Is there now justifiable hope of enacting sensible gun law?

Can Americans protect themselves through sensible firearm legislation?

Despite a powerful Washington lobby with a stranglehold on Congress and dedicated to sabotaging the will of the People, progress can be achieved.

The NRA is one slimy denizen of the Washington swamp that can be defeated.

Americans need not surrender to the horrific frequency of churches, schools, and other public venues being the sites of firearm-inflicted mass slaughter. No other civilized nation on earth does.

 

So how are gun controls in Chicago working out for you??????????

 

Granny says, "No...

... now, go back to bed."

 

No.

 

Only 30% of households even own guns although there are 300 million guns for 300 millioin people.

Gun ownership has been steadily declining for years

Only 6% of the population hunts.

So yea...there is a constituency for sensible gun laws.

That said , I am NOT talking about outlawing guns in toto.

I would fight that as hard as the ammosexuals fight sensible gun laws.

Hunters SHOULD be able to hunt
Farmers SHOULD be able to protect their livestock etc.
And if you really feel the need to "protect yourself" in your home you should have the right to have a gun there. Stored safely and securely so that children or burglars don't get at it.
That last I can see being especially important in more sparsely populated rural areas.

 

The NRA contributes very little, relatively, to political campaigns. They are such a powerful lobby, as you say, because they represent the people. Then you go to great lengths to show most of the people are against the NRA. It can't be both.
The best insight into the poll you cite is that the average pollee has a very limited knowledge of the issue or of firearms

 

This is possibly the most ignorant of the replies to gun control.

Educate yourself.

I guess you could cry that the FBI, Chicago Police, and the University of Chicago are all fake news. However, that doesn't change the facts.

 

The progressive call to action - Defeat the 2nd Amendment.

 

Perhaps you don't know the sensible laws already on the books.

Those such as it being against the law to shoot someone.

If people don't obey those than why would they obey other laws?

What you mean by sensible gun laws is that you either want to confiscate them or make them unavailable.

 

Finally, a minor concession to sanity. Laws are useless unless enforced.

Again, if gun fanciers also recognize that the level of firearm fatalities in the US are unacceptable, their suggestions for legislation to confront the problem would be appreciated. Their insisting American must endure the status quo is not helpful.

 

I’m curious to know how they arrive at 30% of households own guns. Did they conduct a poll? I don’t know anyone that owns guns, who would admit that to a survey taker, census taker, or phone pollster. You don’t tell strangers your business.

 

All you gun control nut jobs need to move to Canada. This is a gun loving country, It is not going to change with the Don in office, you had your chance with Sandy Hook and Obama in office for 8 years. We need more guns not less.

 

I agree whole heartedly with the OP.

I hunt myself. I own several rifles, and a few pistols, for self/home defense.

However, there need to be laws and regulations to ensure that gun owners properly store and secure their weapons.

For example it's illegal in Indiana to carry a pistol not properly holstered. You can't just stick a weapon in your pants here.

There also needs to be harsh punishment for parents who leave guns sitting around their house. If you leave a gun out where your kids can get it, you should have both your guns and your kids taken away, because you have proven yourself to be unable or unwilling to properly care for either.

 

There are approximately 250 million adults in the US. Based upon polls, that would indicate that about 238 million support requiring background checks for all gun buyers, and about 1 million oppose them. Even if the NRA has the 4-5 million members it claims, and every one kowtows to its every position regarding firearm legislation, they are a minuscule, special interest minority opposing the will of the vast majority of the people.

 

The catch to all the cries for gun control (usually from non-gun people, many of whom who fear guns as some fear snakes) is simple.
Come up with a plan- a viable, just plan, that will actually end mass gun killings. A plan that WORKS, not a lip-service to say "we tried", or one done to appease those who fear the mechanical object at the expense of other honest citizens. .

We already have extensive gun control measures, and they have not changed anything except the burden on honest people. As few as 3% of the guns used in crimes are legally obtained, clearly demonstrating legal requirements are not going to impact people with criminal intent. Expanding what does not work certainly offers no solution- just more difficulties.

Guns do not arbitrarily act. gun crime is a crime that starts with criminal mentality and intent- and that person chooses a gun as a weapon. The gun does not choose him, it does not volunteer- the perp chooses the weapon, the target, and the perp pulls the trigger. Regardless of gun laws, that is invariably true.

