In The New Republic, Alec McGinnis is calling for a national conversation about guns. Why is it that we need one? I thought that the Democrat controlled senate rejected the last proposed gun control bill in the aftermath of Newtown even though there were Republicans like senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania who voted for the bill. It was killed by the Democrats. So, let me ask again, why do we need a "national conversation"?
The truth is that the folks like McGinnis who seem to want endless conversations about guns do not seem to understand the country. The majority of Americans like that they have the constitutional right to weapons. They will not go along with any suggestion that gun ownership be limited except in the most logical ways that seem likely to actually reduce needless violence by taking guns away from criminals or the mentally ill. Want to pass a law that bans convicted felons from owning guns? That would pass (and is already the law in nearly every state). Want to pass a law that says that mentally unbalanced folks cannot have weapons? That would be harder to put in place since there is no clear definition of what constitutes a person who is mentally unbalanced. Nevertheless, that limitation would be accepted in most states (and is already in place in many.)
Let's take it one step further. How about a law that required mental health professional to report to the authorities patients who are exhibiting violent tendencies that could endanger other people? Don't tell me about doctor - patient privilege. The same mental health professionals are already required to turn in patients who they suspect of abusing others or of being abused themselves. This is the kind of law that even the NRA could support. Most people would support it as well. This law has, you see, a clear connection between the regulation and the likely reduction of gun violence.
So where do the gun control folks concentrate? They want assault weapons bans even though only a tiny portion of gun violence involves those weapons. The ban is the equivalent of prohibiting the use of hybrid vehicles to reduce traffic fatalities. They also want further background checks before allowing gun purchases. But that does not work. The shooter in Newtown had guns that were obtained after full background checks were performed. The same is true in shooting after shooting. there is no point into making it difficult for regular citizens to get guns if the goal is to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. Again, people know this.
So why have yet another national conversation about guns. Why say the same things one more time that just were said earlier this year. The truth is that McGinnis does not want a national conversation; he wants everyone to change their minds and accept what his point of view. In short, however, that is just not going to happen.
The truth is that the folks like McGinnis who seem to want endless conversations about guns do not seem to understand the country. The majority of Americans like that they have the constitutional right to weapons. They will not go along with any suggestion that gun ownership be limited except in the most logical ways that seem likely to actually reduce needless violence by taking guns away from criminals or the mentally ill. Want to pass a law that bans convicted felons from owning guns? That would pass (and is already the law in nearly every state). Want to pass a law that says that mentally unbalanced folks cannot have weapons? That would be harder to put in place since there is no clear definition of what constitutes a person who is mentally unbalanced. Nevertheless, that limitation would be accepted in most states (and is already in place in many.)
Let's take it one step further. How about a law that required mental health professional to report to the authorities patients who are exhibiting violent tendencies that could endanger other people? Don't tell me about doctor - patient privilege. The same mental health professionals are already required to turn in patients who they suspect of abusing others or of being abused themselves. This is the kind of law that even the NRA could support. Most people would support it as well. This law has, you see, a clear connection between the regulation and the likely reduction of gun violence.
So where do the gun control folks concentrate? They want assault weapons bans even though only a tiny portion of gun violence involves those weapons. The ban is the equivalent of prohibiting the use of hybrid vehicles to reduce traffic fatalities. They also want further background checks before allowing gun purchases. But that does not work. The shooter in Newtown had guns that were obtained after full background checks were performed. The same is true in shooting after shooting. there is no point into making it difficult for regular citizens to get guns if the goal is to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. Again, people know this.
So why have yet another national conversation about guns. Why say the same things one more time that just were said earlier this year. The truth is that McGinnis does not want a national conversation; he wants everyone to change their minds and accept what his point of view. In short, however, that is just not going to happen.
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