Here are three specific proposals to address gun violence

[Glaug-Eldare]

Last edited Sat Jan 12, 2013, 07:58 AM - Edit history (1)

without curtailing individual RKBA:

End the War on Drugs

End the criminalization of recreational drugs (inc. "hard drugs" like cocaine and meth) and instead use government resources to treat addiction. This will accomplish many positive goals. It will slash the incomes of the ultra-violent cartels in Central and South America which are devastating the countries in which they operate. They will have less money to acquire military arms (like actual assault rifles, grenades, and rocket launchers) which subsequently end up on the American black markets. Reducing the number of drug addicts in the USA will reduce crime in general, increase the number of employable people, and increase quality of life in general.

Make NICS checks mandatory for private sellers

I think I've found a way to make this Constitutional -- amend the NICS law so that FFL access is contingent on the dealer state's creation of a background check system for private sellers. The details will be up to the individual states to determine, but if they do not have a compliant scheme in place by some deadline, FFLs in that state will not have access to NICS, and retail sales will no longer be possible there. If a state refuses to regulate private sales, then no FFL in that state will be able to legally stock any firearm not manufactured in and marked for use exclusively in that state.

Expand availability of mental health services

Since the 80s, access to mental health treatment has been dismal. It is expensive, humiliating, and difficult to find. Expansion of care options could be accomplished by amending the PPACA, or new legislation establishing a network of state and federal treatment facilities. Like addiction treatment, this would have the happy consequence of reducing a broad spectrum of crime committed by people with untreated mental illness who don't have the means to reach or pay for treatment in the present "free market" system.

I think these three measures fit comfortably into progressive policy, and would find much weaker opposition than proposals that attempt to address technology instead of behavior. Whaddyathink?

11 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	I like all three ideas.
	8 (73%)
	I like some of these ideas, but not all.
	3 (27%)
	I don't like any of these ideas.
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[Loudly]

1. Those are great. But proliferation of the implements themselves is what must be stopped.

[Eleanors38]

2. I support these, but the NICS notion seems to compel the states...

and may be seen as subterfuge to get around the Commerce Clause. Better IMO is to open NICS, then launch camaigns in the various states to require individuals to take the NICS or a reasonable substitute. You might get a lot of pro-2A folks behind this, and the controllers would find out if they have the stuff to wage a grinding campaign like the big dogs do, instead of relying on elites, pols, & MSM to tote the water.

[ManiacJoe]

4. Agreed. There is no need for duplicate systems.

Open NICS up to everyone.

[Glaug-Eldare]

5. That's the gist of my proposal,

except that it gives state governments wide latitude in how private sellers can conduct NICS checks. Where, what, how much, would all be up to them, within reason -- it would not be acceptable to require sellers to travel to the most remote corner of the state and pay a $500 fee at an office that's only open once a year. The only requirements I would place are that the checks must be mandatory for all sales, and they must be affordable and convenient.

As for stretching the commerce clause, what doesn't? If you want to participate in interstate firearms trade, you need to follow the rules -- I don't think these rules are outside the scope of the commerce clause, since they're intended to either A) prevent imported firearms from being sold to prohibited persons or B) prevent the importation of firearms altogether if their non-FFL sales will not be regulated.

[iiibbb]

3. some

(1) legalize pot to deescalate drug related gun violence.
(2) eliminate mandatory minimums for drug possession, let those people out of jail, then create mandatory minimums for violent crimes with multipliers for contact crimes and those committed while in possession of a firearm.
(3) address education and illiteracy to alleviate poor on poor gun violence.
(4) subsidize mental health care for people who may commit these acts (they're always seem to be on somebody's radar).
(5) better background checks... better linkages between mental health and violence disqualifies and the background checks... however there must be a decent appeal process.
(6) intensify the background checks for first time purchasers.
(7) give private sellers access to the background check system (I think a lot of people would do this if they had access to it in a private party sale).
(8) I could see a monthly purchase limit, but you can apply for a waiver. This would perhaps address straw purchases-- which is the main thing a 1 or 2 gun a month limit would be trying to address.