(February 16, 2019 at 2:03 pm)Jackalope Wrote: I usually don't get involved in gun politics anymore, however...
I'm an ex gun nut, the kind that felt that any gun control was unconstitutional. Ex military, ex NRA life, belonged to a number of other progun and competitive shooting organizations (GOA, JPFP, GSSF, IDPA, etc). Ex concealed carry permit holder. I carried a 1911 for years. Ex military weapon and handgun owner, and highly trained. I sold my collection several years ago and now only own a couple of .22s and two handguns that I gave my father and wanted back when he died. In safes, ammunition stored seperately. I see no reason to need to carry or even keep a gun at home for self defense. That is a personal choice.
IMO what is necessary is to reduce the number of guns in circulation amongst outlaws. That means enhancing NICS to prevent new sales to prohibited persons, mandating safe storage to reduce theft, and confiscation of guns used in a crime or possessed by prohibited persons. I was straw sales and other gun laws vigorously enforced.
I also don't really a bunch of inadequately trained yahoos running around with a pistol. I'd prefer it if people who are going to carry get trained in both combat firearms as well as the legal ramifications of carrying and the use of deadly force.
I would do more but in light of the Heller decision there are limits on what can be done at this time.
Yeah, such measures aren't going to prevent all gun crime, but it will over time reduce it. Perfect is the enemy of the good. Frankly, IMO, if you're not willing to do anything about the status quo, you are part of the problem.
I consider guys who proclaim themselves to be highly trained to be suspect. The stupidest things that I have ever seen people do with guns were done by guys who said they were highly trained. And when people were bitching at them about what they had done, they would grin condescendingly and talk about how highly trained and experienced they were. And then they sometimes received a face punching. Example: My niece's little punk of a husband. He's a veteran of Afghanistan. He was showing off his AR to my youngest nieces and nephew. He did it by coming into the room and pointing it at my nieces and nephew. I went ballistic, and he said "I was clearing the room!". I kept bitching at him, and he kept grinning at me and telling me how much experience he has. I cracked him in the jaw. Turns out that Mr Expert Warrior is a little fucking pussy who keeps whining about me punching him. You know, because he went from war hero to little bitch in about half a second. I hate that guy.
We do not inherit the world from our parents. We borrow it from our children.