Reply #116: The Genie is out of the bottle [View All]

Wouldn't we be a hell of a lot better off?

If it was possible, perhaps we would. But the condition of "no guns at all" hasn't existed since about the year 1340. They're really not that hard to make, and they last hundreds of years when properly cared for. Someone, e.g. police and military, will always need them therefore there will always be a chance theirs will be stolen and diverted to criminals.

A philosophy of taking all guns away from everyone, or just from civilians, or even just all handguns, would make a person unelectable to national public office. Therefore it's a self-defeating position. Too many people out there, myself included, would never support a candidate for President or Congress or statewide office who expressed that extreme view.

Why does our country not only have an infatuation with guns, but an infatuation with shooting each other?

I don't believe that we do have an infatuation with shooting each other. We have a problem with violent crime, which includes criminal misuse of firearms.

It may sound elitist, but when we tack a $1000 fee onto the purchase of any firearm, the people buying guns will probably be a hell of a lot more responsible.

<sarcasm on> You may be on to something there, since more violent crime is committed by poor people than affluent ones. <sarcasm off>

And speaking of responsibility: mandatory trigger locks, gun safes, and safety classes. Cut down on accidents and stolen firearms.

You're preaching to the choir on gun safety. I don't know anyone who doesn't believe in it. But screw trigger locks. They're next to useless, and certainly of no value to someone like me who keeps his guns locked up in a 1,200 pound safe guarded by lions (well, cats; but they're very vicious cats).



Public policy should encourage safe storage without dictating to every individual how to store their own property. Tax breaks for gun safe purchases would be one way to do this. Education about the dangers of unsecured guns and the cleverness of even your own "good" kids who you are sure would never pick up and play with a gun can go a long way too.

And why do we only have safety classes for CCW permits? Why doesn't every gun owner have to have one.

I think gun safety should be taught in public schools. Even people who don't ever plan to own a gun can benefit from the training.

I myself am a gun owner, and I don't seriously think we have the slightest chance of taking away people's guns, but SOMEthing has got to be done about this aspect of our culture.

Your previous hyperbole is forgiven. :toast: