Originally posted by: Jack Flash
Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Originally posted by: Jack Flash
Originally posted by: daishi5
Originally posted by: Jack Flash
Originally posted by: spidey07
What you guys aren't even getting at is she could have done this with a kitchen knife a few dozen other things. The gun or the range isn't the problem, nor is her renting a firearm.
The problem is that she had a history of mental illness, including involuntary hospitalization, but the range had no way of knowing this.
How do you propose that the range gain access to this information? We have laws in place that make a person's medical records private, and only people who need to know for reasons concerning their medical care are allowed to know. Also, we have no registry of mental patients. Finally, how do you define a mental problem, should a person who was treated for depression as a child after her father died be forever restricted from owning a firearm?
As unpopular as it would be, a national gun registry with an issued permit given only after background checks and mental evaluations would be an effective way for ranges to enforce a safe policy.
No permit? You can't shoot here. It's a step that many hardline gun owners might not like, but I believe it's in the interest of these BUSINESSES who are going to take a lot of heat for things like this.
Who would perform this mental evaluation? Who would pay for it? The person wanting the gun? Seems to be unfair to poor people without insurance. How often would we need to do these checks? Only when purchasing a gun? What about guns that were purchased before this mental handicap took effect? Do we require retesting every x number of years? Who keeps track of that? All this to take care of something that rarely happens?
I'm not a policy maker, but I believe it should not be treated like a medical evaluation typically would. (Read: no insurance necessary) Government subsidized psychiatrist, I suppose.
I think 5 years between reissuing a valid permit would be fair similar to a drivers' license. Couldn't buy ammo or new guns without a valid permit and the evaluation would be part of it.
Since this isn't a restriction on guns but instead of gun owners I think grandfathered guns and ammo would not be feasibly audited rather new gun and ammo purchases after a cutoff date would require the valid license. Similarly, gun ranges would immediately be required to check for a valid permit.
And yes, all of his because of something that rarely happens. Gun owners understand distinctly the value of personal liberties and protection but I think this sort of verification system could do a lot of good for the pro-gun community showing that they are in fact level-headed people who simply choose to bear arms, not crazy people.
More good than bad, IMO.