Why is gun registration a complete no-go with almost all of you? I feel like we think similarly, yet I'm completely alone in thinking we should have it so that background checks are more likely to truly be universal. I understand that this is also a move a regime who wanted broad gun confiscation would make, but couldn't the same be said about almost any gun regulation that makes it harder to purchase guns? Don't we have to draw the line somewhere? If we all believe in background checks, why not draw the line here? I am open to being persuaded, and I hope you are as well.
I understand that, but if that were the case, we would oppose any measures that make it more difficult to purchase guns. If we want to try to keep guns in the hands of good people, and out of the hands of bad people, it's hard to do that without making it at least a little more difficult for good people to buy guns. Background checks, for example, seem to be popular. They technically make it harder for good people to buy guns. Why should we have those? Why draw the line there and not here? You get me?
I do too. I’m a gun owner. I would be in favor of gun registration, though it would probably only be effective as to those who buy them legally. Also, how would it prevent mass shootings? Frankly, I’m tired of the gun control issue. There are so many, and we have courts opposed to any meaningful measures based upon what I consider a wrong interpretation of the 2A, that it seems futile at this point. We have 350,000,000 folks in America, some of whom are going to kill others with guns no matter what we do at this point.
I’m against registration but for background checks, increased age to 21 unless LEO or military, red flag laws with limits, and increased penalties for gun related crimes, especially by convicted felons who commit crimes with a gun. I’m for magazine capacity up to 15 rounds. 16 up can be banned or at least come with conditions.
There are about 400 million guns in the US give or take. There is simply no way government can do anything about that (thank goodness). Regulations won't do any thing about gun crimes other than make it easier for the criminals.
I own a lot of guns and I'm OK with talking about registration. Edit: I did a terrible job conveying my thoughts so I edited it to be more clear.
I'm curious why you'd take that stance. What makes a gun so special? You have to register your vehicle, and record it being transferred to someone else when you sell it. As the owner, you are also liable for any damages caused by anyone driving that vehicle. Transferring ownership and having it recorded is the only way to end your liability associated with that vehicle. Why can't we treat guns the same way? I think using a similar system would go a LONG way towards eventually keeping guns out of the hands of people that shouldn't have them. Over time. Yes, I fully realize there are hundreds of millions of guns out there already. But this is something that should pay off in the long game, maybe in a few decades. You are background checked when you buy a gun, and that serial number is registered to you. You should be responsible for anything bad that happens with that gun. This is all about promoting responsibility and keeping guns stored safely (most gun owners already do this). If a child gets his hands on it and shoots a friend - you failed to secure your dangerous instrument. If it gets stolen and ends up being used in a gang shooting - you failed to secure your dangerous instrument. If you want to transfer the gun, you'd do it through a gun store, and the purchaser would be fully background checked, and assume responsibility for that serial number going forward. This kind of strict liability would eventually help to limit the supply of guns changing hands on the street and making it into the hands of people that shouldn't have one. Pipe dream? Maybe.... but I have yet to hear a better idea.
The fear is that govt will one day use the registry to confiscate guns… see Beato in Texas… The problem is the ATF was keeping an illegal registry already. It didn’t make background checks anymore reliable or secure and it didn’t stop mass shootings. Make legal age 21 ( I’d prefer 24) Make red flag laws nation wide Mandatory background checks on all fire arm sells… private or commercial Mandatory jail time for anyone caught with an illegal gun or carrying illegally.
You misread my post (to be fair I could have done a better job phrasing it). I meant I am open to the idea of gun registration.
I am sure it is a slippery slope argument, and such high levels of distrust for “the other side” that it is a first step towards further gun control, to the more extreme view that the sole purpose for registration is for the government eventually coming for your guns based on registration data. Slippery slope arguments have merit but they are also used to kill a lot of good ideas.
Many see gun registration as the first step toward gun confiscation. You really can't confiscate, if you don't know who possesses the firearms.
I probably have a different definition of what is “store properly”. I don’t have a gun safe so mine are in a closet with some others in my chest of drawers, a couple under the bed. Some are loaded since having an unloaded gun is useless. If I’m broken in to and the bad guys search real well they will find some of them if not all. Also when you conceal carry in Florida you have to leave your gun in the vehicle if you go into a bar, bank, post office, government building, airport, etc. there’s the possibility it could get stolen while left in the car. I don’t think any of those circumstances mentioned are negligent and worthy of criminal or civil liability. My 2 cents
I would like to see the US adopt a system like Sweden. They take gun ownership seriously, where to own a gun they have to be of age, must go through training for up to a year in preparation to owning a gun, pass an exam, and register before being allowed to own a firearm. They also have more guns per capita than the US and can own up to 16 firearms, yet they have far fewer mass shootings. For the gun control opponents in the US, my question is why would you not want more control over who owns a gun? It makes the debate about gun control much more practical and less polarized.
