A (DU) minority view on guns.

[Lizzie Poppet]

69. Yes, murder is a problem that can be (largely) fixed.

No, attempts to enact extreme gun control measures are probably not part of that solution. Only mass, forcible confiscation would actually remove firearms from criminal hands in significant quantity, and that's simply not going to happen.

Our appalling homicide rates can be lowered, though. First off, end the ridiculous, useless War of Drugs right now. The majority of homicides in the US are said to have some sort of gang connection, and the trade in illicit drugs plays a role in this. A portion of the billions saved by ending the ridiculous interdictive strategy can be spent on bolstering our troubled educational system (and the rest on effective treatment programs for people with drug problems).

Restoring the economy to a functional, equitable state would be another key element in reducing murder rates. The connection between these rates and the desperation of poverty is utterly obvious.

On the gun front, mandate gun security measures for all gun owners (to reduce that method by which criminals arm themselves). Institute universal background check requirements. Permanently deny gun ownership rights to anyone convicted of a violent crime of any kind, and penalize violations severely. I would even be open to modifying the Second Amendment to provide for (must issue) licensing that incorporated annual demonstration of competence (like cops are required to do). Make firearms ownership something people have to take seriously.

Mass killings, while a very small component of the overall tally, receive radically disproportionate media attention, and I'm convinced that attention is a big part of what many of the perpetrators are seeking. Work with news outlets to reduce this ridiculous level of exposure for perpetrators. Start fixing our badly broken and neglected mental healthcare infrastructure. Incorporate mental healthcare records into the NICS system for background checks.

There's so much that can be done...