Second things first
The gun debate has raged on for too long. We have to move forward. To that end, I shall give a few ideas for modernizing US law. We must deal with assault rifles as well as all firearms.
NRA nonsense notwithstanding, the Second Amendment was about militias and the right to keep and bear MUSKETS.
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed"
Not easily reloadable cartridge fed firearms. Neither wheel guns nor magazine loaded pistols or rifles. Seriously, if anything more advanced than this was part of the writing of the Second Amendment, then someone from the future must have been present!
The Militia part has it's own set of questions - not what I will cover.
And since the wording of the Second Amendment says "A well regulated Militia", let's get on with regulations:
We should pass some laws for our current times. Reasonable, fair, and with teeth.
So, I propose:
No weapons sold to anyone under 21. Period.
No semi-automatic pistols, rifles, or shotguns to anyone under 25.
No fully automatic weapons sold to anyone under 30.
Now anyone under these age limits will be able to use them under adult (proper age as above) supervision. Never alone. Yeah, under 21'ers may "own" them, but can not possess them until they reach the proper age.
Now for the sticky bits...
Anyone violating the above is subject to a mandatory minimum 5 year jail sentence. And their weapons confiscated and destroyed.
A corollary is that anyone with firearms must keep them under lock and key. If some one below the minimum age has access to these weapons, the owner will be fined $10,000.00 and their weapons confiscated and destroyed. And if a crime is committed, they are subject to a mandatory minimum 5 year jail sentence as well.
Concomitant with the passage of the above laws are a few more necessary statutes.
ALL firearm sales must be handled by a registered gun dealer. Even between friends. ALL.
There is a one week waiting period minimum before the sale can proceed. Maybe it should be a month... There must be a very thorough background check by the ATF. Any history of violence will stop the sale. Any mental issues will stop the sale.
There must be a suitable gun safe in the purchasers home. Proof will be required.
There will be required training before the purchase can go through. Specific to the firearm purchased.
And it must be re-registered every 5 years. And proof you still have it as well as the gun safe.
And on to the painful part...
ALL firearms in the US must be registered within 5 years. No exceptions. Citizens, Police, Federal Agents, Military. Every. Single. One.
ALL must be stored in an approved gun safe or armory. Every. Single. One.
Any unregistered firearm will subject the owner to a 5 year minimum mandatory prison sentence. And the confiscation and destruction of all the person's firearms. As well as being unable to purchase any firearms in the future.
A weapon with no serial number bumps this to 10 years.
Any registered firearm used in the commission of a crime will subject the registered owner to a 5 year minimum mandatory prison sentence. And the confiscation and destruction of all the person's firearms. As well as being unable to purchase any in the future.
Any weapon stolen will result in the confiscation of all the person's firearms with a review of their gun security. The firearms can not be returned, nor can the person buy more, until the stolen weapon has been recovered. And not used in the commission of a crime. Failure to report the theft may incur prison time. Stolen will also mean anyone (friends or family) taking a weapon with out supervision.
Any weapon stolen from a broker, distributor or store will have their ability to sell firearms revoked and all unsold weapons confiscated to be returned to the manufacturer or destroyed.
No company shall be allowed to sell a gun safe that does not meet criteria that prevents lock picking, hacking or guessing of the combination. It needs to be bolted down and damn hard to force or grind open.
Any law enforcement professional that looses a law enforcement or personal weapon shall be immediately terminated. And their personal weapons confiscated and destroyed. Law enforcement weapons in vehicles must be theft-proof.
A person must qualify in the operation for each type of weapon they wish to purchase. They must also re-qualify every 10 years.
You may not purchase more than 2 semi-automatic pistols or rifles per year. At the time of the purchase of a 5th, and every subsequent 5th weapon, an inspection of the gun safe or armory will be required by the ATF.
All weapons recovered in the commission of a crime must be rendered un-fireable & un-repairable within 1 week of ballistics tests by the police agency.
These ideas come from the fact that there really are no home made firearms used in almost all crimes. They come from large manufacturers. They were all purchased by some one or some entity. They are used by the purchaser in a crime or they have been stolen from a purchaser and used in a crime. They are stolen from gun stores, citizens and police. If this does not become more difficult, crimes by firearms can not be stopped or even slowed down.
This is meant to stop the misleading "it is easy for criminals to get guns, so don't regulate lawful gun owners.
These laws above do not penalize lawful gun owners, only careless ones. Buy all you want, just keep the rest of us safe!
