How about a tax on guns and ammunition to fund school security?

[modem77]

Put at least one police officer in every school. More if needed.

[Egalitarian Thug]

1. How about the fucking government fund the fucking education of our children? n/t

[upaloopa]

2. How about a tax to fund more mental health services

[Egalitarian Thug]

5. Let me broaden my previous outbreak before I leave this insane asylum for a bit.

How about our government use our money that we give them to take care of us instead of corporate thieves? This includes health care, education, basic necessities, and justice.

It does not include mass-murder, banks, insurance companies, drug companies, or wealthy parasites.

[upaloopa]

7. We have to get control away from them

[Recursion]

3. The tax on guns currently funds wetlands conservation or something like that (nt)

[spin]

4. Possibly one of the better ideas that I have read on DU in the last couple of days. (n/t)

[Fumesucker]

8. I don't really want to see schools turned even more into something like a prison

They are bad enough in that regard already.

I liked the idea too until I thought it through, unfortunately I think it's a step in the wrong direction.

[spin]

10. Well we might make the "no guns" sign larger. ...

I just heard on the news that LA is considering armed guards at middle and elementary schools. They already have such guards at all high schools.

I believe that we have to find an effective deterrent to people who chose gun free zones for massacres. Laws, and security doors are not enough.

[Fumesucker]

11. There's a saying in industry that you cannot inspect your way to a quality product

The entire process has to be focused on quality.

Putting armed guards in schools is like trying to inspect your way to a quality product while ignoring the process that created the product. I strongly suspect that passing such a tax and putting guards in school will be the end of any reform movements as far as guns and violence in society goes, the politicians will claim they've fixed things and wash their hands and nothing significant to actually remedy the real problem will be done.

If we give the politicians an easy out they'll take it and this looks very much like an easy out.

[OnionPatch]

12. As the mother of a grade-school child

I do not like the idea of teachers/principals packing hidden weapons but I do support the idea of security guards at the entrances. More attention needs to be paid to who is coming and going and there should be locks on classroom doors and/or other measures to enhance security. I don't see this as turning schools into prisons. Since these are minor children we're talking about it's not like they're coming and going as they please now anyway. And door locks don't have to be locked all the time, it would just be nice to have a door that locks if you find you need it. I think my daughter would actually feel a little safer if some of these things were done at her school.

[Fumesucker]

13. I see your point and perhaps mine is a bit too abstract

But I think giving children the idea they're only safe if there's an armed agent around is not good for society in the long run, that's not the society I wish for myself or my descendants to live in and the further we get down that road the harder it will be to get back.

I am a parent and a grandparent myself and I do understand your concerns very well I think, I hope I've explained myself well enough that you can see my point.

[AngryOldDem]

6. Absolutely.

If this country can't otherwise control its morbid fascination with weaponry, then tax the HELL out of guns and ammo, with the revenues going thusly, pick your own order of importance:

1) School safety officers.
2) Victim support funds.
3) Community mental health programs.
4) Offset costs for criminal investigations and crime scene cleanups.

Surely, a small price to pay for all the havoc they wreak on society, no?

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

9. First musket and single-shot handgun FREE. Escalating taxes after that.

I have the right to own a car. It is taxed. Yearly. And comes with potential no-warning police checks.

I have the right to own a home. It is taxed. Yearly and dearly.

Follow the strict guidelines of the Constitution - muskets are free. Should please Scalia and Clarence No-Speakum.

Heavy escalating taxes, fines, and mandatory jail sentences based upon mass destruction level of the weapon.

After all, drunk drivers who ACCIDENTLY kill people receive mandatory jail time in many states.

We are talking about people owning weapons designed to kill and kill in the worst possible way.