and gun shows to criminals were statistically insignificant.

[DHard3006]

Drmmkr wrote:

If you try to buy a gun and are not "qualified", you are arrested...you are not set free.

Well gun hater apparently you do not have the stats on the number of arrests. Do you know why? Because there are no arrests.
Hey gun hater who does the arrest? The FFL holder is not a certified law enforcement person. They have no power to arrest people.

Drmmkr wrote:

AND these same data bases will tell you that many crimes that involve guns were committed by criminals who obtained guns from irresponsible gun owners who did not have their guns properly "stored" and thusly were stolen,

Hey gun hater I guess you blame bank robberies on the “irresponsible” bank owner and employees.
Hey gun hater I guess you blame rape on the “irresponsible” rape victim.
Hey gun hater I guess you blame car theft on the “irresponsible” car owner.
Hey gun hater I guess you blame child abuse on the “irresponsible” child.
Hey gun hater I guess you blame home invasions on the “irresponsible”home owner.
If the gun haters would start demanding that people that are to dangerous to be trusted with their rights should not be released from prison the crime problem would go away. Oh wait the gun haters do not want to stop crime. The gun haters need dangerous people on the streets to push the gun hater agenda of banning the right to bear arms.