General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: All hope is lost. DU gun debate shows that America isn't ready for real reform. [View all]Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)A question:
My uncle has a collection of hundreds of guns. Could collectors keep the firing pins of all these guns in a vault at a firing range, with the ammo, and bring their chosen guns to the range to fire that day, replace the pins and use them, then leave the pins at the range when they go home? This way, if thieves stole the entire collection, they wouldn't get any functional guns.
I'm especially pleased with your suggestion that ammo at home should be limited. This could have greatly limited the damage done by A. Lanza, since he was unable to buy anything for himself and had to use the ammo on hand in his home. Target ranges should have vaults with safe deposit type boxes for each user to keep most of their ammo in.
I know that a lot of rural people shoot at outdoor ranges that are not really commercial enterprises. I've seen it suggested that the ammo and/or guns should be locked up in vaults at these sites, with a group of gun owners sharing responsibility for the vault and vouching for each other as part of the group. Maybe the ammo vaults at these ranges could require 2 adult members to be opened.
I would hope that all guns sold in government buybacks are melted down. No recycling them back into American homes. We need to reduce the numbers of guns out there.
In order to prevent the next Sandy Hook, if we look at the Lanza situation, gun licensing would need to take into account the mental stability of all members of the household, not just the legal gun owner. I know this goes beyond what many have suggested, but it does seem like a necessary safety measure that we have to discuss.
Also, it's not just strictly mental health that must be clear. The recent case in Maine of a 74 year old landlord shooting and killing 2 teenagers in a dispute over snow clearing of parking spaces involved a gun owner who had had a stroke. Just as driving a car becomes hazardous for many older people, the physical health losses we suffer in old age make owning a gun more dangerous as we get elderly. Doctors will need to be able to revoke gun licenses, as they can revoke drivers licenses today.
I'm far from ready to give up hope that America can dramatically reduce the gun deaths we currently suffer. If we want to do it, we can. Other countries have shown us the way.