General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDo not renew the AWB -- ban semi-automatic weapons
The AWB was a political sideshow that did nothing substantive, but made people fee better. If you actually want to help with gun crime:
1) Implement a gun licensing scheme, requiring a mental health screening, etc. You must then transfer all guns through a FFL who insures the license is still valid.
2) Invalidate any license upon filling a psychotropic drug. The individual can get it reinstated by either showing the drug wasn't for mental health reasons (ie Lamictal for seizures, not for bipolar) or automatically after 2 years of no psychotropic medication. In the case of involuntary commitment or a judgement of mental incapacity, 5 years.
3) Make the gun owner criminally liable for any crime committed with their gun (if its lost, stolen, sold illegally, etc.)
4) Ban semi-automatic pistols and rifles. Notice I never said "assault weapons" or AR-15's, or any thing similar. I want guns that are dangerous banned -- not just ones that look dangerous. This ban may take a while to implement (possibly decades) as I do not advocate knocking on peoples doors.
I would still allow for lever action, bolt action with magazines, revolvers, pump action, and semi-auto shotguns. None of these have the same dangers as a semi-auto pistal / rifle. However, the AWB distinction is useless. My brother's Ruger .223 hunting rifle with a nice walnut stock looks exactly like my grandfathers 30-06, and both of them are functionally equivalent to a AR-15 (well the 30-06 takes a bigger round)
Recursion
(56,582 posts)And I think we would have a better result if we tried it.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)We require a special driving license for over-the=road truck drivers, and they have to be certified at a level far beyond the level expected of normal car drivers. They are also required to maintain detailed logs of their driving.
I see absolutely no reason why we wouldn't expect the same from people who insist on owning these killing machines that really have no valid use in sport.
bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)Somebody could break into your house while you are away, steal your gun, even if it is packed away properly. Then use the gun a month or two later in another crime. That would be punishing someone for being a crime victim.
Sgent
(5,857 posts)not automatic. If you can show the gun was in a safe that was cracked, I wouldn't have a problem. However, if you left it in your nightstand then yes, you should be held responsible at some level.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)Obviously a court could decide if there were any mitigating factors where the owner might not reasonably be expected to know that the gun had fallen into somebody else's hands. That is what courts do. We have a system for that. It works almost all the time.
And if a person is in possession of a gun not registered to them, they should be heavy penitentiary time. It is outrageous to lock up people for smoking a little weed and not have any real consequences for irresponsible ownership of killing machines.
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)The diagnosing/prescribing doctor must ask if you have a firearms license, just as they must ask if you have a drivers license when you are prescribed medication or diagnosed with a condition that makes it dangerous for you to drive. They communicate their diagnosis to the state who then invalidates the drivers/firearms license.
I disagree with banning semi-autos. I may possibly agree with 10 round magazine limits. It takes a little training to learn to change magazines very quickly. But most criminals and mass killers don't bother to train. You can do a great deal of damage with a drum magazine on a shotgun.
I would suggest banning bullet proof vest sales to civilians. Give leo's and legally armed citizens some kind of leverage.
Pass federal level laws requiring the securing of firearms. This means a safe or other type of locking container. Make it hard for someone to grab your guns and commit crimes. And yes - absolutely - you are responsible for any crimes committed if your guns are grabbed through negligent storage.
Kaleva
(36,404 posts)I would also add that before anyone can purchase a gun or ammo, they must first attend a recognized gun safety course.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)Kaleva
(36,404 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)The only exception I'd feel good about would be collectibles that had been permanently prevented from firing.
Logical
(22,457 posts)I still do not see the mass shootings ending.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)But we will never get there if our guns remain so wildly out of control. Certainly there are other things we have to address besides the guns.
ManiacJoe
(10,136 posts)and still saying exactly what you mean to say.
However, I am not sure what you mean by this:
> lever action, bolt action with magazines, revolvers, pump action, and semi-auto shotguns.
> None of these have the same dangers as a semi-auto pistol / rifle.