Originally Posted by
Dragonmaster Lou
Originally Posted by
Dreck
In the context of the original language (which is also made clearer when reading correspondence between the Founders), "well-regulated" meant well trained and well disciplined. It had absolutely nothing to do with registration or permission. The idea was that private citizens would get out and train/drill, and be as, or nearly as proficient with their arms as any soldier.
Given that it seems how at least a significant proportion of gun owners are neither well-trained nor well-disciplined, I wonder if some sort of training requirement would pass Constitutional muster (and yeah, I've stated this before as well).
What data are you using to back up that assertion? There are tens of thousands of gun owners in America. I personally know of less than a hundred; all but a couple are both well disciplined and well trained.
Originally Posted by
Dragonmaster Lou
I mean, I'm all for law-abiding, responsible folks owning guns, but I think an absolute free-for-all in gun purchasing is a bad idea. I've generally used car operation/ownership as the model of how far I think gun ownership/regulation should be managed. In some ways, it could simplify things. For example, let's take background checks. Right now, where applicable, background checks are pretty much done at the point of sale (if I understand correctly), i.e., at a gun shop. However, having a gun license akin to a driver's license would mean that you've already been pre-screened and therefore just showing said license would suffice. Also, much like certain crimes, bad behaviors, or health issues can result in your driver's license being revoked, the same could be said for a gun license.
Instead of just simply saying, "It ain't about what you think. The Founding Fathers had long considered their decision and knew what they were doing," I will tell you that a Concealed Carry permit amounts to what you are describing. In Indiana, at least, one must be fingerprinted (on file with the various alphabet-soup governmental agencies), pass a federal background check, be convicted of no felonies or violent crimes, and pay for the privilege. It costs a lot more than a driver's license. By your reasoning, showing your CC permit should get you same-day expedited service when buying additional guns. It's not that way. Every time you go to purchase another firearm, there is a follow-up check and a copy of the form 4473 goes into that person's electronic file. The government has a fairly decent record of every firearm purchase made through a gun show or shop.
Even if my driver's license were revoked, I could still go buy a car. No matter how many felonies, trips to jail for "certain crimes, bad behaviors, or health issues," a person can put down money and buy a car. One violent crime or one felony, one notation from a physician, and a person's right to own a gun is stripped away forever.
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