Let the foaming & hatred begin!
NRA nonsense notwithstanding, the Second Amendment was about militias and the right to keep and bear MUSKETS.
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed"
Not easily reloadable cartridge fed firearms. Neither wheel guns nor magazine loaded pistols or rifles. Seriously, if anything more advanced than this was part of the writing of the Second Amendment, then someone from the future must have been present!
The Militia part has it's own set of questions - not what I will cover.
And since the wording of the Second Amendment says "A well regulated Militia", let's get on with regulations:
We should pass some laws for our current times. Reasonable, fair, and with teeth.
So, I propose:
No weapons sold to anyone under 21. Period.
No semi-automatic pistols, rifles, or shotguns to anyone under 25.
No fully automatic weapons sold to anyone under 30.
Now anyone under these age limits will be able to use them under adult (proper age as above) supervision. Never alone. Yeah, under 21'ers may "own" them, but can not possess them until they reach the proper age.
Now for the sticky bits...
Anyone violating the above is subject to a mandatory minimum 5 year jail sentence. And their weapons confiscated and destroyed.
A corollary is that anyone with firearms must keep them under lock and key. If some one below the minimum age has access to these weapons, the owner will be fined $10,000.00 and their weapons confiscated and destroyed. And if a crime is committed, they are subject to a mandatory minimum 5 year jail sentence as well.
Concomitant with the passage of the above laws are a few more necessary statutes.
ALL firearm sales must be handled by a registered gun dealer. Even between friends. ALL.
There is a one week waiting period minimum before the sale can proceed. Maybe it should be a month... There must be a very thorough background check by the ATF. Any history of violence will stop the sale. Any mental issues will stop the sale.
There must be a suitable gun safe in the purchasers home. Proof will be required.
There will be required training before the purchase can go through. Specific to the firearm purchased.
And it must be re-registered every 5 years. And proof you still have it as well as the gun safe.
And on to the painful part...
ALL firearms in the US must be registered within 5 years. No exceptions. Citizens, Police, Federal Agents, Military. Every. Single. One.
ALL must be stored in an approved gun safe or armory. Every. Single. One.
Any unregistered firearm will subject the owner to a 5 year minimum mandatory prison sentence. And the confiscation and destruction of all the person's firearms. As well as being unable to purchase any firearms in the future.
A weapon with no serial number bumps this to 10 years.
Any registered firearm used in the commission of a crime will subject the registered owner to a 5 year minimum mandatory prison sentence. And the confiscation and destruction of all the person's firearms. As well as being unable to purchase any in the future.
Any weapon stolen will result in the confiscation of all the person's firearms with a review of their gun security. The firearms can not be returned, nor can the person buy more, until the stolen weapon has been recovered. And not used in the commission of a crime. Failure to report the theft may incur prison time. Stolen will also mean anyone (friends or family) taking a weapon with out supervision.
Any weapon stolen from a broker, distributor or store will have their ability to sell firearms revoked and all unsold weapons confiscated to be returned to the manufacturer or destroyed.
No company shall be allowed to sell a gun safe that does not meet criteria that prevents lock picking, hacking or guessing of the combination. It needs to be bolted down and damn hard to force or grind open.
Any law enforcement professional that looses a law enforcement or personal weapon shall be immediately terminated. And their personal weapons confiscated and destroyed. Law enforcement weapons in vehicles must be theft-proof.
A person must qualify in the operation for each type of weapon they wish to purchase. They must also re-qualify every 10 years.
You may not purchase more than 2 semi-automatic pistols or rifles per year. At the time of the purchase of a 5th, and every subsequent 5th weapon, an inspection of the gun safe or armory will be required by the ATF.
All weapons recovered in the commission of a crime must be rendered un-fireable & un-repairable within 1 week of ballistics tests by the police agency.
These ideas come from the fact that there really are no home made firearms used in almost all crimes. They come from large manufacturers. They were all purchased by some one or some entity. They are used by the purchaser in a crime or they have been stolen from a purchaser and used in a crime. They are stolen from gun stores, citizens and police. If this does not become more difficult, crimes by firearms can not be stopped or even slowed down.
This is meant to stop the misleading "it is easy for criminals to get guns, so don't regulate lawful gun owners.
These laws above do not penalize lawful gun owners, only careless ones. Buy all you want, just keep the rest of us safe!
Let the foaming & hatred begin!
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