Many gun owners are hidden criminals.

[texasmomof3]

26. it's the indian not the arrows

A gun, knife, rope, bat, pillow, wrench or any thing else has never ever committed murder by itself. By the way, what do you do about kitchen knives or box cutters or scissors? All possible weapons. I have a lamp too that might work. I would think anyone "unsafe" to own a gun probably needs all of these other things taken out of their homes as well. Who decides and on what scale who is safe and unsafe? Who determines "bad guy" behavior. There are some people that feel that spanking children is abuse. If I spank my children should I be restricted from owning anything that could be a weapon because those who determine such things are against spanking? Because my family enjoys hunting that is seen by some as anger or abuse of animals therefore I might be a hidden criminal? Better yet, what if I enjoy target practice or shooting clay as a sport. Does that make me more likely to hurt someone with a gun because I love hitting the target and find it relaxing? Maybe the fact that I have 3 cups of coffee every morning and am "jacked up on caffeine" makes me unstable. Seriously who determines the "bad guy" behavior and based on what?

Maybe let's even go for people who drink because alcohol makes you very unstable and can bring out anger that might be simmering under the surface. Lot's of crimes are committed when alcohol is present. How do you want to determine that one? Should every body only be allowed 1 drink a night particularly in their own homes because that is where many crimes with guns occur? There are lots of bar fights too so let's limit that as well. How do you want to enforce that? Cameras maybe or a breath test before you go to bed every night? Maybe surprise door to door visits by the "hidden criminal" task force would help monitor potentially dangerous situations. Aww, hell lets just go ahead and be watched 24/7 for any and all behavior that could lead to any kind of harm. The catch is YOU have to do it too. I know, I know you consider yourself a good guy but in fairness to all of your fellow citizens and so as not to appear racist everyone needs to be monitored equally. We don't want any profiling based on gender, education, economics, race, sexual orientation now do we?

I think the idea of labeling "hidden criminals" is a dangerous one. The presumption of guilt or future guilt goes against everything our justice system stands for. This is the real issue with your line of thinking, the presumption of future guilt. You are basically convicting people before they do anything. Would putting them on a watch list make you feel better? What do you want to base that on? Who and how will you enforce it? Would "hidden criminals" be turned away at Home Depot when they try to buy a shovel for yard work? How do you know that everything in your life is considered good and not dangerous in any way by whoever makes these decisions? You are foolish to think that given the ability to restrict people based on possible future crimes won't bite you right in the ass one day too! Welcome to the soviet union, comrade.