[CLOSED] Regulation of the Acquisition of Firearms

[New-Brussels]

Jan Herst clears his throat before jumping from his seat.

"Excuse me, delegate."

Heads turn around to face the attaché, surprised by such a sudden move.

"I believe that including 'Gun Control' in the title would be very pertinent for this resolution. Read this clause from the current draft once again."
He quotes :

3) All gun sellers are required to run background checks before selling firearms to individuals. They must also maintain records of their inventory and the firearms they sell.[...]

"Anyone under the world assembly who wishes to sell firearms to someone would now be subject to legislation that controls the way they distribute their product, guns. Thus, 'Gun Control' defines your intent very well. Please," he says in a very sincere tone, "do not infer that you are not trying to limit national sovereignty too much when you are aiming to implement such a resolution."

The attaché pauses to breathe before resuming, briefly polling the tension in the room.

"As you may have understood, we believe not unlike many member nations that such restrictions on armament distribution in general do no good for global harmony, let alone for public safety. We should let our world's sovereign leaders decide if their citizens should be harmless, in a sense. I think you'll find what truly is the spirit of this assembly when it will be time to decide."

The assembly stays calm for a minute before resuming it's proceedings.

OOC :

No beef, and notwithstanding the fact that I implemented gun control in New-Brussels, I still believe it would be misleading to not at least call this resolution "Common Sense Gun Control".

Obviously there have already been great debates over gun control which I have missed, and I think we already know that people will oppose this en bloc, but I think you should still submit your resolution as it does indeed profess a good load of common sense.

[Neo Byzantium]

Edgar Brits subtle ques chain slowly as he reads the Draft. He began with a stern look that slowly softened as he read the draft, culminating in him reading the final line. Finally, he waits for his opportunity to speak and seizes it by standing up from his chair in a reasonable manner.

"Delegate. The title of the proposal is rather vague, as the idea of 'common sense' varies from person to person. I recommend a change such as: 'The Gun Marketing Act For Encouraging Responsible Gun Sales' as it is what the bill proscribes upon the member states. The measures of 1, 2, 4, and 5 leave lots of autonomy and decision making to member nations, which I believe is needed for such a contentious issue. Although I am concerned about the possible use of the required records for use by the government for a crackdown, it is a law present in both my nation and in many others that allow the possession of firearms. I have no objections towards the rest of the draft, and will therefore vote in favor of it."

After speaking, he calmly resumed his spot in his seat.


OOC: Common Sense Gun Laws is a bad name, I do recommend the name Edgar proposed due to its objective nature and the fact it describes what it is.

[Jarish Inyo]

Opposed. We do not need international interference in what is purely a domestic issue. Plus we do not allow private citizens to access anyone’s criminal records. Only government officials and law enforcement are allowed to do so. Those who wish to sell firearms will not be able to run background checks. Nor will we create a waiting period to make non citizens fell safe.

[Grays Harbor]

1) Nations are encouraged to strengthen background checks and install grace periods between firearm transactions to allow for a more thorough background check.

Background checks are not quite the one-size-fits-all panacea some believe them to be. Grace/waiting periods are pointless. Criminals, who intend to do criminal things, are not subject to either when they purchase out of the back of a van someplace.

2) Nations are strongly recommended to create a requirement for its citizens to have a psychological evaluation before purchasing a gun in order to determine if the person in question is afflicted with an issue that makes them a hazard to the public.

And who does these evals? According to some, just the fact somebody wants to pwn a gun "proves" they are unstable and dangerous. Or this could become politicized and anybody not a stalwart of the ruling party is banned.

3) All gun sellers are required to run background checks before selling firearms to individuals. They must also maintain records of their inventory and the firearms they sell. It is mandatory that gun dealers report any firearm thefts to their local authorities.

A merchant required to keep records. What an idea! *ahem* INVENTORY CONTROL. It has been done since the first merchant opened the first stall to sell something. And mandating that thefts be reported? WOW! I bet nobody ever thought of that. "Hello, Police? Yeah, somebody stole my TV. My guns, nah, never mind about them." said nobody with stolen items ever.

4) Nations are prohibited from allowing people deemed "dangerous individuals" to purchase, sell, or handle a firearm.

Got a problem with this "dangerous individual" stuff. "been psychiatrically evaluated by a mental health professional" seems to cut into doctor-patient confidentiality, as well as a right to privacy for medical records. Unless you are advocating that all medical records be opened to any bureaucrat who wants to red them. Yeah, nothing could go wrong there.

5) Nations are urged to take measures to reduce transactions of firearms through unlawful means.

Oh, you mean like, say, POLICE WORK? In other news, water is wet.

6) Individuals afflicted with mental illnesses including but not limited to depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance abuse disorders are not considered an inherent danger to the public and are therefore not prohibited from acquiring, handling or selling a firearm for their mental affliction under this resolution.

Fluff. If you want Doctors to comply with violating their patients privacy as mandated in Clause 4, then this would of course be included. Unless the Doctors get no say in their diagnosis and that is turned over to political bureaucrats. Then it makes it even worse.


For something called "Common Sense Gun Laws" I am not seeing a whole lot of common sense in this thing, just a gaggle of knee jerk reactions, and pointless requirements.

[Araraukar]

According to some, just the fact somebody wants to pwn a gun "proves" they are unstable and dangerous.

OOC: That would totally be the case in Araraukar.

"Hello, Police? Yeah, somebody stole my TV. My guns, nah, never mind about them." said nobody with stolen items ever.

Unless, according to CSI tv series, they'd done something shady with said gun and wanted to declare it stolen right when they're calling 911 about a house break-in...

Unless the Doctors get no say in their diagnosis and that is turned over to political bureaucrats.

*mutters darkly something about Real Life*

[Kranostav]

This is not a WA issue. I will strongly oppose.

[Copperward]

Thank you everyone for your constructive criticism and for sharing your opinions on gun control and the content in my draft. I'm sorry for not responding to everyone's comments and for neglecting this proposal.

In hindsight, making a proposal oriented towards a topic as controversial as gun control without much prior experience was downright ignorant, and I sincerely sorry for offending anyone on the topic of mental health and gun control with this draft. I'm going to make a poll on this thread on people's views on a gun control resolution, and people's opinion on the current draft. If there's an overwhelming consensus that my draft is unfit for the WA, I'll suspend drafting and possibly close down the draft for good.

[Copperward]

After observing how the majority of people believe that a GA resolution on gun control is both ineffective and impedes on national sovereignty, I am closing the drafting of this proposal, and likely ending it for good. Bring out the kerosene, Separatist Peoples!

[Kenmoria]

After observing how the majority of people believe that a GA resolution on gun control is both ineffective and impedes on national sovereignty, I am closing the drafting of this proposal, and likely ending it for good. Bring out the kerosene, Separatist Peoples!

(OOC: In most cases, drafting gun control is nearly impossible to do anyway, never mind for a relatively new author. I would certainly like to see you around here again sometime.)

[Copperward]

After observing how the majority of people believe that a GA resolution on gun control is both ineffective and impedes on national sovereignty, I am closing the drafting of this proposal, and likely ending it for good. Bring out the kerosene, Separatist Peoples!

(OOC: In most cases, drafting gun control is nearly impossible to do anyway, never mind for a relatively new author. I would certainly like to see you around here again sometime.)

I'll probably take some time off from the WA and writing proposals, especially with this nation given that I've resigned from the WA to pass the WA status to my current primary account, but I'll be back to continuing my older proposal in water shortages very soon. Thanks for your help, King of Grammar.