Background Checks for Gun Purchases or Transfers

I'm tempted to simply repeat what I just read on social media. Don't call them "Universal Background Checks", call them "Checks for Previous Use of Violence or Mental Illness".

In recent discussions it has become more clear to me that the urban-rural divide which is connected to the Democrat-Republican divide applies quite well to the gun use issue. In many rural areas guns are just used only for hunting or target shooting. And the weapons of choice are rifles or shotguns (long barrel). Someone who lives in the city and uses a rifle is likely to take it to a rural place for hunting. In the city the weapon of choice tends to be a pistol (short barrel) and when possible automatic or large clip. Yes, there are some crazy people who use rifles for mass shootings, but that isn't the most common use.

Thus, I suggest that any legislation related to gun purchases or transfers should be tailored to the type of weapon and its primary uses. Handgun or a large clip (Congress can choose a number, but anything over 12 bullets is my immediate sense of "large") purchases or transfers should require the background check for previous violence or mental illness or violation of gun laws. Purchase of transfer of long barrel weapons (usually rifles or shotguns) should be left as they are today.

This is a departure in Democratic political policy, but it may be the kind of smaller step which could succeed in Congress.