From: wood@eisley.akita.com (Ken Wood)
Newsgroups: seattle.general
Subject: Re: gun access/control questions
Summary: Yeah I like the idea.
Keywords: guns tests licenses ideas NRA
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 92 07:57:58 PDT
Organization: Mos Eisley Spaceport BBS


In article <MS-C.712183549.662824084.mrc@Tomobiki-Cho.CAC.Washington.EDU>
           Mark Crispin <mrc@Tomobiki-Cho.CAC.Washington.EDU> Writes:

>1) Is it generally agreed that the right to bear arms does not extend to the
>   mentally incompetant? 

     Generaly, I'd put some qualifier on it but it's ok as a general 
concept.

>2) Is it generally agreed that conviction for a felony should strip one of the
>   right to bear arms, modulo some specific legal procedure to remove the
>   disability?

     Again I have some qualifiers but in general yes.

>3) Most crimes committed by guns do not seem to be made by `gun nuts' (e.g.
>   the NRA).  Is this generally agreed?

     By people useing guns, guns themselves rarely if ever commite any 
crimes.  Again agreed for most crimes.

>4) If the `gun nuts' are responsible with their toys, isn't it unreasonable to
>   take their toys away because of the behavior of others?

     Ok so far.  It's also unconstitutional and a clear case of prior 
restraint.

>5) The `gun nuts' fear -- for reasons that they consider valid and are
>   difficult to argue against -- government registration of guns and licensing
>   of gun operators.  Would NON-GOVERNMENTAL registration and licensing be an
>   acceptable compromise?  Suppose the NRA itself was the registration and
>   licensing agency?  That is, allow the `gun nuts' to be self-policing.  I
>   could easily envision a multi-tiered testing and licensing procedure, with
>   the higher tiers (e.g. for fully-automatic assault weapons) to be a coveted
>   and cherished possession.

     I like the idea.  To be fair you would have to allow any 
organization that meets certain basic requirments to do the "policing".  
Probably with a quarterly review of their procedures and such.  Maybe 
make it a licensed affair.  OOPS.  Uh how about something similar to the 
AMA or any of the various professional organizations.  The overseeing 
body would approve the individual organizations.  Maybe even with levels 
here also so that only local chapters ( or whatever ) that were qualified 
could issue the higher licenses.  It would be quasi-governmental the 
way, I believe, the Bar Exam is.  Sure it needs some more ironing out 
but I like it.

>Pro-gun people: if the benefit was the removal of government interference with
>your toys, would you be willing to implement a self-policing program?
>
>I fear the answer from both sides is `no'.

     Well my answer would be yes.

     Ken Wood

  


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