Quote Originally Posted by Iris lily View Post
But I wonder, bae--are there any restrictions in gun ownership that you'd like to see happen?
Are you familiar with the many thousands of existing laws on the books? Many of which don't get enforced, except when convenient?

I'd start with cleaning up the existing mess of legislation, at the local and state levels. Then at the Federal level. Then ruthlessly enforce what remains. (Maybe stop having the Federal government sell guns to Mexican drug cartels while we are at it.)

And I'd keep violent criminals away from guns by not re-releasing them into society if we believe they are still violent. The fellow mentioned above who killed the four police officers in Lakeland in 2009 had 5 felony convictions in Arkansas, and was released from there on parole from a 108-year sentence that had been reduced to 47 years. He then violated parole several times and committed further violent crimes, was resentenced, reparoled, moved to Washington State, where he then violated his new parole and was facing multiple felony charges for violent crimes, released on bond, committed rapes while out on bond, was rebonded after his hearing for the rapes, then he decided to go kill himself some police officers. First let's try keeping these monsters off the streets, forever, then maybe we can talk to normal law-abiding citizens about why they don't have to worry about defending themselves...

Also, I'd like to see concealed-carry licenses recognized by all states, as per Article IV, Section 1 of the United States Constitution, as they currently recognize drivers' licenses and marriage licenses (unless you happen to fall in love with the wrong person of course...).

I'd like to see mandatory firearms safety training made part of the health curriculum in the K-12 school system.

I'm perfectly fine with requiring firearms not in use to be stored safely. I note that many states already require such, and every firearm I have purchased in the past decade or more has come with a lock, instructions on safe storage, and sometimes a mechanism of securing the lock to a fixed object.

I'm quite open to discussion of how we can prevent people who have mental difficulties from accessing firearms, in the context of when it is appropriate for us to preemptively strip someone of their freedoms who has not yet caused any harm...


What do you think the political approach should be in addressing new cries for gun control?
I prefer an approach based on data and civil liberties over knee-jerk emotional reactions.