http://www.goodbyeguns.org/index.html
Some people are so silly you have to respond to them. Here is the text of the email I sent him. I'll let you know if he responds.
Some people are so silly you have to respond to them. Here is the text of the email I sent him. I'll let you know if he responds.
Dear Sir:
I am writing you in response to the petition on your website http://goodbyeguns.org. While you propose an interesting theory, I would like to offer a counter point, and bring to your attention some facts you may have overlooked.
The following are some quotes from your website, with my comments added.
"We, the people, are tired of having our schools invaded by psychotic youngsters."
Therefore, as parents and teachers we resolve to become more involved in our children's lives and less in our careers and social lives. We will raise them up to be good Christians and productive members of society.
"We, the people, are tired of being robbed of our political leaders by some psychotic with a gun or a rifle."
I agree. However, the police and/or secret service cannot be everywhere. Therefore we as citizens should take responsibility for our country, and be alert for suspicious activity, as our President has suggested.
"We, the people, are tired of passing through metal detectors on our way to our courts and our governmental buildings."
And why should we? In the case of the courts, there is a security issue, because of the criminal element. However, if the criminal new he was facing a room full of armed people he would likely not chance it. As for government buildings, why should a government fear its people? That is a question that needs to be asked.
"We, the people, are tired of being victimized by gun carrying criminals."
Therefore, we resolve to take responsibility for our safety, and equip ourselves with a means of defense. We accept that the police can't be everywhere, and that the opportunistic nature of the criminal is to strike when help is absent.
Now to address your individual points:
1. Create a one-year period for a government buy back.
According to a National Institute of Justice survey, in 1994 there were approximately 192 million legally owned firearms in the United States. At an average fair market value of $500, that would require 96 billion dollars in additional government spending just for this one program. Are you willing to sacrifice the economy and the national debt to further your agenda?
2. Prohibit and criminalize sales.
This was attempted in 1919 with prohibition. Consult any history book for the result. For a more gun specific example, look at Great Britain which has passed laws similar to what you suggest. In the time period since passing, violent crime in that country has increased 300%. That is their statistic, not mine.
3. Seize and destroy any gun after enactment without compensation.
There are two obstacles to this. Mainly the Fifth, and Section 1 of the 14th Amendments.
4. Prohibit and criminalize possession of a gun.
I refer you to my answer to Item #2. Common sense would indicate that criminals by definition break the law. Therefore, any new law will be promptly ignored by them.
5. Provide exemptions for Governmental law enforcement, armies, and bona fide museums.
Who decides what is a bona fide museum? Will we be hearing about the "museum loophole" years from now? Governmental ownership of all firearms has been tried before. In Communist China, Bosnia, and Germany in the late 1930's. Again I will refer you to the history books for a more detailed account of the results.
Sir, you speak throughout your website of personal liberties. But at the same time you simultaneously call for onerous tax increases, and denial of rights granted by at least three amendments to the Constitution. Your arguments are at cross-purposes and should be re-examined.
Simply put sir, you are wrong.
Thank you.