Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: Gun in hand, 68 year old woman saves boyfriend in attack [View all]VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)A poll this year found that majorities even of gun-owners favor universal background checks; tighter regulation of gun dealers; safe storage requirements in homes; and a 10-year prohibition on possessing guns for anyone convicted of domestic violence, assault or similar offenses.
We should also be investing in smart gun technology, such as weapons that fire only with a PIN or fingerprint. We should adopt microstamping that allows a bullet casing to be traced back to a particular gun. We can require liability insurance for guns, as we do for cars.
Its not clear that these steps would have prevented the Oregon shooting. But Professor Webster argues that smarter gun policies could reduce murder rates by up to 50 percent and thats thousands of lives a year. Right now, the passivity of politicians is simply enabling shooters.
The gun lobby argues that the problem isnt firearms; its crazy people. Yes, Americas mental health system is a disgrace. But to me, it seems that were all crazy if we as a country cant take modest steps to reduce the carnage that leaves America resembling a battlefield.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-a-new-way-to-tackle-gun-deaths.html?_r=0