In this forum I keep reading lots of strained and strange logic attempting to prove the unprovable: That mass shootings have nothing to do with guns.
Total nonsense. The killer-cretins use guns, large capacity detachable magazine semi-auto guns, nearly 100% of the time. The problem has a lot of causes, and one of them is the guns. No logic, no matter how convoluted, will change that. Way too many dead and mangled kids at the hands of incompetent dimwits simply because in the end, when the dimwits decide to go, massive, simple, lethal firepower is available to them. I’ve believed this since long before Sandy Hook.
Too many on this forum keep hiding their heads in the sand, pretending it isn’t our problem. It is.
Of course nothing will stop everything. That’s no reason not to try. And I do worry about the slippery slope – it’s the only logic that actually works. But I’ll risk that, and I’ll go pretty far:
No one under age 21 allowed to own firearms. Under 21 in possession must be accompanied by responsible card holding adult over 21, for target shooting, plinking, hunting. No exceptions. Why? Same reason Avis won't rent them a car, and insurance companies charge them 3x what they do the rest of us - they do stupid stuff way out of proportion to their numbers. Unfair to some? Yes. Old enough to die for your country but not allowed firearms unsupervised? Yes.
Universal registration / background checks. Firearms owners would have to have a firearms ownership card. The card must be issued after a background check and training, not to exceed 8 hours including range training. No renewal needed. No firearms without a valid card. No transfer to anyone who didn’t have a valid card. All transfers recorded centrally. Felony and possibly some misdemeanors would result denial or temporary or permanent revocation of your card (and your guns). BTW, if the gov’t ever outlaws all guns, a central registry will be the least of our worries.
No detachable magazine semi-auto firearms, except pistols where the magazine is contained in the butt.
No magazine capacity (internal or external) over 10 cartridges. All existing mags to be surrendered or permanently modified to a 10 round limit. Exception for .22 rimfire tubular fixed magazine rifles.
No bump stocks or similar.
Then end. We've done our part, and should go no further. After these concessions, if the problem remains it becomes a social issue.
All this sounds terrible but it isn’t – we’ll actually give up a little, but not much. We’ll still be able to shoot, hunt, play, compete, and defend ourselves. If you can’t defend yourself with 10 (+1), you better hire guards.
Which part of ‘shall not…’ don’t I understand? The part that says I have to pretend that children shot dead have nothing to do with guns. And the part that says we gun owners have no duty admit the obvious, nor to act.
What about bombs, knives, clubs, cars, etc. etc.? What about them? Deal with them when they become the weapons part of the problem. For now they are very rarely used. Why? Because the guns now available are so much cheaper and/or easier, and far more efficient.
NRA member for over 30 years, and I’m staying with them. I don’t agree with everything, obviously.
I’ve many more guns than most of you, yes, including ARs. I love to shoot, I have my own range. I quit counting reloaded cartridges at 220,000 rounds.
We have to help.
(I don't think arming teachers is such a great idea. I don't oppose it in theory, but I suspect the main effect would be a lot of misplaced ccw guns lying around the nations schools. Continuous CCW is a pita, as many of you know.)
