If you’re not watching C-SPAN right now, you’re missing something special.
But aside from that, an old friend of mine just posted the following on his Facebook page.
Before you read it, it’s vital that you understand that my friend, while a progressive Democrat on most other issues, is also a long-time NRA member and gun enthusiast.
I’ve had many a debate/discussion with him in the past about various gun issues...and while he’s never been completely nuts on the subject, he’s never posted anything like this before either:
Look, I screamed this after Columbine. I shouted this after Sandy Hook. I will not respect silence and prayers as a response. People were angry after the last shooting when they held moments of silence and I bellowed "bullshit we've been silent long enough." I am a lifetime member of the NRA, although at this point I would never pay dues again. So pick a different loud voice and this is post Orlando.
1) No one under an ongoing legitimate FBI investigation should be allowed to buy any firearm.
2) It is time to enforce the rules for nonncarry permitted handguns on military defense weapons. A) the weapon should only be used at a range, training facility, or private property that is safe and secure away from the public. B) the weapon may only be loaded at those facilities C) When transported the ammunition must be stored separate from the weapon itself and the weapon should be transported in a locked container. D) If "it all comes down" or the great emergency causing the need for the weapon occurs, no one's going to care about laws anymore. However until we are there A, B, and C should work for any law abiding citizen.
3) Universal background checks and a shared national database of misdemeanor and felony crimes must be created and shared.
4) Anyone with a conviction for an Armed crime, Domestic Violence, Murder, Rape, or any abuse shall be denied a permit to carry any firearm.
5) ALL firearm sales or transfers must have background checks. INCLUDING FAMILY TRANSFERS. Your kid could be perfect, or he could be a left handed ax murdering rapist. I don't know and before you give them an advantage in the life versus death game. They all need to be checked.
Any law abiding citizen and gun owner shouldn't have any trouble with what you see above.
The next thing people throw at me is "shall not be infringed."
Well my reply is "Well Regluated." We don't let felons vote. They lose that right after being convicted. That's government regulation designed to keep felons from exerting criminal influence in political society.
This is no different. If you have decided to break societal rules past the point where someone else is harmed drastically, or your judgement is so impaired that you commit an armed crime, then you get regulated.
The next objection I get is "whose going to pay for this?" 12 Billion rounds are sold in this country everyone year. A nickel a round would pay for a lot of it. Along with a 1 percent tax on firearm purchases and a 5 percent tax on all Internet gun purchases.
Look we can't stop lone wolves. Noone wants to hear that. Noone wants to say that. They're going to happen. More people are going to die. Terrorists kill good people. Ask the Israelis. They live with this spectre of death every day and even if they gave in to every demand, they would still be getting killed by these maniacs. Their goal is the extinction of a way of life. They aren't going to stop.
BUT WE CAN MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM.
No law abiding citizens should be denied their right. However with rights come responsibilities. If you won't be responsible then you really don't care about the right you supposedly cherish in the first place.