by Todd Lang

Created on: June 21, 2008

Should laws be passed to limit gun ownership further

First off, I feel it is necessary to start by stating where I stand on the whole gun issue. I am very much pro-gun. Nothing can ever change my views. Many people have tried, including the wife. I will agree to disagree with anyone who feels otherwise. I have stated my stance to illustrate that not all people who support stricter gun laws are against guns. To even own a gun brings with it responsibilities that not every gun owner is willing to take. This is a fact that is childish and downright irresponsible.

The very first thing that lawmakers need to do is to hand out stricter penalties for crimes committed with guns. In California we have the 10-20-Life law. Brandishing a firearm will get you ten years, shooting someone is a mandatory twenty years, and killing someone will get the shooter a lifetime in the state penitentiary. This law is not nearly strict enough. I'm not saying that someone brandishing a firearm should get a mandatory life sentence. Maybe raise it to 15-30-life or something to that effect.

Secondly, they need to require that in order to own a gun the buyer needs to take the required tests, in California it is the Handgun Safety Course (HSC), and go through a government approved course on the rights and responsibilities of using a gun, finally to learn how to properly utilize a firearm. The potential buyer has gone through a background check and received all training necessary to earn the right to purchase this tool, it is a tool. Then and only then can someone purchase any type of firearm.

Third, make it a requirement to retake all the courses above every year to ensure that the owner is still safe. If the owner fails to do so then they get a warrant for arrest and will, eventually be arrested. There should be no statute of limitations on this crime because the person is potentially unsafe. Upon completion of the required courses, or voluntary relinquishment of the firearm, the warrant is dropped and no arrest is necessary.

It is an unfortunate fact that there will be some people out there that don't give a hoot about laws. This is why the law would be stricter. These lawbreakers will be put away for a lot longer than before so we have to worry about them even less. I just hope that it would be before someone gets killed. As a society we must do what needs to be done to make others safer. If it means infringing on our right to bear arms. Then so be it. We would still be able to own a gun, but we will be a little less irresponsible. As I stated before I am very pro-gun, but we need to do something to keep our families safe.

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