Over ten states have passed so called "red flag" laws. These are statutes that permit a court to order that an individual be stripped of any guns he or she may own for a period up to a year. It limits these orders to people shown to be a threat to themselves or to others. In a state like Florida where the Parkland High School shooter was reported multiple times to the Broward County police and even flagged as a possible school shooter only for those warnings to be ignored, this sort of law would have allowed the shooter's weapons to be confiscated. Finally, we have some gun laws that try to take weapons from those who are dangerous rather than citizens who want to defend themselves and their homes.
The normal gun control measures call for some hurdle that one must pass in order to buy guns legally. Nearly all criminals don't get their guns legally, however; the number is less than 10% of those who commit crimes with guns. Making it harder for regular law abiding citizens to get guns won't reduce gun crimes in any measurable way. On the other hand, if police, mental health professionals or family members can report someone who has guns and is a threat to others and, after a hearing, a court can order that person to surrender those weapons, there could be a difference in certain situation.
The average person who uses a gun for hunting or target practice would be unaffected by these laws. On the other hand, a suicidal person with a gun might well be disarmed. The law is far from perfect, but finally, FINALLY, we have a gun control measure that might actually reduce the number of gun deaths.
The normal gun control measures call for some hurdle that one must pass in order to buy guns legally. Nearly all criminals don't get their guns legally, however; the number is less than 10% of those who commit crimes with guns. Making it harder for regular law abiding citizens to get guns won't reduce gun crimes in any measurable way. On the other hand, if police, mental health professionals or family members can report someone who has guns and is a threat to others and, after a hearing, a court can order that person to surrender those weapons, there could be a difference in certain situation.
The average person who uses a gun for hunting or target practice would be unaffected by these laws. On the other hand, a suicidal person with a gun might well be disarmed. The law is far from perfect, but finally, FINALLY, we have a gun control measure that might actually reduce the number of gun deaths.
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