Bill Gates challenging the NRA and will use his money to promote background checks

[Oldgamer]

It's becoming increasingly apparent in our country, money—depending on the direction it's thrown—can turn the course of our history. Luckily, we have some good guys with a lot of money.

The Daily Beast reports that Bill Gates—the world's wealthiest human—has backed a Washington state initiative that requires personal background checks for all firearms purchased within its borders. Now supporters of the initiative will have $1 million in Gates' money to fund their effort.

Thanks to Washington being home to tech giants Microsoft and Amazon, other funds to support the cause have come from Microsoft co-founder and Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen, who donated $500,000, and Amazon investor Nick Hanauer, who donated $1.4 million. Washington residents will vote on Initiative 594 on November 4.

As Beast writer Cliff Schecter points out, having Gates' name behind the initiative can cause it to go viral, thanks to a combination of media attention and legitimacy, and may drive more donations their way. If the 594 does pass in Washington, that opens the gate for Gates to put his money behind similar initiatives in other states. Hey, this is the man who has saved more than a million lives in Africa over the last decade, thanks to his work to fight malaria.

The NRA, on the other hand, is working on ways to make guns "cool" again. You know, like how guns were the thing to have back when Clint Eastwood played a cowboy in the Wild West? Or when Chuck Norris starred in every other movie in the 80s? But that was decades ago, it's not like the NRA would have to dig that far back to find a movie star to vouch for them... oh, wait.

Youtube Video of the Chuck Norris Ad

Okay, well at least Chuck Norris has a meme going for him. But Bill Gates isn't exactly "cool," right? He's just a smart guy with glasses. It's not like the NRA would try to appeal to people with a similar look...

Youtube Video of the Billy Johnson Ad

... nevermind.

Link to the article


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Wow, now the NRA has someone who can actually outspend them...LOL Let us see how this goes..

 

[MongGrel]

I guess Bill might be getting worried about guns for some reason or another these days.

 

[Oldgamer]

I guess Bill might be getting worried about guns for some reason or another these days.

It looks like others in the Tech Industry seem to be on board with him on this. He may just believe that there needs to be a National Background Database Check and he like many others who have strong beliefs is acting on it. Of course he has his Billions to throw money at ads and a campaign that the NRA wouldn't be able to keep up with. So, yea, there's that..LOL

 

[rudder]

Damn those Koch brothers!!!!!

 

[trenchfoot]

Gates is a smart fella. I'm sure he's picking his battles carefully. With that said, I'd like to see the gloves come off and be able to witness a truly epic war of very expensive words between Gates and the NRA.

If Obama has any brains at all, he wouldn't get in the middle of this and taint what could be a really nice battle between corporate giants.

OTOH, I'd simply love to see Cheney go balls in on this. I really would.

HAJIME!

 

[glenn1]

It looks like others in the Tech Industry seem to be on board with him on this. He may just believe that there needs to be a National Background Database Check and he like many others who have strong beliefs is acting on it. Of course he has his Billions to throw money at ads and a campaign that the NRA wouldn't be able to keep up with. So, yea, there's that..LOL

I simply cannot fathom why a tech company executive would support an initiative to create a large sale, ahem database. No doubt the initiative will require the use of a freeware solution for the database since it would be a conflict of interest for Bill to sell his wares based upon a political initiative he's funding.

 

[CPA]

Hey, look, another rich person trying to steer legislation. Seeing as he is an ultra-liberal, I wonder if the resident libs have any issues with this.

 

[Moonbeam]

Hey, look, another rich person trying to steer legislation. Seeing as he is an ultra-liberal, I wonder if the resident libs have any issues with this.

Just imagine if the country ran by the will of the people. I would bet gun registration would pass in a heartbeat. The NRA controls the law by paying to diddle the brain defective amygdalas of conservative brain defectives via the induction of mass psychosis. Gates wants a piece of the action. The mentally defective will be swayed one way or the other. Who cares which way, no?

 

[bradley]

Too bad Washington (state) borders Canada instead of Mexico.

Just as I can imagine a Texas billionaire promoting the idea of closing our porous borders, instead of having a North American Union gradually being foisted upon us.

 

[trenchfoot]

Hey, look, another rich person trying to steer legislation. Seeing as he is an ultra-liberal, I wonder if the resident libs have any issues with this.

Not liberal but independent. However, I wouldn't have a problem at all with Gates throwing down on the opposing side of the NRA for two reasons: He represents the majority will of the population, and it's about time the NRA has finally gotten a worthy adversary to deal with instead of the scattered disorganized opposition it's been able to easily stifle up to this point.

What Gates represents is a solid rallying point for the majority pro background check advocates. I think he's really on to something that's got real legs to stand on.

 

[master_shake_]

amygdalas

dear diary,

i learned a new word today. :biggrin:

 

[nehalem256]

Not liberal but independent. However, I wouldn't have a problem at all with Gates throwing down on the opposing side of the NRA for two reasons: He represents the majority will of the population, and it's about time the NRA has finally gotten a worthy adversary to deal with instead of the scattered disorganized opposition it's been able to easily stifle up to this point.

What Gates represents is a solid rallying point for the majority pro background check advocates. I think he's really on to something that's got real legs to stand on.

Liberal->English:

When rich people donate to causes I support its good. :awe:

When rich people donate to causes I oppose it threatens democracy!

 

[bradley]

I had always thought that the plural of 'amygdala' was amygdalae.

