Gun Control & RKBA

Specifically focusing on -GUN- violence as opposed to 'violence' in general is your very first mistake, because at that point you're not looking for a solution to violence; you're looking for a solution to guns.

Violence, in all its forms, stems from a lack of needs or perceived needs, lack of opportunity, often lack of education, or indoctrination into violent philosophies (Right-wing militias, gangs, et cet.) Often, that indoctrination comes part and parcel with the lacking needs mentioned beforehand; If you truly want to reduce violence across the board, both gun and otherwise, we need to focus on pouring resources into social programs that will reduce the feelings of helplessness or powerlessness that many criminals feel. In time, perhaps a generation or two down the line, you'd see a steady drop in violence across the board.

But that's a tall order with no immediate tangible benefit, so it doesn't mesh well with the "DO SOMETHING NOW!" crowd. It'd take decades. It'd be hard work. It'd require a systemic overhaul the likes of which probably haven't been attempted since FDR, and "Raise people from poverty and criminality" doesn't draw campaign funds like "Ban guns". We know this, which is why it's patently laughable when people tout Gun Control as anything more than a masturbatory feel-good hobby.

Let's set that on the back burner for a moment though. If you want a dialogue about actual 'gun control' that may reduce gun violence, I can tell you now; There's no such thing. The most practical way to lower the amount of gun crime -on paper- would be a blanket ban on most modern handguns. But if you ban handguns, people will use something else; Shotguns. Ban shotguns, they'll use rifles. Ban rifles, and at that point you've banned literally every gun and those people will still make their own, 3d print them, or use pipe guns. Hell, there's very viable air-powered rifles out there right now, I guess we'd have to ban those, as well as airsoft or paintball guns that can be converted to fire lethal ammo. That isn't hyperbole, by the by; There's hundreds of non-firearm "Firearms" that can do just as good a job killing as conventional guns.

Andy, Gun Control was never the solution. It's a series of shitty band-aids for a systemic failing of society's most vulnerable, and until that failing is addressed and overcome, what you seek will never come to fruition. That's why it's so hard to have an honest dialogue about 'Gun Control'; Your fundamental premise, that 'Gun control' will stop crime/gun crime, is wrong. But you need to work with us. You say 'Who better than someone who knows guns'. This is someone who knows guns, who knows criminals, and knows that what you're trying to accomplish is noble but futile.



Now, gun safety and accidents, that's an -entirely- different kettle of fish. I can't speak for the millions of other gun owners out there, but if someone makes a display of gross mismanagement of a firearm around me, damn right they're getting called out on it. Twice I've experienced such; My ex-Mother In Law pointed a shotgun at me 'in jest' and I damn near ripped her a new one, calling her out. I think it's the first time anyone's spoken up to her like that, but she heeded, apologized, and stowed the gun in its safe.

Second time, my old man misfired a pistol in the house. We had a long sit down, highlighting the gravity of what just happened, and I calmly told him that if he couldn't safely manage his guns, then my daughter wouldn't be allowed to visit him. He then showed me his security for when my daughter visited; Gun locks on all guns, locked in a gun safe, in a locked closet.

Gun safety's no joke and I 100% feel that if your gun is capable of firing (Most of mine aren't), it should be locked away unless you're actively using it. I also think a program to subsidize high-quality gun safes by the government would be a positive step forward. Too many shitty knock-off gun safes can be broken into with a stick or a twig, but again, that's the price of 'gun control'; The shitty knockoffs technically meet the 'Gun safe' requirement by law, so rather than be safely stowed, a gun is instead put into the equivalent of a lunchbox. Don't legislate gun safes, incentivize them with tax breaks or subsidization.