What are reasonable gun laws in your opinion?

[yesit'sloaded]

I personally have no problem with the 18+ to buy and using a background check to keep guns away from crazies and known criminals. (whether or not they should be in jail instead of in society if they can't be trusted with a gun is a different question)

 

[mikec]

Boy, what a topic... OK, I grew up in NY State, got my pistol permit at 19 or 20. I now live in MD. Most of the laws these two states have do nothing to help keep the public safe. Having said that I do think we would be in a world of trouble if we went back to pre GCA '68 laws. Mail order guns would be cool for us but many evil doers would have a field day. I have no issue with age rules. Background checks can be worked around. Yes, THEY call them "straw purchases". (I do NOT advocate breaking the law.)

There are those who grew up in less restrictive areas who believe that any restriction is wrong.

Any law that prohibits owning a firearm based on cosmetic attributes is nuts. Having a waiting period for purchase IF the buyer already owns firearms is nuts. (Gee, she <made me mad>, I'm going to buy a NEW gun to hurt her rather then the gun in the safe...UGH!!!)

 

[bigghoss]

backround checks, must be 18+, not a fellon, mentally compitant, legal US citizen... I think that just about covers it. maybe I'm forgetting something, but I don't think so. all other gun laws are an attempt to skirt the second ammendment.

 

[General Geoff]

If you can buy a power drill, you should be able to buy a firearm.

 

[Art Eatman]

Per Wright, Rossi & Daily in "Under The Gun", no gun control law has ever led to a reduction in the rate of violent crimes. So, it's pointless to bother.

Make the crime itself consider extra punishment if a gun is used, maybe. That is, robbery via baseball bat carries a lesser penalty than robbery via a handgun--but robbery itself is the issue.

Odds are, an age limit of, say, sixteen for purchase without a parent accompanying the buyer, seems reasonable. The old parental consent deal.

Maybe laws against felons in possession, if the felon's history were one of violence--particularly if it had been with the misuse of a firearm. But that's really just a punishment tool, since no law can prevent said felon from acquiring a firearm.

Laws don't prevent anything. They only provide for punishments after the law has been broken. The history of all gun control laws is that they are only obeyed by those who are honest and upstanding to begin with--against whom the laws are not needed.

Art

 

[dasmi]

I have a problem with felons being barred from gun ownership. Not all felons are violent felons. In fact, I'd bet the majority aren't. A tax cheat has just as much right to protect his family as I do.

 

[Mr. Designer]

The only responsible gun law is the second amendment.

 

[sacp81170a]

Criminal and civil sanctions if you commit a crime.

 

[Art Eatman]

"Criminal and civil sanctions if you commit a crime."

But those sanctions need never mention a firearm in order to be effective. They would apply equally well to stabbing with a ballpoint pen.

 

[Gene_WI]

Philosophically - none
Practically - I lie the New Zealand/Scandinavian models.
Everything up to and including crew served weapons is legal but requires a varying degree of paper work. Perhaps a weapon class based permit system

 

[ReadyontheRight]

What are reasonable gun laws in your opinion?

If you committ a crime with a gun, you should be punished for that crime.

Simply owning a gun and using it legally should not be a crime.

 

[sacp81170a]

But those sanctions need never mention a firearm in order to be effective.

Exactly.

 

[6_gunner]

Reasonable restriction?

Don't shoot anybody if they didn't need shootin'. Make sure you can reasonably prove they needed shootin' before you go shootin' 'em.

That's about it.

I'm okay with an age limit (18 is reasonable, I think), but felons should regain all rights as citizens once they're released back into society.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

I would say lower the pistol age to 18,and then anything younger than that at parents discretion, The NCIS is good I would say keep that because it does work (they caught a sex offender a few weeks ago trying to buy) and they need to open up the registry FA again, Oh and treat SBS/SBR's as pistols and OTC suppressors. (Just DD's and FA's for the tax and BG check).

 

[PILMAN]

I agree with lowering the pistol age to 18, get rid of NICS, repeal machine gun ban and registration, violent offenders (rapists, murderers, armed robbery) should be in prison anyways.

 

[Elza]

bigghoss pretty well summed it up for me as well.

backround checks, must be 18+, not a fellon, mentally compitant, legal US citizen

The only difference for me would be the type of felony. A military court marshal counts as a felony and you can be court marshaled some rather arcane things. Embezzling funds doesn’t exactly make one a public safety risk in my book either. It would depend upon the circumstances.

 

[REOIV]

Whatever reasonable restrictions we currently have for the majority of other potentially deadly items.

Meaning buying, owning and selling a gun should be on par with

Buying, owning and selling:
Televisions
Toilet Paper
Screw Drivers
Books
Movies
Clothing
Food
etc

Basically guns should have ratings associated with them and gun shops should act like movie theaters and not sell to people that don't meet the rating. So if a gun is rated PG-13 you have to be 13 years old or have a parent or guardian with you when you buy it.

But again this is would be a store policy and not a law.

 

[QuakKillz]

uhm....no permits to carry, if you can legally purchase, you can legally carry.

personally, I believe that any "money earning" permit fees are just that, something to gather cash. I am an electrician and refuse to pay for the license that makes me "legal" because the state of tx wants their 75 bucks a year, my boss doesn't require it, and i dont have it....it's just another meaningless tax on the overworked and underpaid.......

rant over....

 

[yesit'sloaded]

I have to say that from the experiences that I have witnessed and heard of from FFL friends, the NICS check works. About a month ago a guy walked into a local gun store and tried to buy a Glock, when they call in the NICS it turns out he is a fugitive felon and the cops were sent to the store where he was already being held at gunpoint by the owner. I've also seen people try to buy a gun and then walk away when they are handed the 4473. As much as I hate gun control I think Virginia Tech could have been avoided if the background check had worked the way it was supposed to. I think more laws are not the answer, but better record keeping on violent lunatics and violent felons would help. Crime has nothing to do with the weapon used, but if a crime can be prevented without infringing on the rights of the innocent citizens I'm all for it. None of us here want more gun control, but none of us would hand a loaded gun to a guy who has been jabbering about killing his classmates either.

 

[K3]

Other than parental consent for minors, nothing.

 

[highorder]

I've also seen people try to buy a gun and then walk away when they are handed the 4473.

I have seen this several times.

NICS works, but could be better.




can someone explain to me the logic behind the "one gun a month" rule? if I already have a gun, whats another?

 

[kurtmax]

...the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

 

[everallm]

Bighoss,

backround checks, must be 18+, not a fellon, mentally compitant, legal US citizen

Should read Legal US resident, unless you want to remove the rights all green card holders currently have?

 

[svtruth]

Here in Rhode Island

there is a law that says, essentially, if some one commits a crime to obtain your gun, you cannot be held liable for any damage he causes with your gun.
That seems reasonable.

 

[rocket lad]

IMHO, government shouldn't be in the business of regulating firearm ownership. The 2nd exists so we can protect ourselves from the tyranny of government, not so government can dictate what level of protection we can have.