Posted on 02/21/2018 7:55:31 PM PST by TBP
In the wake of last week’s tragic shooting at a Florida high school, the national narrative has centered on guns. Democrats mostly argue for increased gun control measures, while Second Amendment advocates mostly oppose any new restrictions.
The debate usually dies quickly after a shooting, but it has remained strong over the last week. Now, even President Donald Trump is reportedly considering new restrictions on firearms.
No. 1: Raising the purchase age for certain firearms Axios reported Wednesday that Trump has privately discussed supporting a measure that would raise the purchase age for semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.
Currently, any 18-year-old who is lawfully able to purchase and possess a firearm can purchase a rifle or shotgun, including the controversial AR-15. Federal law requires a citizen to be 21 before purchasing a handgun.
According to the Washington Post, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed Tuesday the option is “on the table for us to discuss.”
What’s not clear is if Trump would advocate for new age restrictions at the federal level or if he would encourage state legislators to make the change.
No. 2: Increased background checks On Tuesday, Trump tweeted his support for “strengthening” the background check system.
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump Replying to @realDonaldTrump and 2 others Whether we are Republican or Democrat, we must now focus on strengthening Background Checks!
8:18 PM - Feb 20, 2018 73.3K 37.3K people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy Currently, federal law stipulates that any person purchasing a weapon from a federally licensed firearms dealer must have their background checked through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which takes just minutes. The system merely checks a person’s legal eligibility to purchase a firearm and no mental health evaluation occurs.
However, for private transactions in most states, which are a small share of all gun sales, no background check is required for long guns or handguns. Still, many states like North Carolina require a pistol permit or concealed carry license for private handgun transactions.
It’s not clear what improvements would be made to the NICS system.
No. 3: Ban bump stocks A bump stock is an inexpensive device that helps a shooter fire a standard semi-automatic rifle more rapidly, which makes the firearm behave more like a fully-automatic weapon. A bump stock was reportedly used in the Las Vegas massacre last year. The devices don’t actually make semi-automatic rifles fully-automatic, but they use recoil to increase the rate at which the trigger is pulled.
Trump said at the White House on Tuesday that he has instructed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to pursue legislation that outlaws the devices.
“We cannot merely take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference. We must actually make a difference,” Trump said, according to the New York Times.
Why is this time different? America has seen more than a dozen tragic mass shootings over the last few years and little has been done to prevent the next one. But this time appears to be different.
Most people are split over what to actually do and whether or not increased gun restrictions would prevent the next mass shooting remains to be seen. But the difference this time appears to lie with the students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, who have been very outspoken about the need for gun control since the shooting.
Their dialogue has even sparked a CNN town hall, which will include the Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch.
Even Trump, seems to agree with the kids’ sentiment. “We have to do something. We’ve got kids dying,” he reportedly said during a private meeting on guns, according to Axios.
Remember the old Herblock cartoon where the handgun is hanged instead of the criminal?
I don’t like it, but I think it is like Trump’s DACA proposal. Nice window dressing, but it will never come to pass.
And, No.1 is a non-starter as written. There are a lot of entry .22 rifles that are semi-auto. The Ruger 10/22 for instance.
On number 2 and 3, Constitutionally, I think both would pass. You’ve had the background check in place, and most everyone has no problem with the functionality. Personally, if you applied 2 and 3 to the past 300 mass shootings...I don’t think they would have mattered much. In the case of Texas former Army guy where he should have been on a list to prevent him buying a gun....that’s the fault of Army not placing him on the list. In this case, regulations already exist....they just needed to be exercised.
But then we come to the age idea. If you decide that people can’t be mature at 18 to buy a guy...where exactly does this idea go? For example....could you borrow dad’s gun and go hunting? Could you borrow your brother’s gun and go hunting? If you are that untrustworthy, why should I allow you to buy alcohol or cigarettes? Why should I allow you to vote? Why should the financial community allow you credit cards? This opens up a broader question.
But here’s this odd thing, from the past 1,000 mass shootings (4 or more)...how many were committed with juveniles, 18 or younger, with a gun? I suspect when you get to this number....it’ll be less than a hundred.
In the end, these three ideas will have little to no effect, and it might even open up the whole discussion of maturity on voting. I personally wouldn’t have a problem in making the age of maturity across the whole nation...21.
He is the Dealmeister. Some deals are thrown out only as decoys - never meant to be accepted but only to make himself look fair and reasonable.
2016 there were 10,497 alcohol related vehicular fatalities. Average of 28/day, but no outcry to ban vehicles. Driving is merely a privilege not a right.
Background checks for private sales.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deal breaker.
De facto registration over time.
Not one of those changes would have prevented any of the shootings. Not one. It will only make it harder on law abiding citizens.
I don’t think Trump would sign something the NRA was adamantly against. The NRA signaled it really didn’t care about bump stocks. Probably because one can be made with a rubble band or just looping a thump into a belt loop. It’s silly. Plus not that many hunters, plinkers, or target shooters even bother with them.
If “shall not be infringed” meant anything, there would be no gun control laws on the books.
There are how many on the books?
I’ve seen estimates of 300 to 20,000.
Dumb. Criminals rare,y buy their guns, duh.
It emotions, not statistics or facts.
No new laws have been passed....
Go get your tin foil. You need it
The same suspicions apply to those in what is supposed to be a pro-Constitutional forum that tout these “deals” as MAGA.
Any further regulations involving background checks and competence should be implemented locally and temporarily (for the duration of drug abuse, certain risky prescriptions, etc.). There’s no sense in continuing to deny the rights of those who get cleaned up and lucid, because it would only drive the kooks into hiding their problems more.
There will be those who eventually test clean for a few months or a year and become societal assets again. Some federal remedies tend to be rather to reverse for individuals and politically turn too many of them against the rights of their neighbors. Needs to be some incentive where practical for those who want to get off of the drugs and get their heads screwed on right again.
Those who are psychopathic or spoiled should also be dealt with locally. Notice the demographics of the locales of mass murderers so far (neighborhoods of the radical left).
“In the case of Texas former Army guy where he should have been on a list to prevent him buying a gun.”
A small niggle here for accuracy - the guy was discharged from the Air Force which failed to file the proper report that would have barred his purchase. Otherwise - great comment!!
OK 3 regulations !
Does that mean he’s going to drop 20 regulations on firearms for each of these he enacts ?
Glad Ivanka will be out of the country for awhile. He doesn’t need her input in this.
I will not comply. Millions of us won’t
What will you people do then?
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