General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Mentally ill people.. [View all]geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)Someone picked them up, loaded them, shot the owner, then walked away with them.
A gun owner that makes that series of events possible and allows it to happen is irresponsible and criminal. And sometimes dead.
We need to address a number of things related to gun control IMO:
1. gun ownership, safety and personal responsibility
2. hardware safety and lockout regulation - ie: require some or all of gun locks, trigger locks, safes for gun storage
3. mental illness and health care for mental illness
4. background checks and psychological profiles for firearm sales
5. federal and local firearm and firearm ownership databases
6. reform ownership/buying regulation - federally enforced waiting periods and "reason for purchase" requirements
Almost any effort at reform and regulation will be opposed by the gun lobby. But we have to start somewhere. I do not see the path that we are on is sustainable. At some point public outrage and opposition will become overwhelming. At that point the gun lobby will lose in a big way.