What does it take?

So, today, there was another mass shooting/shooting spree/murder suicide at a mall.  Last night a shooting on a college campus.   There's almost shootings in major cities around the country.  In Peoria, IL last year, there were 65 shootings, or a little more than 1 a week on average.

I could keep spouting off stats on the number of children killed or wounded by gunfire (usually accidental from idiot family or friends have loaded guns accessible) but obviously facts don't appear to matter.

So, what is it going to take for America to understand it has a problem with guns?  The rest of the developed world thinks we're insane for our gun laws.  Before I go any farther, I want to state, I'm not in favor of banning all guns.  In fact, I'm not in favor of banning any guns (more on that in a bit).  I am in favor of putting the power back in the hands of our elected officials and out of the hands of the gun lobby.

But back to my title question: Is there any atrocity large enough for Congress to pass some sensible national gun safety laws?

Columbine happened in 1999.  Virginia Tech 2007.  NIU Shooting 2008.  Aurora Colorado 2012.  Sandy Hook 2012.   To say nothing of the day to day violence that goes on in cities across America.  Shootings in Chicago's south side happen pretty much daily, but it took an honor student who'd recently visited the White House getting shot to bring any light on the problem because, lets be honest, white America at large doesn't care much if minorities are getting shot as long as its not in their neighborhood.

Now, violent crimes in general are down over the last 25 odd years, and murders are down a lot (due in a large part to better medical facilities, especially in inner cities).  One would think this weakens the argument for an armed populace though it inevitably gets twisted into a "no, criminals are scared of robbing folks because that guy might have a gun."  Yes, because old west style shootouts over holdups are common, especially compared to accidental shootings.

The real problem is access to weapons.  It is hilariously easy to get a gun.  And once you have a gun, thanks to the fact that many states do nothing to register a gun TO the purchaser, well, who knows what you do with it.

Once upon a time it was relatively difficult for criminals to acquire guns.  Then the 80s came along and we saw the first wave of weapons designed with no other purpose than to be used in the urban combat zones some of our cities became.

Weapons like the Tec-9, Mac-10 and various others served 2 purposes: 1) to put a large amount of bullets in a general area quickly and 2) line the pockets of gun companies profiting on death and mayhem.

Eventually the situation became dire enough that laws were passed limited automatic or assault-style weapons, certain types of high capacity magazines and certain types of ammunition.  (This law has since been allowed to lapse due largely to the efforts of the NRA lobbying for the gun companies who want to sell such weapons.)

Now, we face such a crisis again.  Gun companies have flooded the market with cheap handguns, many which have magazines holding 8-13 rounds and cheap military styled rifles with clips holding 15-30 rounds.  While most gun crimes are committed with the first type of gun, numerous high profile cases have involved the latter.  (And I'm sure every citizen armed with their Glock or Springfield is going to want to go up against a nut-case with an AR-15 or SKS.)

We are allowing people to profit off mayhem. Now, I know our gov't does it every day, it sickens me there too, but that's an issue for another blog.  We, as a country are stupidly allowing a small cabal of companies to make our country MORE dangerous while promoting the idea of more guns being needed for protection.  It boggles the mind doesn't it?  Obviously flooding society with more weapons, easily accessible by the mentally ill or mentally distraught, easily stolen during home invasions, easily sold with little to no oversight by anyone in authority to God knows who.

You don't believe me?  In IL, this is what it takes to buy or sell a gun privately:



"A buyer is required to show his Firearms Owner’s Identification Card (FOID) when purchasing any firearms or ammunition. Any seller is required to withhold delivery of any handgun for 72 hours, and of any rifle or shotgun for 24 hours, after the buyer and seller reach an agreement to purchase a firearm. The waiting period does not apply to a buyer who is a dealer, law enforcement officer, or a nonresident at a gun show recognized by the Illinois Department of State Police. The seller must retain for 10 years a record of the transfer, including a description of the firearm (including serial number), the identity of the buyer, and the buyer’s FOID number.


