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Article: Gun law. (Brady Handgun Prevention Act) (Editorial)
- Article from:
- National Review
- Article date:
- December 27, 1993
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 National Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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THE ADVANTAGE that the Americans have over every other nation," wrote James Madison, "is that they are armed." Despite the passage of the Brady Act, that advantage still exists, guaranteed by the Second Amendment which Madison wrote.
The short-term goal of the Brady Act is not unreasonable. It mandates a five-day waiting period for any purchase of handguns; in five years, when the computer technology to make instant record checks will presumably exist, the waiting period will vanish. Felons and madmen will still be able to get guns, but this modest roadblock may slow some of them up, and hence prevent a handful of crimes.
But the campaign for the Brady ...