Guns in America: What to do?

[Sanctissima]

This is a bit of an open question to those Americans here on NSG who support gun rights and are generally opposed to repealing the 2nd Amendment. It may seem like a bit of an extension to several other threads about guns, but I think this particular topic is worthy of its own thread.

Basically, my question is as follows:

What do you think should be done?

Although we all have different positions in the gun debate, I think the observation is pretty unanimous that the United States of America has a problem with guns. Whatever opinion one may have on the subject, it seems that everyone can at least agree that there is a problem and something has to be done. This seems to be often overlooked in other threads, so I'd like to open the floor to those who support gun rights to offer your proposed solutions. The problem is there, what do you think should be done?

[Glathriel]

I think the biggest problem is lax enforcement. Every time another shooting makes the headlines nobody makes an effort to enforce the existing laws - it's almost always some knee jerk reaction to make more rules that are even more unenforceable

[Tyrinth]

A complete repeal and rework of existing laws.

But it's not going to happen, so who cares.

[The Union of the West]

I think we should close the loopholes that allow people to purchase guns without a background and mental health check, and people should go through safety training.

[Washington Resistance Army]

I think the biggest problem is lax enforcement. Every time another shooting makes the headlines nobody makes an effort to enforce the existing laws - it's almost always some knee jerk reaction to make more rules that are even more unenforceable

This pretty much.

[Ifreann]

Ignore the problem and hope it goes away on its own.

[Internet Freedom Republic]

I think the biggest problem is lax enforcement. Every time another shooting makes the headlines nobody makes an effort to enforce the existing laws - it's almost always some knee jerk reaction to make more rules that are even more unenforceable

Amen. I live in California, which has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country, and yet people are still calling for more laws when the state is already very close to stepping over the Constitutional line.

[Grinning Dragon]

Repeal the NFA, GCA68, Hughes Amendment.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Repeal the NFA, GCA68, Hughes Amendment.

Also this, the Hughes Amendment is all sorts of stupid.

[Big Jim P]

Go with national ccw reciprocity. Constitutional carry for each of the states.

[United Marxist Nations]

Make safety courses necessary for new owners. Other than that and background checks, there isn't really much that can be done.

[Libreng]

Increase firearms training in schools, fund gun safety programs, expand concealed carry, and help people with mental disabilities. This is an agenda that will work much better than prohibiting certain types of weapons.

[The Liberated Territories]

Increase firearms training in schools, fund gun safety programs, expand concealed carry, and help people with mental disabilities. This is an agenda that will work much better than prohibiting certain types of weapons.

Quite this much here yes. Although why can't gun safety programs fund themselves? If you are a gun-seller, and want to avoid any bad reputation that may be associated with your clients harming themselves or others inavertedly, I'd think that you'd be pressured to provide some gun safety tips, perhaps like free courses along with the gun like Mac will give free computer lessons to Mac users.

[Libreng]

Increase firearms training in schools, fund gun safety programs, expand concealed carry, and help people with mental disabilities. This is an agenda that will work much better than prohibiting certain types of weapons.

Quite this much here yes. Although why can't gun safety programs fund themselves? If you are a gun-seller, and want to avoid any bad reputation that may be associated with your clients harming themselves or others inavertedly, I'd think that you'd be pressured to provide some gun safety tips, perhaps like free courses along with the gun like Mac will give free computer lessons to Mac users.

Ah, but then why aren't gun sellers already doing that on a mass scale?

[Washington Resistance Army]

Quite this much here yes. Although why can't gun safety programs fund themselves? If you are a gun-seller, and want to avoid any bad reputation that may be associated with your clients harming themselves or others inavertedly, I'd think that you'd be pressured to provide some gun safety tips, perhaps like free courses along with the gun like Mac will give free computer lessons to Mac users.

Ah, but then why aren't gun sellers already doing that on a mass scale?

Monetary reasons most likely.

[The Liberated Territories]

Quite this much here yes. Although why can't gun safety programs fund themselves? If you are a gun-seller, and want to avoid any bad reputation that may be associated with your clients harming themselves or others inavertedly, I'd think that you'd be pressured to provide some gun safety tips, perhaps like free courses along with the gun like Mac will give free computer lessons to Mac users.

Ah, but then why aren't gun sellers already doing that on a mass scale?

Possibly many reasons. Fear of overarching litigation. Lack of profits or incentives to make such programs due to regulations and taxes. Hostility by the government to gun owners to set up these kinds of services, even if they provide a "good."

[The Wolven League]

We should eat them, of course.

[Esternial]

Considering the climate around this issue, anything that is done should be well-substantiated, be it any changes in favour of gun owners or not.

A lot of "ideas" get thrown around but I've seen little to convince me that they'll work, nor have I seen anything that convinces me that they won't. Most arguments are based on some kind of personal "logic" that lack substance. For something like this you'd need a study or two to support your claims.

It's kinda off-putting and if NSG is anything to go by only a small fraction of arguments made and possible ideas proposed in the gun debate are actually worth considering.

[Libreng]

Ah, but then why aren't gun sellers already doing that on a mass scale?

Monetary reasons most likely.

Hence why I propose public funding.

[Fanosolia]

I've grown to be of an inbetween opinion, but I am in another country so I might be out of it for a american politics.

Background checks, safety training, and licenses/permits are a must. I think very few people disagree with that. I personally could go either way with registration. Same outright bans (though to be fair, I shouldn't be the one you ask for that. RCMP actually regulated them here if I recall correctly), however I do think that perhaps a type of restriction that only the dedicated can acquire them? I don't know. It's been something I was thinking over in my head for sometime, but probably not good policy. Aside from that, you can be as pro-gun or anti-gun as you like. That's my minimum.

Also obviously help though with mental illness too. I feel bad for never thinking about them when talking about this topic. Though that should go without saying to be blunt.

[Hladgos]

Crack down on the black market. Maybe a computerized gun database. The legal purchace of firearms is good already, other than seller error due to incompitence.

[Ifreann]

We should eat them, of course.

No, no, it's "eat the rich".

[Great Sofannia]

We should eat them, of course.

No, no, it's "eat the rich".

Even more evil and disgusting than the former. *gets shot for thinking Iffy was serious*
Let's turn the US into a state-by-state experimentation program for arms-bearing, allowing each state absolute control over firearms laws, then invite scientists from everywhere to study them all. Yes, even the CDC can give moneyz to do this, Congress.
It'll be fun.

[Saiwania]

My official position- require registration and background checks for pistols and semi-automatic rifles but not for shotguns and bolt action rifles.

[Fanosolia]

My official position- require registration and background checks for pistols and semi-automatic rifles but not for shotguns and bolt action rifles.

You know I've seen that somewhere before? Why not for shotgun and bolt action?