In light of the massacre of children and teachers in Newtown, and the 31 other serial killings since Columbine in 1999, it is far past time that not only discussion, but action, takes place in regard to getting some control over weapons.
When the Constitution was written, in 1787, colonists had a legitimate fear of British military might. They had protested the quartering of troops in private homes in the Declaration of Independence, and prohibited it the Constitution. There was no standing army to do the new Federal government's bidding. Just as in the Middle Ages in Europe, armies were assembled as they were needed, spurred on by a sense of loyalty or patriotism. This method lasted until the beginning of WWII, when the scale of the conflict simply became too large to rapidly mobilize the millions of soldiers needed. Thus was born the permanent Army.
The Founding Fathers understood the need to have trained and regulated citizenry, and thus the Second Amendment. But they also emphasized the "well regulated militia" as well as the right to keep and bear arms.
Yesterday, December 14th, once more demonstrated the insanity of unrestricted access to guns. We have modified virtually all of our Amendments to more accurately reflect modern times, except the Second Amendment. Instead, we have loosened all restrictions on guns.
The Second Amendment guarantees the right to carry arms, just as the First Amendment guarantees the right to freedom of speech. We have put in place laws which still allow you to speak freely, but do not exempt you from the consequences of your speech. Neither should we exempt those who own and use guns from the consequences of their ownership.
It is time for a new look at responsible gun ownership.
I am not advocating a ban on guns. But I've heard the old canard "Guns don't kill people, people kill people" too many times as a rationalization for unrestricted access to guns. I live in Arizona, where gun laws do not exist, and I've left restaurants and bars when gun carrying customers came through the door.
The following are ideas culled from others as well as my own.
1. Require criminal background checks on all gun owners and gun shop employees.
2. Restrict the number of guns that can be sold in any given time period. In Fast and Furious, gun buyers were purchasing tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars of guns at a time. Because of Arizona and federal laws, they were completely legal in their purchases, and federal agents could do nothing to stop the sale. If only, let's say, two weapons could be purchased in a month, these mass purchases could be stopped.
3. Register and maintain records on all guns sold. Have serial numbers on both the stock and barrel of rifles, to prevent switching barrels.
4. All weapons would be registered with the federal government at the time of manufacture. Upon sale to a gun shop the registration papers would be transferred as well as the responsibility. Same thing when the gun shop sells it to the owner.
5. Any owner of a gun would be required by law to report it's sale or theft within 24 hours. Otherwise, they are still responsible for it and any use of it.
6. Require a license (just like a driver's license) which the owner would carry on his/her person whenever the gun is in their physical possession.
7. All guns must be insured for liability.
8. All new gun owners must undergo training and certification in the use of their weapon. Too many states, like AZ, have eliminated the requirements for any kind of training.
9. Enforce a 5 day waiting period to purchase a gun. That gives you time to think about what you are doing and why. If you really want the gun, it will not deter you from purchasing it.
10. Make carrying an unregistered gun a class 1 felony, with stiff financial and legal penalties. If you are a law abiding citizen, registering a gun is no more difficult than registering a car.
11. Require gun shows to follow the same rules concerning ownership, registration and sale of guns that gun shops must abide by.
12. Require that all weapons be checked every two years for proper mechanical operation. This could be done at a gun range or licensed gun shop.
13. No sales of handguns to anyone under the age of 21. Adults buying handguns for people under 21 would face criminal charges, just as buying liquor for people under 21 is illegal.
14. Ban all assault rifles, automatic or semi-automatic. Ban the sale of high capacity magazines and clips. Ban all sales of sniper rifles. Put a permanent ban on the sale of Teflon type bullets (cop killers) which are meant to penetrate bullet-proof vests. Ban all Internet sales of guns, of any kind.
15. You have a right to have a gun in your home for protection. You should not be able to carry that same gun into public venues like bars, restaurants, churches, schools, concerts, hospitals, and clinics. I'm sure there are a few lawyers that would rather not have guns brought into their offices during divorce proceedings. Several national bands have cancelled in Arizona because weapons could be brought into the concert area (where cameras are not allowed!). Remember John Lennon if you think there aren't people who'd kill someone to become famous.
16. Prohibit anyone on a terror watch list from acquiring a weapon, as well as anyone who has a record of domestic violence or restraining orders.
17. Finally, raise the price on ammunition and gunpowder (for those who make their own bullets). Raising the price of cigarettes substantially reduced the number of smokers. Perhaps the same thing will happen with buying ammo.
These are suggestions which probably have no chance of being enacted, and I can hear the screams of rage from gun owners, sellers and collectors already. But none of these reforms would deny you the right to own guns, nor infringe on your right to bear arms under the Second Amendment. Your right to keep weapons for protection or hunting will not be prohibited. But, just maybe, this might be a start to ending the random violence that seems to be engulfing our country.