A federally licensed dealer must contact the Department of State Police for a background check, for which there is a $2.00 fee. Any sales at gun shows, including dealers and private parties, must contact the state police for a background check.


Private parties selling firearms at gun shows must ensure the buyer has a FOID card and the buyer must undergo a background check. It is unlawful to sell or give any handgun to a person under 18, or any firearm to a person who is not eligible to obtain a FOID."



From http://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-laws/illinois.aspx


Cause yeah, that's easy to enforce.

So, here are the problems. Any sane person should be able to see them. What do I propose? Well, many things, none of which include banning guns.

1. Every gun, EVERY SINGLE GUN, is registered to the purchaser BY serial number. Now, where on the gun? That would be something to hammer out in the law because people like to upgrade/modify their weapons. If the law would cut into that sector, tough.

2. Every gun sale occurs at a licensed facility. You pay $15, $5 to the dealer to sign off on the deal, $10 to the state to register the gun in the new owners name. You have go TWICE. Once to officially start the deal, then again after the waiting period to finalize the deal.

3. All gun show exceptions shall be done away with. Gun shows will be subject to the same laws as any other gun sale. They have your address, they can ship it to you.

4. Any and all gun accessories, that pertain to the functioning of a weapon, from grips, to actions, to firing pins, to magazines, to trigger assemblies may only be produced by licensed ATF builders. Tough. Can't get a license? You can make holsters or gun cases or something.

5. Any magazine holding more than 8 rounds cannot be kept in your home. Along with all military style rifles, such items can only be used at licensed ranges. Ranges will be licensed by the state. Anyone is free to join a range (and the range can be free if they want) but to take advantage of the higher capacity magazines or military style rifles, you must pay for a higher class of FOID card. Much like the license required to drive a car is different than a semi, the license required to own a .22 target pistol is different than an AR-15.

There would be a 6 month grace period for those already owning said items to register them with a licensed range. If you are transporting the weapon to a different range, you must sign it out with the range it is currently registered at and have 72 hours to register it at the new range. If you do not, you are fined. If this happens on three separate occasions you lose the right to these items.

The time period is waived if the item is shipped directly from one range to another.

6. If your gun is stolen you can be held liable for crimes committed with it if you do not report its loss. This would encourage more people to keep their damned guns locked up so that during home invasions its difficult for them to be stolen. Oh, and also means your kids can't get their hands on it.

7. To concealed carry a weapon you must pass rigorous tests on a yearly basis. ANY citation, be it seatbelt, speeding, parking tickets, etc. causes you to lose the right to concealed carry for 6 months. Any misdemeanor loses the right to concealed carry forever. Anyone found violating a private "Weapons not allowed" sign will lose their right to carry forever.

8. These are the NATIONAL laws. States can pass stricter requirements if they like.

Do I believe these would stop gun crime? Of course not. Do I think they'd be a step in the right direction to begin minimizing the gun violence plaguing our society? Yes.

It is a fact, a cold hard fact, that making crimes even slightly harder to commit causes a significant drop in crime. Making it slightly more difficult for criminals to get their hands on guns, many of which are legally bought and then illegally resold on the black market would help minimize the damage.

People who like guns can still have their guns, possibly not in their home, but they can still have them. People who aren't as fond of guns can be a little more assured there is an actual process to getting and keeping a gun. Yes, it'd be more strenuous to own a weapon, but why is it as easy if not easier to own a gun then a car? Weapons for hunting would hardly be effected by this at all.

This isn't going to happen, I know it, you know it, everyone know its. But some of it NEEDS to happen in some form. We NEED to slow down the flood of guns into everybody's hands. I'm sorry, but not everyone needs or should have a gun. And making it a bit harder to get, and keep, your guns isn't a bad thing. Also it could help cut down on minor violations as well if people could lose access to their guns. People sure seem to love their guns.