Some Surprising Opponents Crop Up Over NY Social Media Checks

By Tom Knighton

We all know that a New York state proposal that would require gun buyers to hand over their login information so officials can examine their social media history prior to allowing them to purchase a firearm is a bad idea. We know it on every level of our being. There’s no part of this that’s remotely a good idea.

And yet, it’s a proposal.

However, it’s such a bad proposal that there are some surprising opponents to the measure.

Free-speech watchdogs and even some gun-control advocates have raised concerns about the bill, which would require handgun applicants to turn over login information to allow investigators to look at three years’ worth of Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram postings. Google, Yahoo and Bing searches over the previous year also would be checked.

Licenses could be denied if investigators uncover threats of violence or terrorism or the use of racial or ethnic slurs. The process would be the same for five-year re-certifications.

…

Even likely allies raised concerns.

Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence staff attorney David Pucino said while he shared the legislator’s goals, he thought there were better alternatives, such as another bill that would create a court order of protection to bar …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms