IMO, people should be given the choice whether whey want to own a fire-arm or not. In places like Texas, where home invasions are very common, the possession of a fire-arm can save many lives. However, the government should make it impossible for people with a criminal record, and those with mental issues from obtaining fire-arms.
It sound`s nice in teory, but in real life who will judge about who have mental issues or criminal record or problem with wife and her lover. Much better would be with no gun`s at all, it would be much less suffering in the world.
I agree with you about the difficulty of determining who is stable enough. That is why we have rigorous background checks for things like carry licenses. However, violence and cruelty did not start with the invention of the gun and would not go away if all the guns magically disappeared. Violence is not caused by machines it is a behavior that has been present since before we were humans.
Of course violence and cruelty did not start with invetion of the gun, but without so much weapons there would be less crimes, and I wish to believe that we are on much bigger mind level then we were before what we are now. In anyway I think that its not good what guns represent and what kind of message send`s to younger generation`s.
But I do not agree that the number of guns is the factor that counts. Where I grew up everyone had a gun, and I mean every single household. Shooting was something we all did for fun with our friends and family. But there was not a single incidence of gun violence there. ( Although I do recall a guy who shot himself accidentally while climbing a tree stand.)
Later when I moved to a city that had banned the carrying of guns I saw gun violence all the time. My neighbor across the street was shot to death in a robbery, my GF had two home invasions in a year, another friend who taught poor kids how to fix bikes was shot by a 12 year old boy, I heard shots all the time and always by someone who should never have a had a gun in the first place.
Now I live in a time when gun violence is actually at historic lows and I carry every day. But to exercise that right I have had to get background checks by the FBI, with fingerprints and all. I trust this system and when I see someone carrying at a restaurant, I know that we are all safer there. It is not the people who legally carry who are involved in these shootings. It is the usual suspects who are well known to police and mental health officials. The people we failed to help or include in society and that, unsurprisingly, act out violently. If you want to make a dent in the violence tell me what you propose to do with theses people. Because another gun law makes no difference to them and will only be obeyed by those of us who were never a threat in the first place, indeed the ones who might be able to help when the shooting starts.
Do away with violence. Violently beat the crap out of them until they stop being violent. Then you won't have any reason for being violent any longer, and there will be peace.
