General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "Gun culture" begins with parents. Any law that doesn't restrict parents won't change gun culture. [View all]branford
(4,462 posts)In fact, despite the hyperbole, myth and dueling talking points, firearms are an extremely regulated product, particularly in light of the fact it's constitutionally protected. The desire for more regulation does not obviate thousands of pages of federal, state an local laws and ordinances.
The pertinent issue is whether additional regulation (at least that passes constitutional muster) will have any demonstrable effect on firearm crime (and assuming it could garner sufficient support for passage).
For instance, many demand universal background checks (and I personally support the proposals with certain minor reservations). However, in virtually every instance of the recent mass shootings which generated the demand for UBC's, the shooter would, and did, pass NICS background checks, or in the case of Adam Lanza (who would have passed a check), his mother easily passed the check and then he killed her and stole her guns. The only instance where a proper background check might have denied the shooter a weapon was the Charlestown massacre this summer. However, Roof passed the check because of flaws in paperwork and communication between a federal background check worker and state law enforcement, not due to some perceived legal shortcoming.
Similarly, despite the fact that ALL rifles account for a tiny percentage of gun crime, and the DOJ's own research couldn't conclude that the 1994 Assault Weapons ban was in any way effective (and Lanza's rifle complied with CT's own AWB), the demand for a new AWB is still a primary point among gun control advocates. I don't understand how it could be seen as anything other than a solution looking for a problem or, more likely, a transparent attempt toward a gradual gun ban, with the accompanying lack of trust ruining any chances for gun control compromises with the opposition.