Radio host to CA shooting victim’s dad: ‘Stupid son of a b*tch’ should give your kid a gun

[Divernan]

29. You are unrealistically idealistic

The reality, as to your first two points, is that:

1. Funding correctional systems is at the bottom of the priority list for all levels of government. Politicians budget money on feel-good items that will generate votes. Care and feeding, let alone rehab of prisoners, does not match that criterion. Local jails, state prisons and federal prisons have not demonstrated the will nor capacity to rehabilitate prisoners. While a small percentage may complete GEDs or even get a college degree while incarcerated, the great majority emerge from prison with greater criminal skills then they entered with. You cannot force employers to hire ex-cons, and with the huge pool of unemployed, skilled workers, there is little likelihood someone with a criminal record will be hired. State centers for the mentally ill have been closed down, and that is why such a high percentage of our prisoners are categorized as mentally ill. Privatization of prisons means it is more profitable to keep prisons full - and that translates into a profit margin based on recidivism. That is why the US imprisons far more citizens than any other country.

2. You call for self-regulation, but then espouse "don't sell guns to bad guys". That is so simplistic and unworkable. What is the legal definition of "bad guy"? Have never seen that in any of the law books or state regulations I've studied. How on earth can a clerk tell who is a "bad guy"? Well, a criminal background search is a good start, but that is required by governmental regulation, not self regulation.

3. I agree with you that the 2nd Amendment does not protect gun-ownership for everyone. but again, government regulation is required to legally justify and enforce any screening. Mentally ill people don't typically self-diagnose.

I suggest idealism is the enemy of the possible.