Typical liberal thinking .... Cut your nose off to spite your face. Joining the NRA would only fund your opposition.

Shoot someone-Yes
Kill them-Yes
Enjoy it-No
Want to do it again-No
Would I do it again-Yes, if called upon

The price for Freedom is paid for by the blood of your brothers-in-arms and by the blood of the enemy. Don't erode what has cost the ulimate price .

 

Ted Kennedy's Lincoln has killed more people than my guns. Any questions?

 

If you're alluding to ancient history, it wasn't a Lincoln. It was a Buick. Or was it an Oldsmobile? I think it was an Oldsmobile. It definitely wasn't a Lincoln.

 

In my state, you need to get relicensed every 6 years up to a certain age. Then it's every 2 years, I think. You need to pass both a vision and a written test. While it does not guarantee a person is actually able to drive a vehicle, it does weed out people who have forgotten laws and who need vision correction.

A renewable firearm license would be one step towards making sure people understand current laws and that at least they are still somewhat mentally competent enough to pass a test.

I fail to see what's wrong with gun registration. If you are following the law, you should not be concerned. Look at it this way. If you were in law enforcement, wouldn't you want to know that a house you're entering, with an arrest warrant, had firearms inside? Wouldn't you want to know that the guy you're going to arrest or question has a firearms license? YES, the government needs to know who owns guns. This knowledge can help maintain the safety of law enforcement personnel.

Yes, it would absolutely be a deterrent to some criminals if possessing a gun while committing a crime would carry a mandatory felony charge and a mandatory prison term. It would absolutely be worthwhile to have a bank robber go in unarmed rather than carrying a weapon. Even if it saves just one person from being killed, it's absolutely worth it. That person saved could be a relative or good friend.

Where I live, we have a rather strict gun registration law and it's been in place since 1995, I believe. Anybody who wants to buy a gun here needs a permit that's good for a year. If you buy privately, the seller and buyer needs to go to the police station where there's a special window. The gun is placed in a drawer, like you find at drive up bank tellers. The gun is inspected and the registration numbers verified. Then the gun is turned over to the buyer after the permit is verified. The gun registration is transferred to the buyer.

So far, it has not caused any problems. No complaints. The buyers know they are buying a legal weapon. To a lot of people, knowing that they are purchasing a legal weapon (i.e., not stolen, etc.) means a lot. The sellers are also protected because the gun is no longer registered to them.

Everything is above board and law abiding citizens have no problems with the local system.

BTW, anybody who thinks more laws won't make a difference is a fool. It will absolutely make a difference. It gives law enforcement another avenue to pursue in putting the bad people away. Without the laws, how can they put the criminals away? They can catch them, but how do you keep them locked up? LAWS, that's how.

 

Actually, it could work and it could be done within a reasonable amount of time. Of course, the first year or two would help further the right wing NRA cause, but sooner than later, the whole makeup of the NRA could be changed.

Personally, I think the NRA does a great job in teaching gun handling and safety. What I don't like is the fact that the NRA is one of, if not the biggest, lobbyist in Washington D.C. It's too political and makes politicians pander to the NRA. I prefer to have politicians who listen to the constituents who elected them rather than to a national organization who may not have my areas best interests in mind.

The NRA ignores other issues with a single minded zeal. They back a politician because that particular politician happens to support the wants of the NRA. The NRA doesn't care what else the politician is in favor of or against. That single mindedness is where the problem is. So long as the NRA gets their way, they don't give a damned about anything else.

Contrary to what right wing conservatives believe, most liberals are not against gun ownership. Peole label me a liberal, but I'm guessing that I own more guns than the average person does in this country.

Actually, I don't like that label. Some of my views, especially when it comes to fiscal issues, would surprise you. I think I've said it before, I don't belong to a political party because I support the candidate, not the party. While I do support more Democrats, I also openly support Republicans. There are a-holes in all the parties. I just happen to refuse to support any of the a-holes no matter what the party. Contrast that to the Republican party right wingers who will support an a-hole just because that person belongs to the Republican party. How smart is that? Not very.

There's an a-hole Republican running for Congress from my district. He's the poster boy for the NRA and the conservative right. He's still an a-hole carpet bagger and the state Republican party doesn't support him. Still, he got a lot of the Republican votes just because he's a Republican. Never mind that he will alienate himself in Congress should he get elected because he's such an a-hole. They still vote for him because he has an R next to his name.

 

And what does registration really accomplish? Law abiding citizens just have to jump through a few more hoops to own a firearm. Some measure of satisfaction the gun is legal. Ok fine.

