A federal judge in Texas has thrown out that state’s revised voter identification law, saying that changes made to the statute earlier this year did not accomplish efforts to be less discriminatory, even though the law allows the use of various forms of identification.
But what about people who want to buy firearms? They have to provide identification in order to exercise their right to keep and bear arms. Are the issues really that different?
Be sure to participate in the Second Amendment Foundation’s survey on background checks here.
According to The Hill:
“The original 2011 law, Senate Bill 14, one of the most restrictive in the nation, requires registered voters to present one of seven forms of government-issued photo ID in order to cast a ballot.
“Lawmakers responded to previous judicial pushback against that bill by passing Senate Bill 5, a revamped version of the voter ID law this summer. The judge on Wednesday issued an injunction barring enforcement of that measure as well.
“That measure created options for voters who say they cannot ‘reasonably’ obtain one of the seven forms of identification outlined by the state.”
How might that argument fare against current gun laws, especially in states like Washington with so-called “universal background check” requirements on firearms transfers?
Yesterday, Reuters noted that “U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos of the Southern District of Texas said the state did not allow enough types of photo IDs for voters, ‘even though the (5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals) was clearly critical of Texas having the most restrictive list in the country.’” The news agency also said that critics of the Voter I.D. statute have asserted the law is an attempt by Republicans “to suppress voting, including among blacks and Hispanics who tend to favor Democrats.”
That’s an interesting perspective. Think about this: Assessment of so-called “gun violence taxes” is designed to discourage the purchase of guns and ammunition which seems to please Democrats.
Or how about this: Universal background check requirements tend to discourage firearms purchases between law-abiding citizens in rural areas who tend to favor Republicans.
President Donald Trump favors voter identification laws as a way to prevent voter fraud, but liberals balk at the idea.
Liberals favor background check laws as a way to prevent criminals from getting guns, but Second Amendment activists say that’s silly because criminals don’t bother with background check laws; they get their guns illegally.
Citizens have a right to vote. They also have a right to keep and bear arms
