Dave, I was referring to your message that I was slow to understand that there are no checks, no safety courses, just Americans making certain they don't commit a felony by selling to criminals.

I made no reference to government selling guns. I said you have no way of knowing who is a criminal, neither me across the Gulf of Maine from you or your neighbour down the street.

Under these circumstances, it's easy for your government to sell to the general public---not just gun owners but Jane Q. Public---support for background checks for gun sales, which pushes gun owners backwards to the registration cliff.

Federal checks and reporting of gun sales to BATF is registration light. Canadians are trying to assist NRA but it's hard to help an organization that thinks it knows everything, even advice from survivors who've seen all of it.

Got it now?