Mass shootings

[GMDino]

(03-07-2018, 11:34 AM)Bengalzona Wrote: My take on the Gun Control controversy has been the same over the past few years: guns should be regulated like automobiles with licensing, training and testing requirements, but also mental health screenings. And to varying degrees across the country, there are these types of regulations.

But I may be a bit more radical than some. I think a person should be able to own whatever firearm that they want: semi-auto, full auto, .50 cal,  "...phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range" (technically, not a fire arm I suppose), etc. I just believe there should be a level of increasing licensure and restriction consummate with the type of weapon. And, once again, I believe this already exists to a certain degree.  

There just isn't a lot of consistency with existing regulations from place-to-place. I tend to agree with SSF that a lot of regulatory controls already exist, but they need to be gone through, amended, updated, repealed and replaced, etc. The one place where consistency in regulations could be created and enforced is the Federal government. Unfortunately, the level of distrust with the Federal government is too great. Hence, places like California will have crazy strict anti-gun laws and other places like in the Deep South will have almost none. That is our reality.

If we want some consistency and continuity with regulations, it has to come from the Fed. For that to happen, we have to show them a little trust (i.e. realizing that "they" are "us"). Some of us also have to realize that bans aren't going to work.

As for assault gun-style weapons, I don't believe they need to be banned. That said, I have no problem if a community or state wanted to limit their open carry policy on these weapons based upon the fact that they incite a certain degree of intimidation and terror among the populace.

You hit upon the problem with "gun laws"...they aren't the same across the country.

The joke I heard (and used a couple times in these discussions) is that Chicago has a gun problem...it's called Indiana.

I'd be all for removing or redoing all regulations if they were replaced with common rules for everywhere in the US.  I'm sure individual states will tweak them (or try to) just like they do with speed limits and other laws.  But consistency from state to state and city to city would be a big step forward.