Take it from an ex-Marine, common-sense gun rules will work
The United States has far more gun deaths each year than any other developed country in the world and the most lax gun control laws. The connection is obvious.
How many more innocent students, concert goers, theater attendees, etc. must be slaughtered before our elected officials – including the president – accept the need to defy the NRA and support reasonable gun controls? The Second Amendment does not prohibit reasonable gun controls. Most supporters of the NRA have never even read the exact language of this amendment, specifically where it refers to “A well regulated militia…”
Be aware, I am not some anti-gun nut. I am an ex-Marine, former police officer and a former probation officer. I have a pistol from when I was a police officer, a shotgun and a rifle. I am also a firm believer in reasonable gun-control laws.
Reasonable gun-control laws for private citizens should include:
▪ Sales or transfers of firearms and ammunition only through licensed dealers, who assume civil liability for any sales or transfers to persons without verified firearm permits.
▪ Banning any type of assault weapon or its ammunition.
▪ Requiring a permit to possess a rifle or shotgun. Permits issued only after stringent background investigations. The overwhelming majority of citizens should have no trouble qualifying.
▪ Requiring special permits for pistols only when the applicant provides compelling evidence of a true need.
▪ Permits would require completion of a certified firearms safety class and must be renewed every five years.
▪ All persons who have such firearm permits should be held strictly liable if any other person causes injury, death or damage with that weapon unless it was taken without their permission.
Improved mental-health programs are also an essential part of the solution, but the major issue is gun control.
The adoption of such gun laws will not have an immediate impact on such slaughters or totally eliminate them. Our history of firearms proliferation has been generations in the making and will take many years to correct. They will, however, have a gradual and ongoing impact and will save countless lives in the process.
It’s time for all of us to do the right thing by defying the NRA and supporting such legislation. If you don’t, you’re contributing to the problem. Write a letter to your elected officials today. I did.
Bob Stammerjohan is a resident of Turlock.
This story was originally published March 2, 2018 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Take it from an ex-Marine, common-sense gun rules will work."