There is literally no impact on criminals who illegally obtain firearms. As it is, most are never prosecuted on existing gun laws when they are caught anyways. Adding another law and penalty will do nothing to deter those who don't abide by the law as it stands today.

 

OK - lets take this drivers license vs firearms license comparison first. What amendment to the US Constitution is it that guarantees people the right to keep and drive motor vehicles? Oh yeah - it doesn't exist.

There are several million Jews who are stark proof that this is not the case. After all, it was the law that they had to register their religious beliefs in 1930's Germany.

I think you need to modify this statement to read "If you were in law enforcement, wouldn't you want to know that a house you're entering, with an arrest warrant, had legally registered firearms inside?" How many law-abiding citizens who have fully complied with all laws will be having arrest warrants served on them? My guess is 0, as compared to the people who have no regard for laws, and as such probably didn't obtain their firearm legally, and failed to register it after they acquired it. If law enforcement were to place the utmost faith in this information, it could instill a false sense of security when they are serving that warrant on someone who has an illegal, unregistered firearm.

Laws in and of themselves do absolutely NOTHING to deter crime, as a look at national violent crime rates would tell you. Unless I am mistaken, murder, rape and assault are already illegal. In order to have any effect, laws have to be both enforceable AND enforced. Additionally, consequences for breaking those laws have to be in place, and severe enough to serve as a deterrent. When Joe Murderer gets caught and convicted, don't throw him in the pen and give him all the luxuries he never had at home. If he doesn't get the death penalty, make prison miserable enough that NO ONE wants a second visit. Bring back the chain gangs, take away the TVs, get rid of the weight machines, just so long as it isn't a vacation club. Putting more laws in the books for something that is already illegal is assinine, and a waste of taxpayer money.

 

Dennis

As has been eluded to, driving a car is not a right clearly established in our US Constitution as is keeping and bearing firearms.

You must admit (unless you just disrespect everyone with an opposing opinion) that there is rationale for being concerned that a licensing data registry could ultimately be used to disarm the populace. It has been done before, and could very well be done again.

I constantly hear the argument from people "I own guns, but we've got to do something to stop all the killings that are taking place." If you are truly an open-minded person not adherent to any type of ideology, why not think out of the box as far as solutions. How about a federal law that makes any violent crime committed with a handgun a federal crime mandatorily punishable by execution. A special fast-track system could be set up, with limited appeals that run out within a year, and guaranteed acquittal or execution with 18 months.

Of course, I don't think we need any new laws, just the old ones to be enforced. But I'm often times puzzled by the lack of any other suggestion by people that claim to believe in the right to own guns, other than to license and register firearms.
[B]Actually, it could work and it could be done within a reasonable amount of time. Of course, the first year or two would help further the right wing NRA cause, but sooner than later, the whole makeup of the NRA could be changed.

I also would like to commend you on your recognition of NRA's safety classes for children. People often times mock it, but it is real, and I believe it does save lives.

The NRA is so single-minded because that right is of the utmost importance. If that right disappears, all the other rights go by the wayside. And I think people labeled you liberal because you are always bashing conservatives....Thus, deduction leads one to believe you are a liberal....

 

Last time I checked, ancient history is still history. So if I killed someone today, after 30 years I'm automatically forgiven in D's World....KEWL !!

Well guys, D is back for his monthly dose of attention. Post away for D's mental well-being....

 

It doesn't matter if a registered firearm is kept in the house or not. A cop entering someones house, with a warrant, had better assume a gun is in the house. If a place is being searched because of a suspected crime, why would the cop think an unregistered firearm wouldn't be in the house?

I agree with JDMnAR, this would leed to a false sense of security, and result in a negative impact upon law enforcement. I believe too many cops already think they are a tin god because they have a badge and a gun. Have you ever noticed how egotistical attitudes change when they find out they aren't the only ones carrying?

If I'm following the law, they needn't be concerned about my firearms. If the goverment wants to know if I have firearm, then they can get a warrant and ask me. But they better have a real good reason for wanting to know.

As for history, look at Britain. Their gun laws started with gun registration, and turned into gun banning. Now they have some of the highest crime rates in the world, mostly becasue criminals don't have to worry about getting their a$$es blown away by the sheeple.

Anyone who thinks additional laws are needed, when the ones in place aren't enforced, is a fool. It's just propaganda to make some politician look good.

How do you feel about balistic finger printing of weapons? Do you believe ballistics should be done along with the registration of firearms?

 

Registration of firearms is illegle plain and simple. Is someone going to rewrite the constitution? If not then why do people keep bringing it up?

