Just an Idea...

[DJQ]

I posted this on Facebook a few weeks ago after the shooting in Tucson.

Recently the issue of stronger gun control laws have been all over the news, and even given recent events, is still highly controversial. Now don't get me wrong, I agree 100% with the 2nd. amendment, and believe in gun owners rights. However, I also believe in non-gun owners rights.

My proposal is simple, and doesn't interfere one iota with peoples 2nd. amendment rights. It may not be perfect but I believe that it'll plug several holes in the system that we have in place now, as well as possibly save the lives of many innocent people. I assume that no matter what side of the gun control fence you stand on that we can all agree that we should do everything possible to protect innocent lives any way that we can.


Step 1: It's way to easy to get a gun license, yet you have to go through months of drivers ed. to get a license to drive a car. IMO both are equally leathal.

There should be a "gun ed." class of sorts to teach you how to be responsible with and to properly use said gun. You don't pass, you don't get a license. Get caught using or owning a gun without the proper license and be treated the same way you would for driving without one.

I also think there ought to be different classifications as well. Just like you need a different license to drive a truck or a motorcycle, You should have to have a different license for a shotgun, handgun, etc.

Step 2: It's way to easy to buy a gun at gun shows, from private owners, etc. So to eliminate some of that problem I once again looked toward the automobile analogy.

Every car has a "VIN"(vehicle identification number), and every gun has a serial number. So let's make it where every gun must have a "title" just like a car does, and you must transfer the ownership of a gun when you buy it.

These are two simple steps that can be taken to help keep guns out of the wrong hands, yet doesn't infringe on anyones 2nd. amendment rights.

The biggest argument that I've heard against making stricter gun control laws is,"if someone wants a gun, nobody can stop them from getting one". Now, I realize that this is true, however it's a completely lame excuse! After all, people are going to speed no matter what, so does that mean we should abolish speed limits? Underage kids will always find a way to get booze and drink, does that mean we should do away with the age limit on alcohol? Of course not. Those two laws alone are put in place to save lives, and I'm sure that both of them work despite the ways to get around them. The same could be said of my idea.



I'm not trying to start any arguments, just looking for different oppinions.

[billybob]

I believe a person should have the right to own a gun, but i also believe there should be made attend classes, learn how to properly use etc, and there should be VERY STRICT background checks, there was when I applied for a gun permit. Having said that, we all know crooks WILL have guns if they want one. I just think any law abiding citizen should have the right to defend their selves against the bad guys. To me the key is how to get law abiding citizens obtain gun permits to own a gun, Does that make sense ?

[skyguy2007]

Comparing cars to guns...come on! Owning a gun is a right, having the right to drive is a privilege, BIG difference!

[wabbit]

In my state we must attend gun safety classes in order to get a hunting license and/or concealed carry license.

[Moab]

Sure owning a gun is a right ... However that right came from a activist Supreme Court.

The right to which you speak is in reference to a militia.

The Second Amendment (Amendment II) to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.
In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second Amendment decisions. In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm, unconnected to service in a militia[1][2] and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home. Additionally, the Court enumerated several longstanding prohibitions and restrictions on firearms possession that it found were consistent with the Second Amendment.[3] In McDonald v. Chicago (2010), the Court ruled that the Second Amendment limits State and local governments to the same extent that it limits the federal government.[4]

Text

There are several versions of the text of the Second Amendment, each with slight capitalization and punctuation differences, found in the official documents surrounding the adoption of the Bill of Rights.[5] One version was passed by the Congress,[6] while another is found in the copies distributed to the States[7] and then ratified by them.
As passed by the Congress:

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.

As ratified by the States:

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.

The original hand-written copy of the Bill of Rights, approved by the House and Senate, was prepared by scribe William Lambert and resides in the National Archives.

If in your opinion owning a gun is a right and owning a car is a privilege ... is shooting a gun from a car a privileged right?

[skyguy2007]

Never said owning a car is a privilege...but getting the license to drive one is.

[DJQ]

I believe a person should have the right to own a gun, but i also believe there should be made attend classes, learn how to properly use etc, and there should be VERY STRICT background checks, there was when I applied for a gun permit. Having said that, we all know crooks WILL have guns if they want one. I just think any law abiding citizen should have the right to defend their selves against the bad guys. To me the key is how to get law abiding citizens obtain gun permits to own a gun, Does that make sense ?

That's pretty much what I said. And yes, it makes sense.

[DJQ]

Comparing cars to guns...come on! Owning a gun is a right, having the right to drive is a privilege, BIG difference!

I understand that, I was simply using it as an analogy. My idea in no way, shape or form infringes on a persons right to own a gun.

[Mastro]

I'm not trying to start any arguments, just looking for different oppinions.

who are you and what have you done with Frank?

[curtinsea]

I love how gun foes get nothing out of the second amendment but the word militia, which they feel means a government controlled entity. The second amendment is really plain and simple.

And it wasn't some activist court that gave us that right, unlike, say, abortion . . .

Our founding fathers, when establishing the constitution, started with a bold premise. The first amendment giving us the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press . . . . These are bold steps, but they knew that these were nothing more than words on paper. It had to be backed up.

So on to the 2nd amendment, which allows us as citizens to protect those rights the same way they were gained, with guns.

It's no accident that the right to bear arms is the 2nd amendment, and not the 10th, for the 1st amendment doesn't mean shit without the 2nd.

All that said, I believe there is room for regulation in there somewhere. Some aspects could be controlled, I don't want M60's on the streets. So we can discuss limits, controls, timing, age limits . . .

And if we can discuss those limits for a constitutional right, we should also be able to discuss similar limits on those rights granted by activist courts, like, say abortion.