General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: A watered down, try-to-make-everyone-happy Assault Weapons Ban is worse than no ban. [View all]HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)Banning private sales, so person to person sales have to be done through a dealer as broker. Dealer handles paperwork for background check, and holds the gun for the waiting period. Whatever licensing and registration to make that work. Big penalties for breaking the law. Since dealers would be expected to charge a fee for the service, they would stand to make a fair amount of money, and just might support it. This would reduce the numbers of guns on the streets, in the hands of robbers, gangs, teen thugs, etc...whom are commiting the majority of homicides. They are already breaking the law by owning a gun, the best way to prevent them from having a gun is to make them more difficult to get. I'm not naive to believe it will eliminate all guns on the street, but should make a measurable difference.
Suicides... are about 60% of all gun deaths. A longer waiting period may help. Better mental health care will help. Some may pick other ways of attempting to kill themselves, but perhaps survive less lethal methods.
Mass murder... are statistically small numbers, even though they make big headlines. Again, better mental health care would help. Better early warning...there was all kinds of red flags about Columbine killers, that police, school, courts, and mental health care professionals ignored. Better security at large gathering places can be improved. This will also deter mass murderers using other weapons than just guns.