"Of course, this is as always exacerbated by the US being awash in insanely easy to get firearms and ammo due to our friends the gun lobby."
Of course laws about background checks are usually made at the state level, above and beyond the federal laws. BUT....
Unless you personally have purchased a handgun in the past year, I can't accept your assertion they are insanely easy to get. Same with ammo.
I have had 2 Concealed Weapons Permits since the 90s. Licensed in 36 states to carry. But even with these, and NO criminal record, I still have to go through the NICS federal check, and a Washington State local check by local PD or County Sheriff's office. The check for a pistol is currently running about 6-7 work days. For an "assault rifle" which the ignorant morans writing the laws now include Ruger 10/22 .22LR carbines, is a mandatory 10 day wait. Wouldn't want anyone going on a squirrel, crow and pigeon murder spree.
All this presupposes you can fund something for sale. My last purchase several weeks ago was a private sale shipped in from Iowa. So there was the wait for that to show up at my local FFL as well.
If something is hinky, like your name is very close to that of a known felon, there is a delay. Eventually gets cleared up in a few weeks, hopefully. Sometimes it take your birth certificate. A real PITA when it happens.
Some states are very lax. Others are downright draconian.
But the incontrovertible truth is criminals don't obey the laws.
My neighbors house was shot up a week ago. Their daughter's stalker ex-boyfriend was released from prison about a month ago. Felony something, so can't legally own/posses a firearm. He got one anyway and did a drive by at about 4:45 am. 11 shots into the house. Many missed her parents bed by inches.
https://www.q13fox.com/news/king-county-...th-bullets I was awake already, and I can assure you, the police did NOT show up in a hurry to investigate, even after the 911 calls. No sirens, no silent but speeding Ford Explorer k-9 units to look for a fleeing suspect at the nearby large park. Nothing.
It is illegal for a private transfer in Washington State to take place without background checks at a FFL location. And the ex con couldn't purchase anyway. 3 crimes just by receiving the firearm. Plus the crimes involving the drive by. The laws didn't matter.
You can enact all the laws you want, bat crap crazy people will find a way. About a decade ago, another neighbor had a stolen pick-up truck end up in their living room driven by an enraged neighbor high on something. Didn't even need a firearm. Got a truck.
If someone is intent on doing bad things, they will find a way. It's the people, not the objects.
My cousin was still carrying his hunting rifle to HS in the 80s here in Washington. It sat in an open wall gun rack in the principal's office. This happened all across the country until the 21st century. My partner told me that at her HS, it was common to see a rifle or shotgun in the behind the seat gun racks in pick-ups in the school parking lot. Also in the '80s here in Washington. Never had problems.
Yes, there are idiot firearms owners. No argument there. But oddly enough, according to numerous data sources, police officers commit more crimes involving firearms than licensed CWP owners.
