U.S. does not have universal background checks for gun purchases. For example, criminals can simply go on the Internet and purchase guns to use in committing crimes, with no background check being performed. The NRA opposes such checks. And the "punish the criminal" approach to gun crime means let the crime occur and then react. Let more gun massacres occur and then punish the assailant. Would it be better to do something to prevent massacres from occurring in the first place? You bet it would.