I am not about to be bothered with having to register my gun or take a test for a licence because no one else is going to tell me if it is OK for me to have one its none of their business if I have one or not. I follow the laws. I had posted somewhere either here or somewhere a situation with my 14 year old daughter who I now have custody of. She was molested by her step-dad. Now he is a little pissed about being arrested and having to go to court over it. Anyway to make a long story short he had told me how easy it would be for him to break in my house in the middle of the night and kill me with his ti quk dow (or what ever bullsh*t) it is.

He knows I dont know it, nor do I need to because a 12gage will take care of that. Someones comes through my door at night and if they are not screaming FIRE or some other emergency they will be shoot, I don't care who it is since they have no right to be in my house without MY permission or a warrant.

It is all quit simple but yet some people miss the point we need to get rid of these hundreds of stupid laws we have and just have one like someone suggested. If you commit a crime and have a gun, rather you use it or not you get life (UNTIL YOU DIE IN PRISON) or the death penelty. What is so hard to understand about that. See with that law you dont have to worry about people who commit felonies having a gun, if it is something that was commited without a gun then oh well what is the point of telling them they can't have one?

The point is there will NEVER be registration since its UNconstitionally, there will NEVER be a licence to own a gun since its UNconstitionally.

I guess to wrap it up the point is the constitution states that I CAN HAVE A GUN, and for those that don't like that MOVE OUT OF THE COUNTRY

 

It's really strange.

Dogs are licensed. Drivers are licensed. Doctors are licensed. Nurses are licensed. Businesses are licensed. Bicycles are registered. Cars are registered. Radios are licensed. Boats are licensed. Trailers are licensed. Radars are licensed. Hunters are licensed. Practically every electronic device is licensed. Why no outcry?

I still fail to see the logic in the opposition to gun registration. My guns are all registered. Nothing has happened to me or my guns. Nobody has come knocking on my door because I'm a gun owner. I don't see where gun registration has hurt me.

Is it peer pressure? Is it a case of lemmings following the leader? Do you blindly follow the NRA? Do you trade, buy and sell guns often so you just don't want to be bothered with the paper work? Do you have something to hide from the authorities? Don't you trust your government?

 

Here again - where in the US Constitution is the ownership/utilization/practice of any of these items guaranteed? That is a fundamental flaw in these comparisons, IMO.

Quote:

Nothing has happened to me or my guns. Nobody has come knocking on my door because I'm a gun owner. I don't see where gun registration has hurt me.

One word should be tacked on to the end of each of those sentences - yet. How many times in history have groups of people been singled out and mistreated (brutalized, discriminated against, murdered, etc) for any number of reasons - different religious beliefs, color of their skin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political beliefs, and on and on? Who's to say that the same thing wouldn't/couldn't happen should a list of all gun owners in the US fall into the "wrong" hands? Do you want to be branded an "undesirable" by some faceless beaurecrat simply because your name is on a list of legal, law-abiding citizens? I don't.

No - I am very capable of forming my own opinions. No - who do you envision the leader to be - Charlton Heston or some other figurehead? No - believe it or not, I don't even belong to the NRA. No - I don't make firearms transactions that often, and when I do the paperwork is minimal, as I have a concealed carry permit. No - I have absolutely nothing to hide from the authorities who would use the information in a manner consistent with the execution of their duties. No, and if you have full faith and confidence in your government to always do what is fair, just and equitable - you must be either living somewhere other than the United States, or getting your news from somewhere else.

 

They're licensed because they need to be. Doctors are responsible for over 200,000 malpractice deaths in this country every year. Cars (including drunk drivers) are responsible for over 20,000 deaths every year. Accidental gunshot deaths are responsible for between 2000 and 2500 deaths a year. What the knee-jerking bleeding hearts in the media never mention is the thousands of times guns are used to defend oneself against crime, and/or save other lives. You want to fear something? Fear your Dr. You have alot better chance of dying on the operating table than you do by a gunshot wound.

Like the old saying, "you gotta be smarter than the equipment you're operating." Obviously the sniper was a fruitcake that should've been in jail anyways for beating his ex-wife. He never would've gotten the chance to kill 10 people.

 

Dennis

Freedom of speech is not licensed, and neither should firearms be licensed. It's rather simple. Why don't you address the specific issue? If we had spaceships, they'd be licensed too. So what?

We could start keeping a national database of people who publicly use hate speech language. What so bad about that? It doesn't "infringe" on anyone's rights does it, they could still talk all the wanted? And it could possibly be used for leads on hate-related crimes? The argument against such a measure would be loud and clear. The same argument applies to firearms. Unless it is absolutely necessary to protect the public (i.e. yelling fire in a theater or doing target practice outside a kindergarten), a right should not involve any licensing.

The 2nd Amendment doesn't say anything about you owning puppies, just guns.