Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu from NYC
Or people who just want to protect their family. Why is that a bad thing if they are responsible people?
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Because "they" (as a singular whole) are not responsible people. If "they" were responsible people, "they" would not be committing murders, mass shootings, and gun crime would not exist at all.
They - are the collective singular category of "people who possess firearms."
Within that singular category there are many sub-categories. Most folks fall into the subcategory of "responsible people." But even "responsible people" have accidents, make mistakes, have momentary lapses of judgment.
"Here lies Mary. Accidently shot to death by her husband, a responsible gun-owner. Woops."
You can't legislate common sense. But you can legislate common-sense laws that exist to protect the "responsible people" while giving punishment to "irresponsible people" more bite. Right now all that's happening is that people are being incentivized to buy guns. There is no nationwide mandatory licensing required - there isn't even required licensing in every state. You need a license to drive a car. You need a license to perform surgery. You need a license to give someone an eye exam. But in some states, you don't need a license to have a firearm.
There are no checks and balances, accepted nationally, on qualifications to own a device that was created to kill. That is its PRIMARY function: to kill. Kill bears, kill elephants, kill geese, kill burglars, kill criminals, kill victims - it's the "kill" that is the operative word here.
There should be nationwide checks and balances. If you don't qualify, then you can't legally possess a firearm. If you get caught using one illegally, then that charge gets tacked on to whatever crime you committed with the gun in the first place. Incentivize people to LEGALLY possess firearms, by giving more sting to punishments for people who do not.