This is one of those rare weeks when I find myself in agreement with the Los Angeles Times editorial board.
In observance of this singular event, tonight I’ll be in the backyard with my telescope to see if Halley’s Comet has returned too.
Even more surprising, I find myself in agreement with the Times on the issue of gun control.
I doubt the Times noticed the irony, but their editorial opposing the use of the no–fly list as part of background checks for a gun buyers came out on Dec. 7 — Pearl Harbor Day.
That sneak attack was the culmination of the spectacular failure of government–to–government arms control. The Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and the London treaties of 1930 and 1936 were all designed to control the growth of naval power among the five allies that won World War I.
World War II proved it didn’t work.
Just as the Democrat’s repeated gun control efforts have failed to control guns or criminal gun users.
In this particular instance the Times and I oppose use of the no–fly list because “The United States doesn’t generally punish or penalize people unless and until they have been charged and convicted of a crime.
"In this case, the government would be infringing on a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution — and yes, like it or not, the right to buy a gun is a constitutional right according to the U.S. Supreme Court.”
The reason Obama wants to incorporate the no–fly list into the process is because the list is opaque and he controls the process for adding names.
His administration can arbitrarily add entire classes of individuals without any congressional input or oversight.
It’s not much of a leap of logic to see this lawless administration deciding that people on the list should be banned from owning guns.
It’s the amnesty executive order all over again, except this time instead of amnesty it’s condemnation.
Even if Obama resisted the temptation to abuse the list, the current criteria for putting individuals on it is so vague that for a while the late Sen. Ted Kennedy was banned from flying. It took his office and all his power three weeks to have his name removed from the no–fly list.
You can imagine the chance the average citizen would have to rectify a mistake that got his name added.
Using the no–fly list as another reason to prevent gun ownership is a bad idea that shouldn’t get off the ground.
If Obama wants to put the list to good use in the meantime, he can try to find out why 72 employees in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that are on the no–fly list are still employed by the government.
Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan. He is president of The Reagan Legacy Foundation and chairman of the League of American Voters. Mike is an in-demand speaker with Premiere. Read more reports from Michael Reagan — Go Here Now.