When we such a criminal is captured, our courts put the perp in jail, They do charge the gun- so courts do understand who is responsible.
However, we do not try to control people who repeatedly demonstrate they are violent and dangerous or mentally disturbed. We repeatedly see that people who commit these mass shootings had been demonstrating severe problems far in advance, sometimes for years with both psychological and police awareness- but no action. The Texas shooter and later California shooter were prime examples. It is the mindset of a disturbed person that is always the key ingredient to these things- yet we do not see any organized group trying to get that key ingredient dealt with in an effective way.

The number of such imminently dangerous people is actually quite small, perhaps 10,000, and we should be able to identify a large percentage of them- especially if it were legal to report them as a potential risk. Legality and political policy prevent it, so they are like time-bombs among us. Some of those will harm a single person; some a family, and a few will decide to punish society- everyone in sight.

The number of guns in America is quoted as about 300 million. That is known guns. Older guns that were sold before any registration process existed number many millions too, and are not obsolete. What some call ghost guns (legally owned, but not on record as they are owner-built) exist in very large numbers as well. A more likely count of total guns in America would be closer to 400 million.

Regulate or monitor 10,000 known risks, or try to control 400 million mechanical objects, perhaps half of which you have no way to find. It would seem that wouldn't be a difficult decision if you were actually addressing the prevention of the crimes.

 

If gunsters insist we must surrender to the status quo, that is what they insist. The vast majority of Americans, however, want a chance to reduce the firearm slaughter and protect themselves and their loved ones via legislation and strict enforcement.

It's certainly worth a try.

What doesn't work can be repealed.

 

Depends if one is the shootee or shooter.

 

Fact: The majority of gun deaths and gun related crimes are committed by blacks

Solution: Don't sell guns to blacks

NOT that I would support such a law but if gun violence reduction was truly the aim....

 

I've been a life member of the NRA more than 50 years. I know it very well.
They do indeed have a very large membership, they communicate with it effectively and they serve the purpose that they have always served. If they were anything like the anti-gun lobby paints them, people like me would have quit them long ago. They are the most consistent, logical and stable element in the gun control debate. They have since their founding promoted training, safety, marksmanship and responsibility, and they have done it well. They are not a threat to any person, and are a strong voice against crime where a weapon is involved. There is nothing here that does not serve national interests. They help gun owners understand and abide by laws- and I have no doubt would not hesitate to report any member or person they thought to be dangerous to authorities. They are highly offended by criminal gun use, probably more than you are.

We already have background checks for all gun buyers when the sellers are dealers. You can buy a gun online- but you have to ship it to a federally licensed dealer and will be required to pass the background check before you can get possession. Private transactions vary with locations, some areas require checks there too. Now this isn't a one time thing; it is required for every gun you might buy individually. As far as the "vast majority" of people's will being opposed, one should ask where those 400 million guns are- concentrated among a tiny minority? I assure you, that is not so. While there are collectors that own hundreds of guns, the purpose here is typically investment, and those guns are often in vaults, never shot, as that would reduce their value. The majority of guns are legitimately owned by the majority of people, for legitimate purposes. They are not something to worry about. The guns that are smuggled over the border, stolen- those are the ones to worry about. They are also ones that are already held in violation of multiple laws, that have failed to control them.

 

I think this just shows the invalidity of the polls. A background check of every buyer sounds good and elicits a knee jerk positive reaction. But the vast majority of those people have little concept of what a real background check entails and all of its foibles.

 

So, you recommend we ignore the dangerous people that kill people, and focus on the inanimate objects, so we can feel "protected".
All you have to do is write and pass a law that will prevent a criminal from using a gun. I think that if you do a little research, you will find that has been attempted in a great many ways.
Unfortunately, criminals don't read the book, nor care what law you pass. Even better if you disarm the public for them.

There are means of enforcement that do work very well for the purpose of protection.
They are not in the book, but criminals do respect them.

 

Anyone that tries to use the terms "common sense" Or "sensible" in their argument, you are 100% guarantees to find neither common sense or sense in their argument.


There have been many threads where I've voiced my opinion on what I see as holes in our firearm transfer laws.

 

Not to mention the massive complexity and creating an even bigger haystack to find the needles in.

 

ALL gun sales should be through a licensed dealer with full background check and a waiting period

 

By all means...enlighten us