OT ...food for thought... laziest gun in the world

...bingo.[/QUOTE]
I would think its equally a lack of good parenting, specifically that of a dad..

 

^^^ Yeah, not to downplay the importance of a Mother's role, especially during earlier developmental years, but a child, especially a boy, REALLY needs to have a Father around.

 

I would think its equally a lack of good parenting, specifically that of a dad..[/QUOTE]


Completely agree here.

 

If you have ever been through a gun registration process ( new for you folks in WA) or applied for NFA status with the BAFTE, their are significant mechanisms in place that prohibit 'stupid people' access to owning firearms. Convicted felons, existing restraining orders, psychiatric care, drug abuse.....the full spectrum of stupid.

It's not loopholes, background checks, gun shows or the NRA that puts guns in the hands of stupid people. It's stupid people committing a felony to illegally possess said firearm. No local gun store owner wants to risk prison by knowingly breaking the law...those LGS folks have to pass significant BG checks and govt (state and fed) scrutiny.

So what is the solution to the violence issue? Disarmament has stopped (mostly) fatal shootings in Australia and the UK, but at what cost? Violent crime has risen in those places and murder weapons have become fists, knives and blunt objects. Conversely, the Swiss are virtually all armed (by duty) and fatal shooting there are very low. Much smaller population that is much more educated and low unemployment...by virtue of a stable economy with low taxes, etc.

Our cities have for decades tried to apply the Wyatt Earp model for Dodge City & Tombstone.....no firearms within city limits except law enforcement. That only worked because Earp had the balls to enforce these rules. Now it's well accepted that what he did was a violation of the 2A.... Fast forward to today and we have govt making rules that make buying, possessing, storing, and training with a firearm within big city centers like LA, SF, NY, Chicago, Baltimore, DC, etc for the avg law abiding citizen impossible to virtually impossible due to red tape. That has created a contained victim-class. Those determined to be stupid, i.e. break the law eskew these safeguards because the perception is that the reward outweighs the risk. So you either need to have the premise that criminals will be disarmed (and population is ready for lots of police in body bags), or you arm the populace and find a status quo. The latter is slowly happening due to several major 2A victories in the Supreme Court and lower courts. But now this is where govt can continue to be the problem (and fight a losing battle) or be part of the solution.

Solutions like a Federal mental health system and hospitals. Up to date db of prohibited persons with active enforcement. National concealed carry law with 50 state reciprocity. National castle doctrine and stand your ground laws. There is no reason why a national instant background check can't be instituted...without registration. And generally a cleaning up of the existing guns laws to be consistent and less ambiguous state-by-state. Then a judicial enforcement of those laws.

These items eliminate ALL active shooters outside of radical Islam inspired sprees over the last few decades. And would significantly decrease inner city violence.

 

Two common responses to the universal bgc is that it (1) can be used as a defacto registration (& misused for confiscation) and/or (2) even as meta data...be hacked.

(1) is kinda paranoid, with 20s of millions of armed households, any govt confiscation action will be well telegraphed and ample time for the next Lexington & Concord.

(2) is a more legitimate concern. Anonymity goes hand-in-hand with ownership, especially concealed carry in the current social paradigm. In CA, an interesting proposal by UCLA Prof. Adam Winkler called to resolve Peruta v. Harris by the legislature passing unloaded open-carry state-wide. The theory being, less people would be confident to have their identity out there for all to see, etc. Whereas the counter argument is the creation of a social shift where its cool to carry.

I'm seeing a cultural shift where more people that don't have experience are seeking out to see for themselves what it's like. I get monthly requests from friends or coworkers on where to buy, get training or best ranges. And not white males, many more women and minorities.

 

Anytime.

 

Absolutely!