I don’t represent anyone but me, and you’d be foolish to extrapolate much else from my view …. But off the cuff a bit…
first I love guns. I didn’t get any until my boys were well past the accident stage and during Covid when we honestly thought it a good idea for home protection and when we camped in the near wilderness (Colorado). But since getting them there’s not a month that goes by that I don’t think anything other than I’m glad I have them, I feel safer in this country, and I enjoy them and want to engage in the sport of it (gun range for fun, training etc). I am a discrete but proud multiple gun owner. I do not carry at the moment because I don’t believe it should be legal and I don’t find it necessary (yet) but I am open to it for me (small purse weapon).
so who should be barred from owning a gun?
-Convicted or under active investigation of crime (probably serious misdemeanors that have a relation to violence and all felonies)
-certain mental health illnesses - based on science and experts and permanent or until medical clearance if scientifically appropriate
Process changes?
-background checks, no instant sales, come back and get it after you buy it, open to others that act as a cooling off period. Also more strict training requirements for concealed, more places it is banned outright, no open carry at all.
Guns to ban?
-I’m not enough of an hobbyist sportsman or self defense student to know all the terminology but to me the focus needs to be on intended outcome not look. You want an ar-15 that shoots 12-15 bullets one at a time before you have to change a clip. And the bullets kinda normal and aren’t intended to rip a body in half exploding the persons entire back out? Hardly a problem.
-but as soon as you get to a higher capacity, a quicker firing mechanism and ammunition designed to obliterate the body in ways that only should happen in war? Yeah no way.
-Ban them, first degree felony if you keep them after a 6 month - 12 months grace period to turn them in after that you’re on your own. Convicted of a violent crime with a banned gun, that’s 2x the sentence or mandatory guidelines. I dunno something to get them off the street. No door to door raids obviously.
Do my guns need to be banned?
-I’m open to an honest discussion and the fact that I use them for home protection and camping protection shouldn’t necessarily matter so long as I have access to firearms that will comfortably fulfill my purposes. But I do think what I own is not excessive and should be allowed.
-I like my guns but if we can achieve saving significant numbers of lives because guns are restricted and that impacts my enjoyment, show me where to drop off my guns. I’ll be the first one there.
2nd amendment arguments
-The rationale to over throw tyranny is no longer rational or valid, the federal government can do what it wants, our weapons will not stop it, not individually not collectively.
-and I’m not going to get into the sophisticated ways a true authoritarian takes control without firing a shot but let’s just say the playbook is well confirmed and has spanned the test of time.
-the only reasonable and valid reasons to allow guns is for hunting, self protection and sportsman activities. When ammunition and equipment steer away from those purposes and to the maximum efficient destruction of human lives that’s where you find the line.