Jacob Sullum looks at the costs and benefits of the gun-control bills that the Democratic House is moving this week. The latter look pretty meager:
Although “universal background checks” are usually touted as a response to mass shootings, The New York Times notes, “A vast majority of guns used in 19 recent mass shootings—including those in Newtown, Conn.; San Bernardino, Calif.; and Las Vegas—were bought legally and after the gunman passed a federal background check.” As for ordinary criminals, they are already breaking the law by possessing guns if they’ve been convicted of felonies. They evade background checks by obtaining guns through straw buyers or black market dealers who are unlikely to suddenly start worrying about complying with the law once it requires background checks for private sales.