Chas, I am mostly in agreement with your list. The problem I see is enforceability. Which doesn't mean the goals ought not be pursued, only that there really is no way to determine on an ongoing basis that all 300,000,000 privately-owned guns are being stored in a safe manner, safely transported, or that felons are not in possession of them.
The other problem, of course, relates to reciprocity. Personally, I can't envision a world where "rational" in Texas is going to equate to "rational" in New York. I can't even think of a starting point for that one. Obviously I think "rational" changes a little bit depending on the culture of the individual state. For example, in states like Wyoming or Alabama, where hunting is the order of the day and virtually everyone has a CCW permit, even open carry is no big deal. But in California, you would cause a riot and likely get shot yourself if you tried it, even in the few areas where it is still permitted. Given the population density, I can understand that to an extent.
And people do have an irrational response to guns in general -- even gun owners, sometimes! Here's an example: I went to a little, sleepy country restaurant a couple of years ago, just a wayside joint on the way to somewhere from somewhere else. After we'd gotten ourselves settled on stools at the cafe counter, I noticed the cook, who was doing his thing in full view of the customers, had a .45 strapped to his hip. It gave me a bit of a jolt when I first saw it -- and I live in an open carry state. I wasn't afraid, but I had to examine my discomfort with the sight... it was just so incongruous. I guess it just sent an unpleasant message, even though I understood his concerns. I wondered how a non-gun owner would feel.
So... education is a big issue. It's the only way of which I am aware to dispel some of the irrational fears of guns, and maybe the only way to get gun owners to appreciate some of the legitimate concerns of people living in densely populated areas who keep getting hurt with guns. The biggest problem I see is getting folks to open their minds -- on both sides of the issue.
The other problem, of course, relates to reciprocity. Personally, I can't envision a world where "rational" in Texas is going to equate to "rational" in New York. I can't even think of a starting point for that one. Obviously I think "rational" changes a little bit depending on the culture of the individual state. For example, in states like Wyoming or Alabama, where hunting is the order of the day and virtually everyone has a CCW permit, even open carry is no big deal. But in California, you would cause a riot and likely get shot yourself if you tried it, even in the few areas where it is still permitted. Given the population density, I can understand that to an extent.
And people do have an irrational response to guns in general -- even gun owners, sometimes! Here's an example: I went to a little, sleepy country restaurant a couple of years ago, just a wayside joint on the way to somewhere from somewhere else. After we'd gotten ourselves settled on stools at the cafe counter, I noticed the cook, who was doing his thing in full view of the customers, had a .45 strapped to his hip. It gave me a bit of a jolt when I first saw it -- and I live in an open carry state. I wasn't afraid, but I had to examine my discomfort with the sight... it was just so incongruous. I guess it just sent an unpleasant message, even though I understood his concerns. I wondered how a non-gun owner would feel.
So... education is a big issue. It's the only way of which I am aware to dispel some of the irrational fears of guns, and maybe the only way to get gun owners to appreciate some of the legitimate concerns of people living in densely populated areas who keep getting hurt with guns. The biggest problem I see is getting folks to open their minds -- on both sides of the issue.
