Gun Laws Work, So Why Don't We Have More Of Them?

[krispos42]

11. Well, no, not really.

Point one: gun owners are willing to be politically active to protect their right to purchase, own, and use guns. Non-gun-owners, because nobody is forcing them to NOT own guns, don't generally give much of a shit about it.

Point two: many non-gun owners don't have the information they need to understand and opine on the issues they're being polled on. The information in the OP is a classic example.



[div class=excerpt style=background:#AFEEEE]In 33 states, criminals and terrorists can buy military-style assault weapons...

In the other 17 states, semi-automatic firearms that are mechanically identical to "military-style assault weapons" can be sold, as long as they lack certain combinations of cosmetic features. As a non-gun-nut what an assault weapon is, and you'll be lucky if they know that much. People for "assault weapon bans" are trying to draw a line (that can't be drawn) between legitimate sporting semi-autos and evil black semi-autos designed only for mass shootings.



[div class=excerpt style=background:#AFEEEE]...and high-capacity ammunition clips...

I believe you can buy 11+ magazines in all 50 states, but in some of them they have to be old. Not new-manufacture.



[div class=excerpt style=background:#AFEEEE].. from “private dealers” on the Internet or at gun shows...

No, there are no "private dealers". There are private sellers, who can, in most states, sell to other private buyers who reside in their state. The internet is used to arrange a geographical location for the sale, which, as long as it's in the seller's state of residence to another resident of that state, is legal. This geographical location may or may not be a gun show, McDonald's parking lot, or empty field.



[div class=excerpt style=background:#AFEEEE]... without showing ID or completing a background check. No ID, no background check, no restrictions, no detection.

Private sellers can't access NICS. If you want there to be a background check between every intra-state private firearms transfer, then the state legislature has to do this; it's beyond federal purview. Congress can't do it.



[div class=excerpt style=background:#AFEEEE]It is perfectly legal for private gun dealers and individuals to sell an unlimited number of firearms to anyone, including domestic criminals and international terrorists, cash and carry.

Well, no, not really. It's illegal to sell guns to convicted criminals, for example, and I would suspect foreigners as well. Of course, the private seller can't access NICS to confirm or deny any of this. This is most likely a subtle jab at the terrorist watch list, which of course requires no conviction or due process to get on, and it riddled with mistakes and errors. If you really think that once the government puts on a secret list ON A WHIM you can just have Constitutional rights stripped away, well, Alberto Gonzales would like to be your bestest friend ever.





And of course, there's still the often-disproved canard about 30,000 gun-related deaths a year, despite 60% of these being suicides and our suicide rate being fairly low, and the other 40% being murders despite a 50% reduction in total murder rate from 1990 to 2000.



Much ado is being make about the statistically-rare mass shooting, while ignoring that 99% of murders have either 1 or two victims. Also ignoring drug laws and mental health care. Because it's apparently it's just fine to have insane drug laws, 2 million people in jail, and shitty treatment for PTSD-affected vets and other people with mental health issues... just as long as they can't have 11+ magazines and semi-auto rifles with pistol grips.