Gun Control

Gun Control

I will preface this section with the fact that I have a concealed weapons permit and own several handguns.  I will also start off by saying that I feel the right to purchase, own, or carry a gun, should be a limited right.  Convicted felons, the mentally unstable, minors, and substance abusers, are among several groups of people that shouldn’t be allowed to own or possess a weapon.  Identifying most of these individuals would seem rather simple.  Identifying the mentally unstable might prove a bit more difficult.

For those of you who would question my need to own a gun I will provide you with a brief background.  A friend of mine, Glenn, was shot and killed just weeks before the birth of his first child.  He was killed by a robber that had just thrown his pregnant wife to the ground.  When Glenn attempted to assist her, he was unarmed.  A second friend, Mike, was killed in his front yard by robbers. Mike was unarmed.  A third friend Joe was shot in the head by a robber who had just grabbed his wife’s purse.  Joe lost an eye and had permanent damage to his jaw.  I live in Miami, Florida, and our criminals have guns.  If Glenn, Mike, or Joe had had a gun for protection, perhaps their outcomes would have been different.

I believe that anyone who owns a gun should be required to pass a qualification test with the weapon before being granted ownership.  This competency requirement would involve its safe operation and storage.  I believe all gun sales, even private sales between individuals, should require a background check.  This might be done with a national license requirement where such a license would be needed to make the purchase.  This document could be as simple as a national identification card valid for voting, check cashing, gun purchases (with the proper box checked), and other functions where a reasonably secure identification card might be required.  This card is not required of all individuals and it would not, by mere possession, be an indication of gun ownership.  It would only indicate that you could purchase a gun.

Doctors and mental health professionals would have access to the national database, specifically the information granting an individual the right to own a gun.  It would be their responsibility to flag any individual they thought to be at risk of harming themselves or others due to their diagnosis.  Since individuals with the national license would already be pre-approved to own a handgun, the still required check prior to sale should be a simple matter of checking the current status.  This would help eliminate those acquiring weapons because the federal government fails to complete the check within the current three-day limit.

Sales of ammunition would also require the national permit.  All Internet sales of weapons and ammunition would require a national database authorization.  Gun storage would be the responsibility of the purchaser.  Gunlocks and/or safes would be required for proper storage in any facility where access may be gained by an individual who cannot be approved for the national license due to age, mental infirmity or other reason dictated by law.  Failure to do so that results in the acquisition of a weapon or ammunition by non-authorized individuals would subject the owner to criminal charges.

The mechanics of producing a very secure card might be difficult but certainly better than the current situation.  The card could use biometrics, retina scans, fingerprint data, photo facial recognition, and embedded (EMV) chip technology to verify the individual.  I’m sure current technology could make it very difficult to falsify.  Personal sales of guns between individuals could still take place but might require a trip to the nearest point of sale location for a quick verification scan.  This could be a simple inexpensive merchant service.  Possession of the license still requires a status check prior to any gun sale.

I further believe that a concealed carry permit should be a national right with a uniform policy across all states.  It should not be a state’s right.  Crossing state borders by a permit holder should not subject that individual to different sets of laws.  States could administer the licensing program but there should be one national policy controlling the purchase and possession of firearms.  The national identification card mentioned above could double as a concealed weapons permit with the proper certification.

I further think that limited gun registration and tracking should be a national mandate.  All semi-automatic long guns capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition would need to be registered to an individual.  This would not prohibit the sale and possession of so-called “assault rifles”, but would track and identify those who own them.  All sales of such weapons would be tracked.  Barrel ballistics and serial numbers would be matched with recertification required if the weapon is altered to change the weapon’s ballistics.  Possession of an unregistered high capacity magazine long gun by an unlicensed individual would be a criminal offense.  Possession of that same weapon by an individual not allowed to possess a firearm (felons, mentally unstable, substance abusers, etc.) would be a very serious criminal offense.  There might also be a requirement that you must be a US citizen in order to own a gun.

Any individual that commits or is suspected of committing a crime with a gun should be promptly brought before a grand jury and, if probable cause is found, that jury could also deny bail for a specified time.