A modest proposal?

[AndyS]

California City Votes In Favour Of Gun Insurance Mandate, First In US
Almost 23 million firearms were sold across the country in 2020 (Representational)

Los Angeles: The city of San Jose voted Tuesday to pass a law that will compel gun owners to take out insurance to cover any damage caused by their weapon, a move its mayor said was the first of its kind in the United States.
The plan, voted on by the city council, will also require weapons owners in the Californian city to pay an annual fee that will fund a non-profit group to help victims of gun violence.

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-gun-violence-california-city-san-jose-enacts-law-to-become-first-in-us-to-mandate-gun-insurance-2730723

This makes so much sense. Spread the cost of gun violence over those who buy guns! I'd like to make it retro because the gunners out there now are the ones costing the city and it would reduce the cost per gun.

Hmm, let's see, 23 mil guns across the country last year and $280 billion a year in gun violence cost works out to only $12,174 per gun sold so a "violence tax" of $13,000/gun seems appropriate. Of course that doesn't account for the 400 million guns out there now so if those are taken into account the tax drops to only $700/year. Every year. Per gun.

We could exempt the first gun because the 2nd amendment but once the 'right' is met the rest is just stuff.

Yeah, that's the ticket, put some $$ to the 'cost of freedom'.

It doesn't have to be this way: resources.

[Pantagruel]

1. "$280 billion a year in gun violence cost "

Source of that number?

[AndyS]

2. Ah, yes, the link please response.

Look for yourself.

[Pantagruel]

3. Thanks for the link.

I love this idea, attack the issue from a cost basis. I'd actually like to attack the abortion issue the same way. What's the overall societal cost were we to outlaw abortion ?

It's seemingly crass but maybe it's the only way to get the goobers attention?

[Pantagruel]

6. Currently one million abortions annually in U.S.

By definition, that's 1 million unwanted kids potentially foisted upon already overtaxed social systems by repealing Roe.

[Moostache]

4. Amen!

Now, make ammunition costs for uncontrolled uses (ie. outside of hunting allocations obtained with a hunting license or unlimited on-sight use of ammunition in licensed gun clubs or shooting ranges) and we might just save a few lives too.

(Of course, no one is up for the discussion or actions needed to address the ROOT CAUSE of a lot of GUN VIOLENCE - poverty, ecomonic stratification and racism in many forms...but a start is better than treading water endlessly...)

[Pantagruel]

5. BTW

State laws require liability insurance for autos, why not firearms?

[Hoyt]

7. Would love to see gun-humpers have to pay for each friggin gun they keep to caress.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. This is great news! The mayor had written an op-ed on it for the LA Times.

Which was where I read it.

It makes a huge amount of sense.

And it's about time!