You want some common-sense gun control? Here you go.

[icarusxat]

107. My 2 cents worth...

It might be time to trust the community. In this case I would have to say that means the teachers. A mental health professional might spend time with a student, but no where near as much time as a student spends with a teacher. Teachers can spot the students that are outside the boundaries of acceptable citizenship behavior. They are referred to the administration and records are kept. At age 18 these records are sealed.

Imagine what would happen if a person under the age of 25 had to obtain a letter of recommendation from three different teachers from three different school years, from junior high through high school, in order to purchase any gun. No records would have to be compromised, no privacy issues breached. But, it would provide a clear indicator of that person's development over the years, and their ability to responsibly maintain and use the weapon.

Teachers know these students. Maybe their assessments of these students should be taken into consideration when judging the parents' abilities regarding how responsible they are in their gun ownership. All of the indicators are readily available. How could we possibly get caught running out of gas unless we are in denial as a nation as to how to address the problems we are facing.