Beating the NRA: Gun License Requirements , not Gun Control

[BrentWil]

We really need to try to do something with this shoting. If I were the President I would focus on Gun License Requirements , not Gun Control. These are the reasons why.

1. It works politically. The NRA always says that "the person kills, not the gun. Fine, let's go after the gun. To own a gun you should have psychological exams, background checks, and gun safety. Also, there should be a felony for someone else to use a licensed gun owners guns in a crime. That person should be held liable.

Also, make a yearly requirmdnt that firearm owners to submit to proficiency test, inventory, and mental health checks.



2. This might be more effective then simply banning any type of gun. There are always loop holes, etc

3. It works with laws that the Gun lobby has already pushed for concealed carry.

The gun lobby is strong. They have to be beat.

[BrentWil]

1. I would also note...

That the problem is guns in general, not really the type here. A lot is carnage can be done with any type of weapon. We have to make gun ownership more then simply a "right". It also has to be an obligation to not cause harm to the society with the weapon.

[Lizzie Poppet]

5. +1

Wholehearted agreement...

[BrentWil]

17. Thanks!

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. Mixed minds on some of this

What other enumerated rights do you have to have a doctor approval, training, and testing to exercise?

That said, as a firearms instructor, training is key to safety and I regularly see people scare the hell out of me.

[BrentWil]

4. The 2nd amendment says "arms"

Textually that means nuclear weapons. However we put sane restrictions on those. We should put sane restrictions on these, which means limiting who can own them with a strong license requirement.

[Lizzie Poppet]

3. Shooter and CCW permit holder here, and I agree with licensing.

I'd insist (as a dyed-in-the-wool leftist) that any such system not act as a de facto barrier to poor people making the "do I want a gun" decision, but I think that's something that can be dealt with. I strongly advocate requiring reasonable security precautions with firearms; if a criminal obtains your weapon because you failed to properly secure it, that should be a serious offense. I also like the idea of basic firearms safety requirements as a condition of issuance of a license. Gun safely isn't complicated (it can be taught to grade-schoolers), so it's not as if such a requirement costitutes a big burden.

The sticking point might be psychological evaluation. It's an inexact science and our country's mental healthcare infrastructure is already a national embarrassment. Still, this might be do-able...

[BrentWil]

6. I imagine the baseline psychological test would be rather simplistic...

But a reporting system and a better system for when there is concern may be the path.

[Lizzie Poppet]

10. Good point.

And yes, a better way to identify and help people with mental heath problems is desperately needed. Our mental healthcare system is a shambles. No disrespect to the people who work in it...the problem is that it's ignored and grossly underfunded (while med/surg gobbles up trillions...).

[BrentWil]

16. No you are right.

It's a difficult problem to get ahold of now.

[rDigital]

7. 4th Amendment. nt

[BrentWil]

8. The right to bear arms is not an unlimited right

Anymore then free speech is.

[rDigital]

9. No, 4th Amendment, not the 2nd. nt

[BrentWil]

11. Search and seizure? NT

[rDigital]

13. You got it. nt

[BrentWil]

14. Okay. Why is that important here? NT

[Kaleva]

12. In the gungeon, I've argued for similiar requirements.

That before anyone can buy a gun or even ammo, one must first pass an approved safety couse and go thru a background check. They'll then be issued an permit which they have to show before being able to buy a gun or ammo, even from a private seller. The permit would have a limited life span and to renew, the person would again have to attend a safety course and go thru another background check. If the person is found guilty of a certain crime, they could be ordered to surrender their permit.

[BrentWil]

15. Something like that is the most effective means to attach this...

Both politically and in effectiveness

[BrentWil]

18. Bump... Just because this scheme might work NT