Oh, I agree... all semi-automatic weapons are devastating. So you must also think there should efforts to limit devastation caused by all semi-automatic weapons. I agree! I'd start with stronger background checks. Eliminating on-line gun sales, Closing the gun show loophole. Limits on the size of magazines and types of bullets. Prohibit people with a history of mental illness from purchasing weapons. Same with people convicted of violent crimes including spousal or child abuse. And I'd really like a single set of common laws so that people can't simply hop in the car and go to a neighboring state with weaker laws to buy up. What steps would you recommend?
No question. I don't think anyone questions gun culture is the problem. It is why we have so many damn guns and gun control is so difficult to pass.
Encourage a national permit standard (one that included routine safety classes) that would protect the permit holder, conversely hold non permit holders more responsible (meaning if a crime is commited with their weapon, they could be held responsible if they do not hold a permit). In conjunction, retail guns can only be sold at licensed locations that only sold guns. Guns shows would be considered retail. Online sales could only be sold intrastate, including ammo. Any type of guns that do not meet mandatory safety requirements would require a mandatory elevated permit. Features like lockouts and safetys should be required, perhaps even biometrics. Start restricting production capability of gun manufactures. That said, attacking the 2nd amendment is a poor strategy (banning weapons). Its well defended. And people do have a right to own weapons. That said, they do not have a right to be irresponsible and the government should be allowed to prosecute irresponsible gun owners in the event of a crime. Additionally tempering this weird gun fetish this country has will go a long ways. Guns shouldn't be on display at grocery stores (albiet this is not the case anymore) or pawn shops. Add friction to gun ownership and accidents and gun related crime will start to come down.
I'm good with much of the above. A national gun registry which would then be able to track gun use and movement is a good thing. Law enforcement would benefit from this. Add this to longer waiting periods which would allow law enforcement a better chance to prevent some crimes. I especially agree that specialized retail is the way to go. I appreciate you are trying to limit on-line sales but unfortunately I think there are still too many ways around things like "only intrastate sales". But at least its a step in the right direction. Redesigning new weapons makes sense but doesn't address the oversupply of weapons that currently exists. Again, a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, gun nuts, er, 2nd amendment protectors would oppose every reasonable suggestion you make above. Just as they oppose background checks (supported by over nine out of ten Americans). Notice not one of my recommendations prevented Americans from owning guns (other than mental health and past violent criminal behavior limitations). So gun crime continues, unhindered.
I can also agree with all of that. I would also add better tracking of weapons, red flag laws regarding people with criminal and histories of violence related to mental Illness.
"instant checks should do the job". Such a complete idiot. Even the least restrictive and most common sense solutions are opposed... "to feel better"... She should tell the parents of kids killed in school shootings that any solution would simply make them feel better...
To be a"conservative" and believe it's truly about mental health and not access to guns, you have to believe that no other countries have mental illness at the same rate as the US and oppose any effort to actually expand mental health coverage because that would be "socialism".
I didn’t even know there was a school shooting in Iowa yesterday. one kid dead…maybe that’s why it didn’t blow up
This one hit close to home literally. I live about an hour away in a similar sized town. My son is in the fourth grade and in two years will be at a combined high school - middle school campus like this. The kid who died was 11 and a sixth grader. You think you move to a small town and can avoid this **** but it’s everywhere. I think the only reason it made national news at all is because candidates are perpetually campaigning in Iowa so they got asked about it.
Real hero. RIP. Iowa principal who protected students during a high school shooting has died : NPR DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa principal who put himself in harm's way to protect students during a school shooting earlier this month died Sunday, a funeral home confirmed. Marburger was critically injured during the Jan. 4 attack, which began in the school's cafeteria as students were gathering for breakfast before class. An 11-year-old middle school student was killed in the shooting, and six other people were injured. The 17-year-old student who opened fire also died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. The day after the shooting, the state Department of Public Safety said Marburger "acted selflessly and placed himself in harm's way in an apparent effort to protect his students." Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said after the shooting that Marburger did some "pretty significant things" to protect others, but didn't release details. Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks said Marburger was a "hero" who intervened with the teenage gunman so students could escape. An 11-year-old sixth grader, Ahmir Jolliff, was killed in the shooting. Authorities said he was shot three times. The shooting happened just after 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 4, shortly before classes were set to begin on the first day back after winter break. Mortvedt said the shooting started in the cafeteria, where students from several grades were eating breakfast, then spilled outside the cafeteria but was contained to the north end of the school.
Very sad and respect to the principal. He died doing his duty and protecting his students. Too many stories like though in this country.
Jury finds Jennifer Crumbley guilty of involuntary manslaughter in son's school shooting Ethan Crumbley killed four students at his high school in November 2021. https://abcnews.go.com/US/jury-reac...rumbley-manslaughter-trial/story?id=106924349
