Thoughts on gun control
Tragedies like Sandy Hook will never be preventable. We've heard it said a million times before: the people who commit atrocities have no regard for the law, and no amount of control can stop every person with ill intent.
These kinds of tragedies have many different factors, many of which would have been easier to address and would have received less backlash than suggesting we narrow down the 2nd amendment. Look those up if you'd like. I'm not here to talk about that.
Please allow me to make this clear. I do not advocate for the banning of any firearms.
Rather, what I advocate for is gun regulation. It has little to do with violent acts committed, and largely to do with accidental deaths where a gun's presence contributed.
The day after the Sandy Hook shooting, a young child in Oklahoma killed himself accidentally after finding his uncle's gun. A few years ago, a Mountain Home student was critically injured by a young child after finding his parents' gun.
The gun is not the problem. A lack of education in use and safety is.
I don't know why anyone would need anything more than hunting rifles and perhaps a handgun of some kind for personal protection (I am actually getting one myself after the boyfriend has determined I am proficient with his .22). Sure, some people think weaponry they could find would stand a chance against a tyrannical government (some people forget this isn't 1776...our military capacity, or what the government has access to, could strongly overpower average citizents), but that's their business. I don't care if you have a whole warehouse of firearms. Just don't use them on me or other innocents. It's your business, and your constitutionally-protected right.
This outline of what I would do if I were a lawmaker is simply to prevent accidental deaths. That's the only kind of gun control law I think we need. In fact, let's call it regulation, because that sounds less awful. Someone somewhere provided a great analogy: DUIs can result in tragic death. We don't outlaw drinking or driving separately, but the two are not allowed, and if you do them together, there is a consequence. This deters many citizens, but still protects the rights of those who enjoy driving or drinking. Likewise, killing someone is illegal. But we should not infringe on the rights of those who would like guns for legal purposes.
Melodie's Proposal for Gun Regulation
This does include some regulation that is already active in some states, as well as some suggestions that wouldn't necessarily be law.
1. A background check must be conducted before the sale of every firearm. No exceptions.
2. Firearms must be registered.
3. Pending approval of registration, owners must take a safety course. After the first safety course, a test must be passed for each firearm. If the registrant fails the test, he or she must retake the course until he or she passes.
4.Suggestion All firearms should be stored in a child-proof safe or locker when not in use.
There are plenty of safes that can be easily accessed in the event of an emergency, including those with biometric security. One can keep a key to a safe on their person/out of the reach of children.
5.Suggestion Children should be given a thorough gun-safety course.
6.Suggestion Children should only be granted access to gun safes when they are old enough to stay alone at home. Otherwise, guns should only be in a child's hands if there is RESPONSIBLE adult supervision.
Again, I recognize this won't prevent tragedies like shooting rampages. But perhaps this kind of regulation, followed by responsible parenting could save many souls a lot of heartache. THESE are common sense solutions to gun regulation.
Sandy Hook wasn't a failure of school security. It wasn't a failure in gun control. It was many other factors, including irresponsible parenting on the part of the shooter's mother.
I doubt it, but are you listening, lawmakers?
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