1. A curfew for juveniles convicted of gun-law violations.
2. A new city crime of failure to control kids’ access to guns.
3. A new city crime of failure to report loss or theft of guns.
4. Increase penalties for illegal possession of loaded firearms.
5. Excluding gun-law violators from neighborhoods with high rates of illegal firearm use.
I don't know what the pro-gun crowd is so upset about. These actually seem like fairly innocuous suggestions.
Let's take the oft-maligned number 3. Pro-gun folks seem to think requiring the theft of a gun to be reported would do nothing good and something bad, namely "making criminals out of law-abiding citizens."
It's an odd argument since the same folks who say that also say people are responsible for their actions and only they can choose to obey or disobey laws. They're quick to hold criminals to a strict standard, yet when it comes to gun owners, they blame the law.
Laws don't make people criminals. People make people criminals, people who choose to break laws.
The other part about doing nothing good, I would also contest. The man who knows his gun cannot be stolen without a report going to the police is bound to be more careful what he does with that gun, how he stores it and to whom he lends or sells it.
This is what bothers gun owners. They hate the government overseeing what they do. But the truth is, if someone is truly law-abiding these restrictions are nothing more than minor inconveniences. And the gun owners who are not truly law-abiding, the gray-area guys, will be hampered by these rules.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
"Oh judge, your damn laws. The good people don't need them, and the bad people don't follow them. So what good are they?"
ReplyDeleteHere's a fun exercise. If Sam Adams passes these laws, and this violates state preemption law, does that make Sam Adams a criminal?
Does Sam Adams' desire to break the law make him a criminal or does the preemption law make him a "criminal out of a law-abiding mayor"?
"Let's take the oft-maligned number 3. Pro-gun folks seem to think requiring the theft of a gun to be reported would do nothing good and something bad, namely 'making criminals out of law-abiding citizens.'"
ReplyDeleteThe problem with gun registration, lost and stolen laws, etc. is that they can only be levied upon otherwise law abiding citizens. You cannot charge a criminal with violating these laws.
Next, please show us any place that these laws have stopped violent crime committed with guns.
I plan on blogging on this issue later when I have time. It bears many similarities to what's going on with meth in the US.
ReplyDeleteThe fat one's argument is rather foolish. As he well knows, many criminals get their guns from friends and family. When a criminal is caught using the gun and if the gun is traced back--the friend or family member merely says its was stolen 6 months ago or some story to that effect.
This law would stop a lot of this law-breaking and make it tougher for criminals to get guns.
Fatso's 'law-abiding citizens' likely wouldn't hesitate to report a stolen TV or car--why should they squawk about a stolen gun?
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ReplyDeleteThis law would stop a lot of this law-breaking and make it tougher for criminals to get guns."
So you sagely guess since it has never been used anywhere and is only a theory.
Whether I report my gun stolen or not does not prevent it from being used in a crime.
"Fatso's 'law-abiding citizens' likely wouldn't hesitate to report a stolen TV or car--why should they squawk about a stolen gun?"
Because there is no law making it a crime to fail to report the theft of a TV or car.
"Laws don't make people criminals."
ReplyDeleteApparently, you've never heard of malum prohibita.
It's really funny that the tables on personal responsibility are turned when it comes to this stuff. I say, gun owners should be responsible for their guns and quit looking for ways to conceal their irresponsibility and negligence. Lending one of your guns to cousin Ronnie who then gives it to his buddy who needs it to go do a dope deal is exactly the kind of thing that would stop.
ReplyDeleteWho told you about cousin Ronnie?? He was the family secret!
ReplyDelete"Lending one of your guns to cousin Ronnie who then gives it to his buddy who needs it to go do a dope deal is exactly the kind of thing that would stop."
ReplyDeleteFunny it hasn't stopped here in Massachusetts. And you were GLAD about the last case you mentioned here.
And this is why we oppose it. The same reason why we fly in airplanes and not ornithopters...The Ornithopters designed by DaVinci and such don't work. Great idea, beautiful drawings, wonderful attention to detail...but 100% non-functional.
And this is why we oppose it. The same reason why we fly in airplanes and not ornithopters...The Ornithopters designed by DaVinci and such don't work. Great idea, beautiful drawings, wonderful attention to detail...but 100% non-functional.
ReplyDeleteShhh! Don't tell the Brady Campaign to Prevent Airplane Deaths. They still think they are winning.
Jade: “When a criminal is caught using the gun and if the gun is traced back--the friend or family member merely says its was stolen 6 months ago or some story to that effect.”
ReplyDeleteAnd then what- they go free? Is there nothing the cops can do when a criminal is smart enough to lie? Do the cops let the drug dealer go who says “that ain’t mine”? Or the murderer who says “I didn’t do it”? How can we put a stop to this?