General Discussion

Lizzie Poppet

(10,164 posts)

16. Compare and contrast? Sure.

Fri Dec 14, 2012, 02:07 PM

Dec 2012

I'd suggest starting with one critical figure: extant per-capita rate of civilian firearms ownership. You'll find that the pre-strict-control Aussie rate was a small fraction of that of the US. This is critical because the USA's enormous number of extant firearms (c. 300MM) means that strict controls that massively reduce the availability of firearms to psychopaths are almost certainly a practical impossibility. I very much doubt that voluntary compliance would exceed 10% or so, and aggressive proactive enforcement would be a disaster (even if it were remotely politically do-able).

this is why I advocate mental healthcare reform as the priority in reducing spree killings. As for the considerably larger problem of "regular" criminal homicide, I see certain gun controls as having promise (like mandated secure storage, as I mention elsewhere in the thread).

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Towards a Sane National Gun Policy [View all] gcomeau Dec 2012 OP

That's a start. nt onehandle Dec 2012 #1

Address ROOT CAUSES of violence, otherwise stuff just morphs into something else. patrice Dec 2012 #2

And also a sane gun policy. DanTex Dec 2012 #3

Agreed, e.g. trying to treat someone who is over-eating in an environment that not only patrice Dec 2012 #18

Want to know one root cause? gcomeau Dec 2012 #4

You are correct. I'm surprised you don't see that in what I'm suggesting. "Ready availability" of patrice Dec 2012 #8

Outstanding point! Lizzie Poppet Dec 2012 #6

Ahem... gcomeau Dec 2012 #11

Compare and contrast? Sure. Lizzie Poppet Dec 2012 #16

You see that hard sharp drop to ZERO right at the exact time they passed gun control? gcomeau Dec 2012 #21

Of course. Lizzie Poppet Dec 2012 #31

There's no excuse for inaction. DanTex Dec 2012 #22

Most of that sounds right. Union Scribe Dec 2012 #5

Not American, and unconstitutional. Daniel537 Dec 2012 #7

"Not American"??? gcomeau Dec 2012 #12

Point 5 is completely unconstitutional. You know, that thing about unlawful searches and seizures. Daniel537 Dec 2012 #15

Public safety gcomeau Dec 2012 #25

Let me guess you support the NDAA or NYPD's "stop and frisk". SpartanDem Dec 2012 #36

I've advocated laws requiring proper secure storage for a long time. Lizzie Poppet Dec 2012 #9

Does it make sense... sarisataka Dec 2012 #10

Well.. gcomeau Dec 2012 #17

Lol, yeah sure, not controversial at all. Daniel537 Dec 2012 #19

Example of the 5th sarisataka Dec 2012 #23

Handguns are registered and haven't been confiscated Recursion Dec 2012 #40

I also do not buy sarisataka Dec 2012 #42

You misunderstand how the Constitution works hack89 Dec 2012 #13

Nonsense. gcomeau Dec 2012 #20

If it is not an interstate crime or committed on Federal property hack89 Dec 2012 #24

The narcotics schedules are tax laws Recursion Dec 2012 #27

And they can do that because it is assumed that the drugs hack89 Dec 2012 #38

That's a good point (nt) Recursion Dec 2012 #39

Actually, it's you who misunderstands the constitution... DanTex Dec 2012 #26

Because it's political suicide... bobclark86 Dec 2012 #30

I'll take political suicide to a mass killing and suicide any day Taverner Dec 2012 #34

Because a Republican President and Congress hack89 Dec 2012 #41

Sane gun control will not kill the Dems Taverner Dec 2012 #43

And you base this on what? Certainly not opinion polls. DanTex Dec 2012 #47

The NFA uses the Federal power of taxation and the Commerce Clause hack89 Dec 2012 #37

In other words, yes, the federal government can regulate private gun sales if it wants to. DanTex Dec 2012 #46

It twisted itself into legal knots to make it happen. hack89 Dec 2012 #48

For #3 an older weapons exeception for collectors SpartanDem Dec 2012 #14

Many collectors theKed Dec 2012 #32

So the marijuana legalization referendums in WA and CO were a waste of time? hack89 Dec 2012 #28

While I don't agree with all of points 1 and 5... NCTraveler Dec 2012 #29

AND #2 should require a Psych Eval Taverner Dec 2012 #33

And the Political Party that attempts this.... bvar22 Dec 2012 #35

"And a black man will never get elected president!" Taverner Dec 2012 #45

May I add a psych eval? Taverner Dec 2012 #44

How do you intend to implement this logistically with the 300,000,000 JohnnyBoots Dec 2012 #49