From Washington Post:

If any proposals in Obama’s gun package are to have any chance of passing the House, he’ll need to win over Republicans like Rep. Scott Rigell of Virginia. He represents one of 16 districts held by Republicans that were carried by Obama in 2012 — the swing area of Virginia Beach — potentially making Republicans like him, and others from suburban and swing districts, gettable.

It turns out Rigell does support a key element of Obama’s gun package — in an interview with me, he called on the House GOP leadership to allow it to come to a vote. And Rigell, a gun owner, staunch defender of the Second Amendment, and lifelong NRA member, is seriously considering supporting a second major Obama gun proposal.

Tomorrow, Rigell and a bipartisan group of House members will introduce the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2013, which would stiffen penalties on people who buy firearms for the purpose of transferring them to someone who is prohibited from possessing one, and stiffens penalties for so-called “straw purchasers” who knowingly mislead Federal Firearms Licensees. A similar initiative has been introduced in the Senate, also with bipartisan support, and this idea is a major piece of Obama’s proposal.

The hope is that it will be very hard for the House GOP leadership to oppose a vote on this initiative, because it is widely favored by law enforcement groups and it doesn’t infringe on rights of the law abiding in any way; it only tries to prevent guns from falling into the hands of criminals.

“Law enforcement and prosecutors are telling us that there is ambiguity in the current code with respect to gun trafficking,” Rigell tells me. “They’re telling us that prosecution is difficult. It’s clear that this legislation is needed.”

Rigell suggested he’s going to continue pressing for the initiative to be allowed to the House floor for a vote, and suggested this was an opportunity for House Republicans to prove they’re interested in reaching common ground on sensible proposals.

I have no common ground with gun control advocates, and this proposed change in the law will have no effect on crime.  None.  Notice the appeal to authority, i.e., the genetic fallacy, used to invoke law enforcement, as if they have more knowledge and better ethics and morality concerning the reason for and justification of the second amendment or our God-given rights to self defense and resist tyranny.  It’s sophomoric and puerile, but we see it almost daily now when the statists are in front of the cameras.  They won’t appear in public touting their gun control measures without being flanked by men wearing patches and braids and insignia and looking all official.  I laugh when I see it.

After listening to the raving review of what an awesome stud and kingpin Rigell is in defense of our rights, we learn this.

“We’re going to fight to get this thing on the floor,” Rigell said of the proposal, which is also backed by GOP Rep. Patrick Meehan and Dem Reps Elijah Cummings and Carolyn Mahoney. “This is a great opportunity for our conference to demonstrate and to lead on a very important issue and show the American people we’re ready to do what’s right.”

Rigell added that a vote on the measure would allow Republicans to demonstrate that they don’t “see the legislative process through a prism of party affiliation,” and insisted that this kind of thing should be the sort of “common ground” both sides can agree on.

Rigell also said he was open to supporting Obama’s proposal for universal background checks, though he said he hasn’t made a final decision. “I certainly see the merits of that,” he said.

Let me make it perfectly clear.  This Congressman – Rigell – is no friend of’ the second amendment, no defender of our rights, and if he is in fact a member of the NRA, it’s mainly for appearances like most politicians.  As I have pointed out, universal background checks are the way to develop a national gun registry, a national gun registry (and in fact, all gun control) is the action of a wicked government, and a national gun registry is only a pretext for and necessary prerequisite condition for gun confiscations.  And besides the wicked nature of the laws, it isn’t clear what makes this Congressman think that Americans will have any more respect for such a law or follow its stipulations than did Canadians when they had a national gun registry.

Note to the House GOP leadership.  I expect the Senate to cave on gun control and enact wicked legislation (if left up to them).  It’s what they do.  It’s in their nature.  Remember the words of Abigail Adams to John: “All men would be tyrants if they could.”  The GOP currently controls the House, and let it be known that gun owners will hold the GOP accountable for any legislation that passes.  It’s up to you, the ball is in your court, and you’d better get your House in order.  You’ve been warned.

UPDATE: Thanks to David for the link.