 

[trenchfoot]

Liberal->English:

When rich people donate to causes I support its good. :awe:

When rich people donate to causes I oppose it threatens democracy!

I'm not supporting Gates OR the NRA. I like an even fight as opposed to what kind of opposition the NRA has been swatting around at will since who knows when. I consider myself as being part of an audience that's about to watch a pretty good fight between two heavyweights and may the best corporatists win.

FUN!

 

[OverVolt]

Gates doesn't have much to do with Microsoft right? I wonder how much of his money is still tied up in their stock, because Microsoft has been sucking lately in terms of how much I want to buy and use their products.

I don't think gun control is really a good fight for him to pick. I don't even mind the idea of background checks but they already have background checks so I don't understand. I mean if bill gates came to me and said we need background checks I'd be like sure! Here ya go we already had them! That'll be $1.4million, should've used Google instead of Bing for your research. :awe:

What is a "personal" background check as oppose to the regular old criminal background check? The only thing I can imagine them adding to the background check is if you've ever been admitted to a psych ward or something along those lines but then you run up against HIPAA. Or maybe Bill Gates himself can just take one look at you and decide if you can buy a gun or not... lol

 

[Venix]

I-594 is almost exclusively funded by a handful of billionaires. Anyone not concerned by that is a fool.

The media coverage of the initiative is also concerning. Outside of a single right-wing website, I haven't seen any mention of the fact that the largest law enforcement organization in the state opposes it. Nor any mention of the aspects of the initiative beyond banning private sales, like its creation of a handgun registry, or its criminalization of common activities like plinking with a friend's gun on his property.

It's unfortunate that the initiative's dishonest authors have succeeded in framing this turd as an innocuous background check law.

 

[OverVolt]

I-594 is almost exclusively funded by a handful of billionaires. Anyone not concerned by that is a fool.

The media coverage of the initiative is also concerning. Outside of a single right-wing website, I haven't seen any mention of the fact that the largest law enforcement organization in the state opposes it. Nor any mention of the aspects of the initiative beyond banning private sales, like its creation of a handgun registry, or its criminalization of common activities like plinking with a friend's gun on his property.

It's unfortunate that the initiative's dishonest authors have succeeded in framing this turd as an innocuous background check law.

So rich people are scared of guns, got it.

 

[Fenixgoon]

if you opened NICS to individuals, i think most people would go for it.

 

[Venix]

What is a "personal" background check as oppose to the regular old criminal background check? The only thing I can imagine them adding to the background check is if you've ever been admitted to a psych ward or something along those lines but then you run up against HIPAA. Or maybe Bill Gates himself can just take one look at you and decide if you can buy a gun or not... lol

Sales between private parties don't currently require a background check. This initiative "fixes" that by criminalizing private sales. If you want to sell a gun, you must bring it to a federally licensed dealer and pay him a fee (likely $35-50) to run a background check, file the mandated registration paperwork for handguns, and transfer the firearm to the buyer.

Unfortunately, the initiative doesn't just cover sales, but applies the same background check requirement to "transfers," which it defines as "the intended delivery of a firearm to another person without consideration of payment or promise of payment including, but not limited to, gifts and loans." In other words, it criminalizes handing a firearm to someone--even a friend of family member--except in a handful of circumstances involving hunting or shooting at an official shooting range.

The narrowly defined exemptions for transfers don't cover common activities like shooting on BLM land or private property, or asking your friend to fix a broken gun, or even taking possession of a gun if its owner is injured. Practically every firearm owner in Washington will become a technical felon, though I doubt that anyone will actually be arrested for these types of violations given law enforcement's strong opposition of the initiative.

After the Costco-backed liquor initiative fiasco a few years ago, I'd hope that people would be more careful about educating themselves before voting. But they probably won't be.

 

[ivwshane]

Hey, look, another rich person trying to steer legislation. Seeing as he is an ultra-liberal, I wonder if the resident libs have any issues with this.

Not liberal but independent. However, I wouldn't have a problem at all with Gates throwing down on the opposing side of the NRA for two reasons: He represents the majority will of the population, and it's about time the NRA has finally gotten a worthy adversary to deal with instead of the scattered disorganized opposition it's been able to easily stifle up to this point.

What Gates represents is a solid rallying point for the majority pro background check advocates. I think he's really on to something that's got real legs to stand on.

Not only that but gates as well as others are donating a pushing a particular cause...wait for it...publicly and not anonymously using "dark money". Unlike the Koch brothers gates has the balls to put his name on causes he believes in.

 

[Moonbeam]

I had always thought that the plural of 'amygdala' was amygdalae.

You didn't think that you liar, you looked it up. I was curious to see who would have the character to admit as much. Don't ask how I know.

 

[Newell Steamer]

The way some people are reacting, it is as if the title reads; Bill Gates challenging the NRA and will use his money to promote background checks pry your gun from your cold dead hands.

 

[cyclohexane]

Much respect. He has done so much for global health, education, and development around the world. But I doubt he can overcome the NRA on this one.

 

[OverVolt]

The way some people are reacting, it is as if the title reads; Bill Gates challenging the NRA and will use his money to promote background checks pry your gun from your cold dead hands.

Thats NOT what it says!?

 

[michal1980]

gates and liberals hate the 2nd amendment. got it.

ps idiot liberals.

NRA is a collective of gun right supporters

Gates is a singular man trying to impose his utopia on you.