At 14:27 13-6-01 -0700, Dean Forster wrote:
>I love how people automatically assume that there is
>almost nothing in place already. De facto
>registration is already in effect. You have the 3 day
>waiting period for handguns, you have to present a
>valid form of ID when making a purchase. There is a
>form in quadruplicate that is filled out and is
>retained by the dealer permanently- if the gun you
>purchased is found by the police, it *will* be traced
>back to you. If the dealer is out of business the
>records are held at the state or federal level.
>Requiring firearms safety and educational training is
>already implemented in the states that allow concealed
>carry. You are required to take 16 hours of
>instruction in this state (AZ) for your initial
>certification, and 8 hours every 4 years as a
>refresher.
I'm not impressed.
Let me tell you about the Dutch method (yes, we too allow citizens to own
guns).
First, you have to join a gun club. This isn't easy, because many clubs
only let you in when a member introduces you. They check for a criminal
background. The first few years, the only guns you are allowed to fire are
those owned by other members or the club itself. Then, finally, when the
club believes you are responsible enough to own a gun, you can buy one
yourself. First you go to a gun dealer and tell him which gun you'd like to
have. The dealer puts down your personal information and information about
the gun on a form, which you have to deliver to the police. Another
background check is made. If you check out OK, you can return to the gun
dealer and pick up your gun.
You have to remain a member of the gun club, and practice regularly to keep
your license (IIRC, it's only 50 rounds of ammo per year). If you don't
practice enough, you loose your gun and your gun license.
Strict rules on gun storage at home: gun in a locked cupboard which is
bolted to the wall or floor, ammo in an other room, also in a locked
cupboard which is bolted to the wall or floor. (So no keeping loaded guns
under your pillow!) This is checked from time to time by the police.
Violation of this rule leads to confiscation of the weapon and ammo, and
loss of your gun license.
Compared to this, the AZ regulations are, well, not very impressive.
>Realistically, the only thing that you can
>do to reduce gun violence is restrict law abiding
>citizens from having them.
No, you can reduce it by strict regulation, enforcing of those regulations,
and severe punishments for violation of the regulations. Other countries
allow their citizens to legally own guns, but don't have as much gun
violence as the US has.
>Remember prohibition?
>Criminal empires came out of that that linger today.
This implies that whenever you prohibit something, it inevitebly leads to a
dramatic increase in criminal activity. I doubt this will happen. What kind
of criminal empires will rise when you restrict gun ownership? Do you
really believe that everyone who legally owns a gun now would go buy an
illegal gun if gun ownership would be prohibited? Especially if there were
some very serious punishments if you'd get caught?
Jeroen
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