I feel as though you didn't read me right on your first pass. I'm as pro gun as you. Just anti lobby and pro common sense legislation. Let me fisk your points...
So, the NRA caused all the mass shootings? The NRA advocates for certifiably insane people to be allowed firearms? Last I heard, the NRA is lobbying group advocating for the civil liberties of it's members. Please prove me wrong.
No, I dont think the NRA busted a cap in anyone's ass. However, they have been espousing some pro violence shit lately (I'll dig up the quotes if you ask nice) and yes, they are largely responsible for hamstringing gun legislation that would affect the baseline sale of guns. This is a known fact, and demonstrable. I mean, think about it. Legislation hurts sales. Less sales = less money. There is a reason why the NRA spends over 100 million annually to keep gun culture alive. Its profitable.
And funny you should mention insane folks + NRA. They recently lobbied to remove reporting requiring the SSA to report certain mentally disabled beneficiaries to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Which Trump dutifully signed into Law. Please see here:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-joint-resolution/40/actionsOne's ability to defend him/her self is unfortunate?
The fact that one has to defend themself is indeed unfortunate. Yes, I sincerely hope that no one needs to use a gun. But if they do, then Thank God we have the liberties with guns that we do now. Again, pro gun here. But also Christian. Dont like violence, that's not WWJD.
WTF are you trying to say? People with guns do 100% of the killing? People with guns kill people 100% of the time? Regardless, both are obviously wrong, making that a stupid statement on multiple levels.
Be careful what you ask for. If some kind of test is imposed I'll wager you're likely to fail it.
It's like you want me to be anti gun, but I'm not...
No, I was saying that in mass casualty events, it's always take a person with a gun. You know, cuz guns dont shoot themselves. I am trying to relate that guns aren't dangerous, crazy motherfuckers with guns are dangerous. Could I have said this differently? That's a serious question.
And finally, I come from a family of gun collectors and sport men. We have been using guns responsibly for many generations, and I hope to pass my collection along to my child before I leave this Earth. I am the furthest thing from a gun grabber. But the laws need to change my friend. Dont know how old you are, but I promise you this shit was not like this when you were growing up.
We should not be punished for the behavior of the lowest common denominator.
I would like to have a working tank and a roof mounted 50 cal on my mini van. Lots of people are responsible enough to own these devices so I demand one as my right to bear arms (LOL jk I'm not American).
Lots of countries have figured out the balance. Hunting is a sport but not a sport where you need a fucking assault rifle or even a hand gun. Those 2 weapons are designed to do one thing only, kill a human. They literally have no other purpose on the planet and would never exist if we didn't need to kill other people.
Generally countries agree that military weapons should not be in the hands of civilians no matter how many people can use them safely, it's just safer for EVERYONE if these weapons are not in civilians hands.
Now as far as the laws are shit without firepower. How many times have you guys needed to revolt against your government with civilian firearms since independence? How many other democracy's have had to have their citizens revolt against a tyrannic take over. If you had a president that tried to become president for life
do you think the commanders and entire military would roll over and bend the knee. If he did control the military do you think a few citizens armed with AR-15's and hand guns are going to present much resistance to the best military on the planet?
??
The fact that it has not happened does not mean we should tie our hands against the future. I would rather work out the kinks than throw the baby out with the bathwater.
If we took licensing more seriously (thorough testing, more extensive background checks), essentially it would resemble your paradigm of only the military having assault rifles, except trained and vetted civilians would be able to have them as well.
Honestly, in rural scenarios, you would be amazed at what a small group of well armed people can do against a government. Leo's dont function so well in non urban environments, only the military. If rural America suddenly said fuck it, we secede, it would actually be pretty difficult to contain. It's not a few citizens; virtually everyone in my community has multiple guns, at least one long gun and one hand gun. I mean that literally. I live between two farms
But ARs are part of sporting and collecting culture as well. Not trying to engage in whataboutism, but consider the car. Has caused considerably more damage through misuse than guns have historically. Given how ubiquitous they are, we have evolved a very thorough system of testing and certification, and the use of civil liability, to ensure that those that use said tools are qualified to do so safely. That level of care needs to be applied to gun laws.
Start off by restricting guns to those convicted of domestic violence. They commit a tremendous amount of gun violence, more so than the mentally infirm.
