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Both sides of U.S. gun debate make public appeals

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Let the American people themselves vote on this one. To many vested interests of political figures to make it an honest outcome.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Wayne LaPierre (point out his family name is French and he'd likely shoot you!) is one of the most disgusting human beings on the planet. He has time and again had to apologize for his comments, and proven himself, while intelligent, to be a complete moron when it comes to opinion.

Let's get a Yank on here to tell us how, please, background checks will infringe on freedom?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Let's get a Yank on here to tell us how, please, background checks will infringe on freedom?

While I'm for improvements to the current background check system one of the main arguments against an expansion is the possibility of it developing into a gun registry which other countries have used as a tool to disarm their populations. Improving the background check system and stiffening penalties for gun crimes have widespread support, assault weapon bans, magazine caps, and national gun registrations are poison pills.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Jobs, growing in the US, .223 ammo, and semi- auto rifles, creating lot's of jobs....Registry is for Taxing or taking away our rights as American gun owners.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Interesting that the whole "assault weapons ban" nonsense has been largely dropped. People have finally realized that long guns are NOT the problem. The biggest killers in the US are handguns- long guns of all types (including assault weapons) were used in less than 3% of all murders.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

smithinjapanMar. 25, 2013 - 11:33AM JST Wayne LaPierre (point out his family name is French and he'd likely shoot you!) is one of the most disgusting human >beings on the planet. He has time and again had to apologize for his comments, and proven himself, while intelligent, >to be a complete moron when it comes to opinion.

Let's get a Yank on here to tell us how, please, background checks will infringe on freedom?

Background checks unable the implementation of a national registry. It's not rocket science. And you being a non-Yank, I don't know why you even care about this topic.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

t's get a Yank on here to tell us how, please, background checks will infringe on freedom?

The issue isn't really about freedom, although given how many non-sequiturs and red herrings are being thrown into the gun control debate by both sides, I can understand how you would believe otherwise.

Regarding universal background checks, the issue is a pragmatic one: they're pointless. Adding universal background checks will not make any American safer. Not one bit. Legally obtained weapons are not used to commit crimes. Ever. Ever ever.

But, in typical American political fashion, the debate always surrounds something stupid. the only logical legislation I would support would be an insanely harsh strengthening of illegal firearm possession penalties. Give America a notice: you have 3 months to turn in any illegally owned firearms to a local law enforcement agency with no penalties. After that, anyone found to be in possession of an illegally acquired firearm will be subject to insane prison terms, insane fines, insane repercussions. That will make Americans safer, as currently there is little to no reason to fear possessing a firearm you're not supposed to have.

Banning more firearms, universal background checks, and the like do not make anyone safer. Congress is not addressing the real issue(as usual), and that's the problem.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

BFG: that is an interesting proposal, but with just one flaw. How do the police go about finding who actually possesses an illegal firearm? Again, you run into the problem that people who keep illegal guns tend to be criminals anyway. Unless you favor the police being able to randomly search people or their houses/cars, there is no way for illegal weapons to be found.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Unless you favor the police being able to randomly search people or their houses/cars, there is no way for illegal weapons to be found.

Not really. They'd be found in the same way illegal/controlled substances/things are found right now, like during a traffic stop or a search for something else.

What you also have to take into account is the increased expected punishment. Say the chance of your illegal firearm being found is 10%. Currently, that means you have a 10% chance to suffer relatively low repercussions. Theoretically, let's say the penalty for possession of an illegal firearm was death on the spot. Suddenly, now you have a 10% chance to be killed by possessing an illegal firearm.

Of course, I would never propose the death penalty or random searches, but you see how simply the increased threat of punishment does have a real impact on decision making, even for criminals.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

During routine traffic stops, the police need probable cause to search a vehicle, or the evidence cannot be used.

The punishment would have to be pretty damn harsh to be effective, considering that guns used in crimes already mean a lengthy jail term. THAT is something I could support, perhaps a mandatory non-negotiable 10 year sentence tacked onto any crime committed with a firearm.

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