Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: So, what would you do if Congress banned possession of high cap clips? [View all]HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)That was reportedly when she took up shooting. I believe she added a gun or two after she began shooting, but I don't know which ones. Anyway, that was what news said, and there's been a lot which was misreported, so who knows.
Statistically, it remains a fact that semi-automatic rifles are responsible for far fewer deaths than their proportionate numbers. That is FBI data. High-capacity magazines even far less. 75% of gun homicides are by handguns. A sizable majority occur in the commission of another crime, by a previously convicted felon. By law, they aren't permitted to own a firearm, so I don't see them obeying any new laws. Other means should be taken to restrict their access to guns, such as registration and private sale bans...which would reduce the numbers of guns trading hands on the street.
And then there also is the fact that 60% of gun deaths are suicide...I presume almost all by handgun. I fail to see where a semi-auto ban or high capacity magazine ban would reduce this number one iota...unless you can make the case that suicides are firing multiple shots. I'm not sure any gun restrictions would prevent suicides, since they would use other means. I've known 5 suicides in the past 40 years...2 jumpers, 2 ODs, and one by hanging. However, if they had less access to guns, perhaps an attempt by alternate means would have a higher survival rate. A longer waiting period would help, but increased mental health care might make a bigger difference.