- Feinstein has decided not to allow witnesses at Brennan's hearing today. I suppose that her sympathy for the goals of the drone and other assasination programs is so great that she could not do anything else. Bruce Fein wanted to testify. He has opinions somewhat different than hers seem to be. IMO the main problem with the program described in the White Paper is the lack of judiciary review for decisions to kill that are NOT made in a situation of "imminent" attack on the US or Americans. I don't think many would fault the government for strike missions conducted when attacks are actually "imminent" but the White Paper does not require true imminence for a strike to be made solely as an Executive Branch decision. A solution is available. A federal court can be created, analogous to the FISA courts to review the evidence and decide on the sufficiency of need. This should apply to all such "kill orders," not just to those applied to Americans.
- "Universal backgrund checks," "Gun trafficking," and "Mental health inputs to gun sale data bases" are emerging as legislative items that might be passable in Congress. If the advocates for these measures want something other than an opportunity to vent their scorn for those who disagree with them they need to make public as soon as possible the exact text of what will be proposed in Congress. the details will matter greatly. Does "universal" include family transfers of firearms or sale to a neighbor? Does "universal" require background checks for the loan of a weapon at a range or on a hunting trip? Will "gun trafficking" include the sale of a firearm to someone who lives across any state border? i.e., if I wish to sell a rifle to someone in West Virginia would a background check be required? Will the federal or state government be allowed to retain a record of the sale of a firearm? Will proposed law allow and require the transfer of mental health data to firearms background checks data bases? If so, what kind of data can be transferred? pl
