Which was a lie.
If, that is, we can take Biden’s word for it. Which is tough without corroborating witnesses and, perhaps, a polygraph session.
Still, on the one hand, there is a signed government document — written in the usual, turgid language — on which Biden answers “No,” to the question: “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?”
Then, on the other hand, there is Biden’s own book, in which he lavishly describes his affairs with drugs, women, and easy money.
He obviously can’t have it both ways.
Or … maybe he can. These days, who knows.
The case is of interest to those of us who are accustomed to swearing on ATF form 4473 that we are not doing drugs and, hence, are given the government’s permission to own a gun,
What, one wonders on signing, is the point?
Nobody who is planning on killing a spouse or holding up a liquor store with that gun is likely to be deterred by the prospect of a perjury rap.
So, one suspects that the clause is there so that, in the event the gun is used in the commission of a crime, prosecutors can add perjury to the list of charges to be negotiated when they bargain with defense attorneys.
Hunter Biden did not hold up any liquor stores during the few days the gun was in his procession. He more or less threw the thing away, and this insouciance (doubtlessly drug influenced) is more offensive to those of us who own and use guns and treat them with requisite respect than is his telling fibs to the feds. (Which, by the way, the IRS has made into something of a national sport.)
And, by the way, wasn’t the drug use itself illegal?
If Biden had sworn on the 4473 that he was a user, could that have been used against him?
So isn’t that 4473 question itself a violation of the Second Amendment to the Constitution? According to some news reports, Hunter Biden’s attorney plans on making this argument.
Is the right to bear arms restricted to those among us who are willing to swear that we have been good little boys and girls?
Hunter Biden pled not guilty to the charges against him after arriving at court in a six-vehicle convoy. Which is pretty convincing evidence that he does not need a gun for self-protection. This is something he has in common with lot of anti-gun people, many of whom live in gated communities and hold political office — Hunter Biden’s father being one of them.
If, five years after committing the crime of lying to the government, federal prosecutors make their case against Hunter Biden and he is found guilty, what price will he pay?
Does he do hard time?
Not remotely likely. Conviction on the sole charge of lying on a 4473 almost never results in a jail sentence. Still, imagine Hunter Biden out in the exercise yard and being asked, by a hardened con, “Whatcha in for, man?”
“I lied on a 4473.”
“Come on, man, don’t bulls**t me. You think I’m a fool?”
If he tells the truth, the other cons will tell him that, first thing after he gets out, he needs to kill his lawyer.
Nobody goes down on a 4473 bust.
Say, then, that he is convicted but not sentenced to time in the crossbar hotel. Then what?
A fine, perhaps?
Well, it would have to be very big to deter Hunter Biden, given the prices he charges for his paintings.
Community service?
If Hunter Biden were to go around to schools telling his tale of woe and urging his listeners to follow a path of righteousness, would he make many acolytes?
Kids who couldn’t see through that one would be too naïve, even if they were armed, to be much danger to anyone.
A greater service to the community, to the crusade against gun violence in which his father and his political party have enlisted, would be to man up. Plead guilty, take his punishment, then go on tour.
He is a celebrity, after all. People would pay to hear him preach in the cause of repealing the Second Amendment. He could get ample coaching in the art of appearing sincere in his regret. His father could tell him who to call.
There would doubtless be a book in it, and some people might even pay good money to read it.
Meanwhile, those of us who support the Second Amendment and think of ourselves as responsible gun owners would pay a much stiffer price.
Hunter Biden might, thus, become a real good thing for the anti-gun movement.
