Constitutional Law

Obama Admin. asks applicants whether they own guns

As noted at the Volokh Conspiracy, question 59 on the questionaire that applicants for appoint fill out reads:

"Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? If so, provide complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever lapsed? Please also describe how and by whom it is used and whether it has been the cause of any personal injuries or property damage."

It's traditional to ask at least some questions, meant to guard against appointing someone with a background you don't know about. But as a friend pointed out when I worked in DC, it's not wise to ask for written answers. If the applicant has something embarrassing in their past, they sure as heck are not going to want to write it down and sign it! I don't know if transition committees are subject to the various federal records acts (meaning documents have to be saved, and will be available to the Administration after this one). But given all the DC backstabbing *within* an administration, who wants to pass around paperwork revealing every potentially embarrassing fact of their life?

Full post as published by Of Arms and the Law on November 13, 2008 (boomark / email).